Model Comparison

DeepSeek-R1 vs Phi 4 MiniWhich is better in 2026?

Comparing DeepSeek-R1 and Phi 4 Mini across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: DeepSeek-R1 vs Phi 4 Mini — which is better?

DeepSeek-R1 (by DeepSeek) and Phi 4 Mini (by Microsoft) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.

Choose DeepSeek-R1 if…

  • you want predictable pricing at $0.55/M input and $2.19/M output

Choose Phi 4 Mini if…

  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Feb 2025

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

DeepSeek-R1 and Phi 4 Minidon't have any common benchmark datasets to compare. They may have been evaluated on different testing suites.

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Model Size

Parameter count comparison

667.2B diff

DeepSeek-R1 has 667.2B more parameters than Phi 4 Mini, making it 17374.0% larger.

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1
671.0Bparameters
Microsoft
Phi 4 Mini
3.8Bparameters
671.0B
DeepSeek-R1
3.8B
Phi 4 Mini

Context Window

Maximum input and output token capacity

Only DeepSeek-R1 specifies input context (131,072 tokens). Only DeepSeek-R1 specifies output context (131,072 tokens).

DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1
Input131,072 tokens
Output131,072 tokens
Microsoft
Phi 4 Mini
Input- tokens
Output- tokens
Sun Jun 28 2026 • llm-stats.com

License

Usage and distribution terms

Both models are licensed under MIT.

Both models share the same licensing terms, providing consistent usage rights.

DeepSeek-R1

MIT

Open weights

Phi 4 Mini

MIT

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

DeepSeek-R1 was released on 2025-01-20, while Phi 4 Mini was released on 2025-02-01.

Phi 4 Mini is 0 month newer than DeepSeek-R1.

DeepSeek-R1

Jan 20, 2025

1.4 years ago

Phi 4 Mini

Feb 1, 2025

1.4 years ago

1w newer

Knowledge Cutoff

When training data ends

Phi 4 Mini has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-06-01, while DeepSeek-R1's cutoff date is not specified.

We can confirm Phi 4 Mini's training data extends to 2024-06-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without DeepSeek-R1's cutoff date.

DeepSeek-R1

—

Phi 4 Mini

Jun 2024

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

DeepSeek
Larger context window (131,072 tokens)
Microsoft

No standout differentiators in the data we have for this pair.

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-R1 and Phi 4 Mini side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

DeepSeek-R1
✓ Preferred
Phi 4 Mini
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1
Microsoft
Phi 4 Mini

FAQ

Common questions about DeepSeek-R1 vs Phi 4 Mini.

Which is better, DeepSeek-R1 or Phi 4 Mini?

DeepSeek-R1 (DeepSeek) and Phi 4 Mini (Microsoft) each have strengths in different areas. Compare their benchmark scores, pricing, context windows, and capabilities above to determine which fits your needs.

How does DeepSeek-R1 compare to Phi 4 Mini in benchmarks?

Phi 4 Mini scores GSM8k: 88.6%, ARC-C: 83.7%, BoolQ: 81.2%, OpenBookQA: 79.2%, PIQA: 77.6%.

What are the context window sizes for DeepSeek-R1 and Phi 4 Mini?

DeepSeek-R1 supports 131K tokens and Phi 4 Mini supports an unknown number of tokens. A larger context window lets you process longer documents, conversations, or codebases in a single request.

Who makes DeepSeek-R1 and Phi 4 Mini?

DeepSeek-R1 is developed by DeepSeek and Phi 4 Mini is developed by Microsoft.

Related comparisons