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MiniMax M1 vs Step 3.5 Flash

Step 3.5 Flash leads MiniMax M1 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, 17.0 to 11.7, and Step 3.5 Flash costs 7.3x less per output token ($0.30 vs $2.20 per million). Updated October 22, 2026; 29 benchmarks have a result for both.

Replace MiniMax M1 Replace Step 3.5 Flash
MiniMax M1MiniMax
Coding
No data
Overall
No data
Output $/M
$2.20
0
Step 3.5 FlashStepFun
Coding
No data
Overall
No data
Output $/M
$0.30
29
vs boards won of 29 shared

MiniMax M1 or Step 3.5 Flash: which to pick

Neither model has a coding score yet, so the two cannot be ranked on coding.

Pick MiniMax M1 for a larger context window (1M against 262K tokens) and work measured by LMArena Text: coding or LMArena Text: software and IT, where it leads.

Model AMiniMax M1MiniMaxNot benchmarkedNo coding benchmarkNo cost per solved taskModel BStep 3.5 FlashStepFunNot benchmarkedNo coding benchmarkNo cost per solved task
Shared results
29
MiniMax M1 only
0
Step 3.5 Flash only
6
Like-for-like categories
6 of 9

Only benchmarks that tested both models count toward a pick; a result only one model has is shown but not compared.

Which one for your work

Each card is decided by one number both models carry. Where only one has it, the card says so and makes no call.

At a glance

Coding index
MiniMax M1 not benchmarked, Step 3.5 Flash not benchmarked.
Widest category
Reasoning, 13.5 points apart on average over 3 shared benchmarks.
Widest single gap
LMArena Text: Japanese: MiniMax M1 1217 against Step 3.5 Flash 1353, 22.7 points apart on a 0 to 100 scale.
Output price
MiniMax M1 $2.20 against Step 3.5 Flash $0.30 per million output tokens, 7.3x apart.
Context window
MiniMax M1 takes 1M tokens, Step 3.5 Flash 262K.

Benchmark by benchmark

First the score: boards each model leads, per category, where both have a result. Then every board, a category to a fold; bars are each result on a 0 to 100 scale, so compare the two in a row, not one row with another.

Boards won, where both have a result
CategoryMiniMax M1BarsStep 3.5 FlashTies
Coding02
Intelligence01
Reasoning03
Math02
Knowledge04
General017
All shared boards029
CodingLike-for-likeSix of these boards feed the Vibe Coding Index02
Coding benchmarks for MiniMax M1 and Step 3.5 Flash
BenchmarkMiniMax M1Step 3.5 FlashLeader
Terminal-Bench Hard (Artificial Analysis run)Not measured32.6%Only Step 3.5 Flash measured
LMArena Text: coding13591436Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: software and IT13591434Step 3.5 Flash
Neither model has a result on the other 36 boards here
IntelligenceLike-for-likePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index01
Intelligence benchmarks for MiniMax M1 and Step 3.5 Flash
BenchmarkMiniMax M1Step 3.5 FlashLeader
AA Intelligence Index11.717.0Step 3.5 Flash
Neither model has a result on the other 1 board here
Agentic workDirectional onlyPublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index1 board, none shared
Agentic work benchmarks for MiniMax M1 and Step 3.5 Flash
BenchmarkMiniMax M1Step 3.5 FlashLeader
τ²-Bench TelecomNot measured94.4%Only Step 3.5 Flash measured
Neither model has a result on the other 40 boards here
ReasoningLike-for-likePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index03
Reasoning benchmarks for MiniMax M1 and Step 3.5 Flash
BenchmarkMiniMax M1Step 3.5 FlashLeader
GPQA Diamond (Artificial Analysis run)Not measured83.1%Only Step 3.5 Flash measured
Humanity's Last Exam (Artificial Analysis run)Not measured24.5%Only Step 3.5 Flash measured
LMArena Text: hard prompts13391411Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: expert13171421Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: hard prompts in English13531421Step 3.5 Flash
Neither model has a result on the other 17 boards here
MathLike-for-likePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index02
Math benchmarks for MiniMax M1 and Step 3.5 Flash
BenchmarkMiniMax M1Step 3.5 FlashLeader
LMArena Text: math13611408Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: mathematical work13631421Step 3.5 Flash
Neither model has a result on the other 11 boards here
KnowledgeLike-for-likePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index04
Knowledge benchmarks for MiniMax M1 and Step 3.5 Flash
BenchmarkMiniMax M1Step 3.5 FlashLeader
LMArena Text: science13541415Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: medicine and healthcare13551408Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: legal and government13371408Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: business and finance13191394Step 3.5 Flash
Neither model has a result on the other 14 boards here
Web designNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
Web design benchmarks for MiniMax M1 and Step 3.5 Flash
BenchmarkMiniMax M1Step 3.5 FlashLeader
Neither model has a result on 9 boards here
GeneralLike-for-likePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index017
General benchmarks for MiniMax M1 and Step 3.5 Flash
BenchmarkMiniMax M1Step 3.5 FlashLeader
IFBenchNot measured66.5%Only Step 3.5 Flash measured
Long context reasoning (AA-LCR)Not measured63.0%Only Step 3.5 Flash measured
LMArena Text13431403Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: instruction following13121385Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: creative writing12971357Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: English13631417Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: non-English13191385Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: Chinese13601446Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: German13501405Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: Japanese12171353Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: Korean12661351Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: French13701421Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: Spanish13531419Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: Russian13291385Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: Polish13291389Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: multi-turn13351404Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: longer queries13261402Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: writing and language13111372Step 3.5 Flash
LMArena Text: entertainment and media13031360Step 3.5 Flash
Neither model has a result on the other 27 boards here
Image generationNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
Image generation benchmarks for MiniMax M1 and Step 3.5 Flash
BenchmarkMiniMax M1Step 3.5 FlashLeader
Neither model has a result on 5 boards here

What each workload costs

Three fixed token mixes at each model's listed price, so per-token rates become a bill.

Chat turn

1K input + 500 output tokens

MiniMax M1$0.0015Fits in one request
Step 3.5 Flash$0.0003Fits in one request

Step 3.5 Flash costs less

Repository review

50K input + 3K output tokens

MiniMax M1$0.027Fits in one request
Step 3.5 Flash$0.0059Fits in one request

Step 3.5 Flash costs less

Agent loop

200K input + 10K output tokens

MiniMax M1$0.102Fits in one request
Step 3.5 Flash$0.023Fits in one request

Step 3.5 Flash costs less

Listed OpenRouter rates, without cache or batch discounts. A workload that does not fit a model's context window would need splitting.

Specification differences

The leading value in a row is marked; a row with a missing value names no leader. Our two rows are marked in red.

Specifications of MiniMax M1 and Step 3.5 Flash
SpecificationMiniMax M1StepFun Step 3.5 Flash
MakerMiniMaxStepFun
WeightsNo public weights listedOpen weights
ReleasedJune 17, 2025January 29, 2026
Context window1M262K
Input $/Mtok$0.40$0.10
Output $/Mtok$2.20$0.30
Coding indexNot benchmarkedNot benchmarked
Independent measurements behind it00
Cost per solved taskNot computableNot computable
SourceOpenRouter listingOpenRouter listing

Questions

Is MiniMax M1 better than Step 3.5 Flash for coding?

Neither model has a coding score yet, so the two cannot be ranked on coding. Pick MiniMax M1 for a larger context window (1M against 262K tokens) and work measured by LMArena Text: coding or LMArena Text: software and IT, where it leads.

Which is cheaper, MiniMax M1 or Step 3.5 Flash?

MiniMax M1 costs $0.40 per million input tokens and $2.20 per million output tokens; Step 3.5 Flash costs $0.10 and $0.30. Cost per solved task is known for neither of them.

Which has the bigger context window, MiniMax M1 or Step 3.5 Flash?

MiniMax M1, with 1M tokens against 262K.

How many benchmarks is the MiniMax M1 vs Step 3.5 Flash comparison based on?

29 benchmarks have a result for both models as of October 22, 2026. MiniMax M1's coding index rests on 0 independent benchmarks and Step 3.5 Flash's on 0. Where only one model has a result, the page says so instead of naming a winner.

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