Grok 4.6 vs MiniMax M2
Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks. MiniMax M2 is 5.7x cheaper per token.
xAI · MiniMax · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
Grok 4.6 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while MiniMax M2 is better at 0 benchmarks. Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.
On price, MiniMax M2 is roughly 5.7x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
MiniMax M2 also accepts a larger context window (1,000,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current benchmark, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose Grok 4.6
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Aug 2026
Choose MiniMax M2
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 5.7x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,000,000 token context window
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Grok 4.6 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while MiniMax M2 is better at 0 benchmarks.
Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Playground indexes and blind preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Grok 4.6 ($2.00/1M tokens) is 6.7x more expensive than MiniMax M2 ($0.30/1M tokens).
For output processing, Grok 4.6 ($6.00/1M tokens) is 5.0x more expensive than MiniMax M2 ($1.20/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Grok 4.6 is more expensive than MiniMax M2.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
MiniMax M2 accepts 1,000,000 input tokens compared to Grok 4.6's 500,000 tokens. Only MiniMax M2 specifies output context (1,000,000 tokens).
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Grok 4.6 supports multimodal inputs, whereas MiniMax M2 does not.
Grok 4.6 can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
Grok 4.6
MiniMax M2
License
Usage and distribution terms
Grok 4.6 is licensed under a proprietary license, while MiniMax M2 uses MIT.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Proprietary
Closed source
MIT
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Grok 4.6 was released on 2026-08-12, while MiniMax M2 was released on 2025-10-27.
Grok 4.6 is 10 months newer than MiniMax M2.
Aug 12, 2026
1 weeks ago
9mo newerOct 27, 2025
10 months ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Grok 4.6 has a documented knowledge cutoff of 2026-02-01, while MiniMax M2's cutoff date is not specified.
We can confirm Grok 4.6's training data extends to 2026-02-01, but cannot make a direct comparison without MiniMax M2's cutoff date.
Feb 2026
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Provider Availability
Grok 4.6 is available from xAI. MiniMax M2 is available from MiniMax, Novita.
Grok 4.6
MiniMax M2
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Grok 4.6 and MiniMax M2 side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about Grok 4.6 vs MiniMax M2.