Model Comparison
GPT-4.1 mini vs Qwen3 MaxWhich is better in 2026?
Qwen3 Max shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks. GPT-4.1 mini is 2.3x cheaper per token.
Verdict: GPT-4.1 mini vs Qwen3 Max — which is better?
GPT-4.1 mini (by OpenAI) and Qwen3 Max (by Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team) 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.
GPT-4.1 mini outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Qwen3 Max is better at 2 benchmarks (AIME 2025, SWE-Bench Verified). Qwen3 Max shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.
On price, GPT-4.1 mini is roughly 2.3x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
GPT-4.1 mini also accepts a larger context window (1,047,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose GPT-4.1 mini if…
- cost matters — it's about 2.3x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,047,576 token context window
Choose Qwen3 Max if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 2 of 3 shared benchmarks
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Dec 2025
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
GPT-4.1 mini outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Qwen3 Max is better at 2 benchmarks (AIME 2025, SWE-Bench Verified).
Qwen3 Max shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, GPT-4.1 mini ($0.40/1M tokens) is 1.3x cheaper than Qwen3 Max ($0.50/1M tokens).
For output processing, GPT-4.1 mini ($1.60/1M tokens) is 3.1x cheaper than Qwen3 Max ($5.00/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Qwen3 Max is more expensive than GPT-4.1 mini.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
GPT-4.1 mini accepts 1,047,576 input tokens compared to Qwen3 Max's 256,000 tokens. Qwen3 Max can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while GPT-4.1 mini is limited to 32,768 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
GPT-4.1 mini supports multimodal inputs, whereas Qwen3 Max does not.
GPT-4.1 mini can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
GPT-4.1 mini
Qwen3 Max
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
GPT-4.1 mini was released on 2025-04-14, while Qwen3 Max was released on 2025-12-15.
Qwen3 Max is 8 months newer than GPT-4.1 mini.
Apr 14, 2025
1.3 years ago
Dec 15, 2025
7 months ago
8mo newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
GPT-4.1 mini has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2024-05-31, while Qwen3 Max's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm GPT-4.1 mini's training data extends to 2024-05-31, but cannot make a direct comparison without Qwen3 Max's cutoff date.
May 2024
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Provider Availability
GPT-4.1 mini is available from OpenAI. Qwen3 Max is available from Novita.
GPT-4.1 mini
Qwen3 Max
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
GPT-4.1 mini
View detailsOpenAI
Qwen3 Max
View detailsAlibaba Cloud / Qwen Team
GPT-4.1 mini
Qwen3 MaxDetailed Comparison
Interactive Arena
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against GPT-4.1 mini and Qwen3 Max side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
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FAQ
Common questions about GPT-4.1 mini vs Qwen3 Max.