Skip to main content

GPT-4.1 mini vs GPT-5.2

Head-to-head comparison across 2benchmark categories. Overall scores shown here use BenchLM's provisional ranking lane.

GPT-4.1 mini

45

VS

GPT-5.2

79

0 categoriesvs2 categories

Pick GPT-5.2 if you want the stronger benchmark profile. GPT-4.1 mini only becomes the better choice if you want the cheaper token bill or you need the larger 1M context window.

Category Radar

Head-to-Head by Category

Category Breakdown

Coding

GPT-5.2
23.6vs64.7

+41.1 difference

Knowledge

GPT-5.2
64.2vs92.4

+28.2 difference

Operational Comparison

GPT-4.1 mini

GPT-5.2

Price (per 1M tokens)

$0.4 / $1.6

$1.75 / $14

Speed

80 t/s

73 t/s

Latency (TTFT)

0.76s

130.34s

Context Window

1M

400K

Quick Verdict

Pick GPT-5.2 if you want the stronger benchmark profile. GPT-4.1 mini only becomes the better choice if you want the cheaper token bill or you need the larger 1M context window.

GPT-5.2 is clearly ahead on the provisional aggregate, 79 to 45. The gap is large enough that you do not need to squint at the spreadsheet to see the difference.

GPT-5.2's sharpest advantage is in coding, where it averages 64.7 against 23.6. The single biggest benchmark swing on the page is SWE-bench Verified, 23.6% to 80%.

GPT-5.2 is also the more expensive model on tokens at $1.75 input / $14.00 output per 1M tokens, versus $0.40 input / $1.60 output per 1M tokens for GPT-4.1 mini. That is roughly 8.8x on output cost alone. GPT-5.2 is the reasoning model in the pair, while GPT-4.1 mini is not. That usually helps on harder chain-of-thought-heavy tests, but it can also mean more latency and more token spend in real use. GPT-4.1 mini gives you the larger context window at 1M, compared with 400K for GPT-5.2.

Benchmark Deep Dive

Frequently Asked Questions (3)

Which is better, GPT-4.1 mini or GPT-5.2?

GPT-5.2 is ahead on BenchLM's provisional leaderboard, 79 to 45. The biggest single separator in this matchup is SWE-bench Verified, where the scores are 23.6% and 80%.

Which is better for knowledge tasks, GPT-4.1 mini or GPT-5.2?

GPT-5.2 has the edge for knowledge tasks in this comparison, averaging 92.4 versus 64.2. Inside this category, AA-Omniscience Index is the benchmark that creates the most daylight between them.

Which is better for coding, GPT-4.1 mini or GPT-5.2?

GPT-5.2 has the edge for coding in this comparison, averaging 64.7 versus 23.6. Inside this category, SWE-bench Verified is the benchmark that creates the most daylight between them.

Related Comparisons

Last updated: June 2, 2026

The AI models change fast. We track them for you.

For engineers, researchers, and the plain curious — a weekly brief on new models, ranking shifts, and pricing changes.

Free. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.