GPT-4.1 mini vs Phi-3 Mini
Performance benchmarks + pricing comparison — updated April 2026
GPT-4.1 mini
OpenAICost-optimized GPT-4.1 variant. Strong coding capability at budget pricing, replacing GPT-4o mini for many use cases.
| Input | $0.400/M |
| Output | $1.60/M |
| Context | 128K tokens |
| Best For | High-volume coding, cost-sensitive projects, automation |
| Benchmark | 68/100 |
Phi-3 Mini
MicrosoftMicrosoft's compact Phi-3 model. Small but capable model for edge and IoT deployment.
| Input | $0.050/M |
| Output | $0.100/M |
| Context | 128K tokens |
| Best For | Edge AI, IoT devices, lightweight applications |
Cost Comparison by Scenario
Estimated cost per project with 30% cache hit rate. Actual costs may vary based on usage patterns.
| Scenario | GPT-4.1 mini | Phi-3 Mini | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Script (1K lines) | $0.06 | <$0.01 | Phi-3 Mini saves $0.06 (92%) |
| Medium Feature (10K lines) | $0.46 | $0.04 | Phi-3 Mini saves $0.42 (92%) |
| Large Project (50K lines) | $2.30 | $0.19 | Phi-3 Mini saves $2.11 (92%) |
| Code Review (5K lines) | $0.11 | $0.01 | Phi-3 Mini saves $0.10 (90%) |
Verdict
Phi-3 Mini wins on both price and performance — $0.050/M input with a benchmark score of N/A/100.
For most developers, this is the clear choice between these two models.
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