Model Comparison
Gemini 1.5 Flash vs Grok-3 MiniWhich is better in 2026?
Grok-3 Mini significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Gemini 1.5 Flash is 1.3x cheaper per token.
Verdict: Gemini 1.5 Flash vs Grok-3 Mini — which is better?
Gemini 1.5 Flash (by Google) and Grok-3 Mini (by xAI) 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.
Gemini 1.5 Flash outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while Grok-3 Mini is better at 1 benchmark (GPQA). Grok-3 Mini significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Gemini 1.5 Flash is roughly 1.3x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
Gemini 1.5 Flash also accepts a larger context window (1,048,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose Gemini 1.5 Flash if…
- cost matters — it's about 1.3x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,048,576 token context window
Choose Grok-3 Mini if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Feb 2025
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Gemini 1.5 Flash outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while Grok-3 Mini is better at 1 benchmark (GPQA).
Grok-3 Mini significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Gemini 1.5 Flash ($0.15/1M tokens) is 2.0x cheaper than Grok-3 Mini ($0.30/1M tokens).
For output processing, Gemini 1.5 Flash ($0.60/1M tokens) is 1.2x more expensive than Grok-3 Mini ($0.50/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Grok-3 Mini is more expensive than Gemini 1.5 Flash.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
Gemini 1.5 Flash accepts 1,048,576 input tokens compared to Grok-3 Mini's 128,000 tokens. Gemini 1.5 Flash can generate longer responses up to 8,192 tokens, while Grok-3 Mini is limited to 8,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both Gemini 1.5 Flash and Grok-3 Mini support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Gemini 1.5 Flash
Grok-3 Mini
License
Usage and distribution terms
Both models are licensed under proprietary licenses.
Both models have usage restrictions defined by their respective organizations.
Proprietary
Closed source
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Gemini 1.5 Flash was released on 2024-05-01, while Grok-3 Mini was released on 2025-02-17.
Grok-3 Mini is 10 months newer than Gemini 1.5 Flash.
May 1, 2024
2.1 years ago
Feb 17, 2025
1.3 years ago
9mo newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Gemini 1.5 Flash has a knowledge cutoff of 2023-11-01, while Grok-3 Mini has a cutoff of 2024-11-17.
Grok-3 Mini has more recent training data (up to 2024-11-17), making it potentially better informed about events through that date compared to Gemini 1.5 Flash (2023-11-01).
Nov 2023
Nov 2024
1 yr newerProvider Availability
Gemini 1.5 Flash is available from Google. Grok-3 Mini is available from xAI.
Gemini 1.5 Flash
Grok-3 Mini
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
Detailed Comparison
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FAQ
Common questions about Gemini 1.5 Flash vs Grok-3 Mini.