Model Comparison
MiniMax M2 vs Nova LiteWhich is better in 2026?
MiniMax M2 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Nova Lite is 5.0x cheaper per token.
Verdict: MiniMax M2 vs Nova Lite — which is better?
MiniMax M2 (by MiniMax) and Nova Lite (by Amazon) 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.
MiniMax M2 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Nova Lite is better at 0 benchmarks. MiniMax M2 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, Nova Lite is roughly 5.0x 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.
Choose MiniMax M2 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,000,000 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Oct 2025
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Nova Lite if…
- cost matters — it's about 5.0x cheaper per token
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
MiniMax M2 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (GPQA), while Nova Lite is better at 0 benchmarks.
MiniMax M2 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, MiniMax M2 ($0.30/1M tokens) is 5.0x more expensive than Nova Lite ($0.06/1M tokens).
For output processing, MiniMax M2 ($1.20/1M tokens) is 5.0x more expensive than Nova Lite ($0.24/1M tokens).
In conclusion, MiniMax M2 is more expensive than Nova Lite.*
* 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 Nova Lite's 300,000 tokens. MiniMax M2 can generate longer responses up to 1,000,000 tokens, while Nova Lite is limited to 2,048 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Nova Lite supports multimodal inputs, whereas MiniMax M2 does not.
Nova Lite can handle both text and other forms of data like images, making it suitable for multimodal applications.
MiniMax M2
Nova Lite
License
Usage and distribution terms
MiniMax M2 is licensed under MIT, while Nova Lite uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
MIT
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
MiniMax M2 was released on 2025-10-27, while Nova Lite was released on 2024-11-20.
MiniMax M2 is 11 months newer than Nova Lite.
Oct 27, 2025
7 months ago
11mo newerNov 20, 2024
1.6 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
MiniMax M2 is available from MiniMax, Novita. Nova Lite is available from Bedrock.
MiniMax M2
Nova Lite
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
MiniMax M2
View detailsMiniMax
Nova Lite
View detailsAmazon
Detailed Comparison
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FAQ
Common questions about MiniMax M2 vs Nova Lite.