GPT-4.1 mini vs Grok 4.5
Head-to-head comparison across 1benchmark categories. Overall scores shown here use BenchLM's provisional ranking lane.
Verdict
Grok 4.5 leads for most workloads.
- GPT-4.1 mini is ~5× cheaper on input tokens — the budget pick.
Based on BenchLM composite scores, July 2026.
GPT-4.1 mini
44
Grok 4.5
75
Pick Grok 4.5 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
| Benchmark | GPT-4.1 mini | Δ | Grok 4.5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coding | 23.6 | → 41.1 | 64.7 |
| Agentic | — | — | 83.3 |
| Knowledge | 64.2 | — | — |
| Inst. Following | 88.5 | — | — |
Operational Comparison
GPT-4.1 mini
Grok 4.5
$0.4 / $1.6
$2 / $6
80 t/s
N/A
0.76s
N/A
1M
500K
Quick Verdict
Pick Grok 4.5 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.
Grok 4.5 is clearly ahead on the provisional aggregate, 75 to 44. The gap is large enough that you do not need to squint at the spreadsheet to see the difference.
Grok 4.5's sharpest advantage is in coding, where it averages 64.7 against 23.6.
Grok 4.5 is also the more expensive model on tokens at $2.00 input / $6.00 output per 1M tokens, versus $0.40 input / $1.60 output per 1M tokens for GPT-4.1 mini. That is roughly 3.8x on output cost alone. Grok 4.5 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 500K for Grok 4.5.
Benchmark Deep Dive
Frequently Asked Questions (2)
Which is better, GPT-4.1 mini or Grok 4.5?
Grok 4.5 is ahead on BenchLM's provisional leaderboard, 75 to 44.
Which is better for coding, GPT-4.1 mini or Grok 4.5?
Grok 4.5 has the edge for coding in this comparison, averaging 64.7 versus 23.6. GPT-4.1 mini stays close enough that the answer can still flip depending on your workload.
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