Model Comparison
Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 vs MiniMax M3Which is better in 2026?
MiniMax M3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 is 1.2x cheaper per token.
Verdict: Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 vs MiniMax M3 — which is better?
Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 (by Moonshot AI) and MiniMax M3 (by MiniMax) 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.
Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while MiniMax M3 is better at 2 benchmarks (BrowseComp, SWE-Bench Verified). MiniMax M3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 is roughly 1.2x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
MiniMax M3 also accepts a larger context window (1,000,000 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 if…
- cost matters — it's about 1.2x cheaper per token
Choose MiniMax M3 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 2 of 2 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,000,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jun 2026
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while MiniMax M3 is better at 2 benchmarks (BrowseComp, SWE-Bench Verified).
MiniMax M3 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 ($0.47/1M tokens) is 1.3x cheaper than MiniMax M3 ($0.60/1M tokens).
For output processing, Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 ($2.00/1M tokens) is 1.2x cheaper than MiniMax M3 ($2.40/1M tokens).
In conclusion, MiniMax M3 is more expensive than Kimi K2-Thinking-0905.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
MiniMax M3 accepts 1,000,000 input tokens compared to Kimi K2-Thinking-0905's 262,144 tokens. MiniMax M3 can generate longer responses up to 1,000,000 tokens, while Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 is limited to 262,144 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
MiniMax M3 supports multimodal inputs, whereas Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 does not.
MiniMax M3 can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
Kimi K2-Thinking-0905
MiniMax M3
License
Usage and distribution terms
Both models are licensed under MIT.
Both models share the same licensing terms, providing consistent usage rights.
MIT
Open weights
MIT
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 was released on 2025-09-05, while MiniMax M3 was released on 2026-06-01.
MiniMax M3 is 9 months newer than Kimi K2-Thinking-0905.
Sep 5, 2025
9 months ago
Jun 1, 2026
3 weeks ago
8mo newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 is available from DeepInfra, Novita, Fireworks. MiniMax M3 is available from MiniMax.
Kimi K2-Thinking-0905
MiniMax M3
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
Kimi K2-Thinking-0905
View detailsMoonshot AI
MiniMax M3
View detailsMiniMax
Detailed Comparison
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FAQ
Common questions about Kimi K2-Thinking-0905 vs MiniMax M3.