GPT-4.1 Nano vs MiniMax M3
Pricing, context window and real answers (September 2026)
GPT-4.1 Nano (OpenAI) and MiniMax M3 (MiniMax), compared as you can actually call them on FastMetal. Both are served from the same OpenAI-compatible endpoint and API key; switching is a change to the model string.
Specs and pricing
 GPT-4.1 Nano |  MiniMax M3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | OpenAI | MiniMax |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥17.87 | ¥53.61 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥71.48 | ¥214.44 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥54 | ¥161 |
| Context window | 1,047,576 tokens | 1,048,576 tokens |
| Release date | 4/14/2025 | 5/31/2026 |
| Input modalities | image, text, file | text, image, video |
| Throughput (p50) | — | — |
| Arena · overall | #243 · ELO 1,322 | #84 · ELO 1,441 |
| Arena · Japanese | #195 · ELO 1,234 | #77 · ELO 1,398 |
| Arena · coding | #226 · ELO 1,374 | #73 · ELO 1,496 |
Prices are FastMetal's yen rates before tax. Arena ranks are as of the latest leaderboard scrape.
Which should you pick?
- On price, GPT-4.1 Nano: ¥71.48 per 1M output tokens, 67% less than MiniMax M3.
- On the Overall arena board, MiniMax M3 ranks higher (#84; GPT-4.1 Nano is #243).
- On the Japanese arena board, MiniMax M3 ranks higher (#77; GPT-4.1 Nano is #195).
- On the Coding arena board, MiniMax M3 ranks higher (#73; GPT-4.1 Nano is #226).
- For long documents, MiniMax M3: a 1,048,576-token context window against 1,047,576 for GPT-4.1 Nano.
- If in doubt, try both on the same key. Switching is a change to the model string, and each is billed at its own rate.
Real answers to the same prompts
Exactly what the FastMetal gateway returned, side by side. Not benchmark scores: actual output.
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'. Explain your reasoning step by step.
GPT-4.1 Nano
Let's analyze the word "strawberry" step by step to count the number of 'r's.
1. Write down the word: **strawberry**
2. Examine each letter one by one:
- s: no
- t: no
- r: yes (first 'r')
- a: no
- w: no
- b: no
- e: no
- r: yes (second 'r')
- r: yes (third 'r')
- y: no
3. Counting the 'r's found:
- First 'r' (at position 3)
- Second 'r' (at position 8)
- Third 'r' (at position 9)
So, there are **3** 'r's in "strawberry."
**Final answer: 3**
2.0s183 output tokens
MiniMax M3
# Counting 'r's in "strawberry"
Let me go through the word letter by letter:
**s** - t - **r** - a - w - b - e - **r** - **r** - y
| Position | Letter | Is it 'r'? |
|----------|--------|------------|
| 1 | s | No |
| 2 | t | No |
| 3 | **r** | ✓ (1st) |
| 4 | a | No |
| 5 | w | No |
| 6 | b | No |
| 7 | e | No |
| 8 | **r** | ✓ (2nd) |
| 9 | **r** | ✓ (3rd) |
| 10 | y | No |
## Answer: **3**
The word "strawberry" contains **three 'r's** — one at position 3, and two consecutive 'r's at positions 8 and 9.
25.6s455 output tokens
Debug This Error
I'm getting the following error in my Node.js application: TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map') at UserList (/app/components/UserList.js:12:25) at renderWithHooks (/app/node_modules/rea…
GPT-4.1 Nano
The error:
```
TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')
```
indicates that `users` is `undefined` at the time your `UserList` component is rendering, and you're trying to call `map` on it.
### Why is this happening?
In React, if a prop (`users` in this case) is not provided or is undefined, trying to do `users.map(...)` causes this error. This can happen if:
- The parent component does not pass `users`.
- `users` might be `null` or `undefined` initially, especially if data fetching is involved.
### How to fix it
**Option 1: Provide a default value for `users`**
Ensure that `users` defaults to an empty array if it is not provided:
```jsx
function UserList({ users…
4.3s514 output tokens
MiniMax M3
# Error Analysis
The error `Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')` tells you that **`users` is `undefined`** when your component runs. JavaScript can't call `.map()` on `undefined`, so it throws this error.
The component itself is fine syntactically — the problem is that the `users` prop isn't being passed, or hasn't loaded yet.
## Common Causes
**1. The prop isn't passed at all:**
```jsx
<UserList /> // No users prop → users is undefined
```
**2. Data is still loading (async fetch):**
```jsx
const [users, setUsers] = useState(); // undefined initially
```
**3. API returns undefined:**
```jsx
const { data } = await fetch('/api/users').then(r => r.json());
setUsers(data);…
32.8s710 output tokens
Code Review
Please review the following Python function and suggest improvements for readability, performance, and best practices: def get_data(url, retries=3): import requests import time for i in range(retries):…
GPT-4.1 Nano
Here's a review and an improved version of your function:
### Key improvements:
1. **Move imports to the top**: Imports should generally be at the top of the file, not inside functions.
2. **Specify exception types**: Catch specific exceptions rather than a generic `except`.
3. **Use context managers if needed**: Not necessary here, but good to consider.
4. **Avoid repeated code**: The sleep statement is the same whether there is a request exception or a non-200 status.
5. **Simplify filtering**: Use list comprehensions for clarity.
6. **Improve variable names**: For readability.
7. **Add optional headers or parameters** if needed (not required here).
8. **Optional:** Add more descriptive e…
3.4s391 output tokens
MiniMax M3
## Code Review
This function works for the happy path, but it has several issues around error handling, retries, and readability. Here's a breakdown.
### 🐛 Bugs & Correctness Issues
| # | Issue | Why It Matters |
|---|-------|----------------|
| 1 | `except:` with no exception type | Swallows `KeyboardInterrupt`, `SystemExit`, and *everything else* (typos, `MemoryError`). You lose visibility into real failures. |
| 2 | Retries on every non‑200, including `4xx` | A `404` or `401` will never succeed by retrying — it just wastes time and rate-limit budget. |
| 3 | `if item["active"] == True` | Both linters (PEP 8 E712) and Python idiom prefer `if item["active"]:`. |
| 4 | `item["active"]` (…
33.4s3977 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, GPT-4.1 Nano or MiniMax M3?
- Per 1M output tokens, GPT-4.1 Nano is ¥71.48 and MiniMax M3 is ¥214.44 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so GPT-4.1 Nano is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of GPT-4.1 Nano and MiniMax M3 compare?
- GPT-4.1 Nano takes 1,047,576 tokens; MiniMax M3 takes 1,048,576.
- Which ranks higher, GPT-4.1 Nano or MiniMax M3?
- MiniMax M3 ranks higher on the public arena (GPT-4.1 Nano #195, MiniMax M3 #77). Ranks move as the leaderboard updates.
- Can I use GPT-4.1 Nano and MiniMax M3 with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "gpt-4.1-nano" or "minimax-m3" as the model. Each is billed at its own rate from the same prepaid balance.
Try both on one API key
Create an account and add credit to call GPT-4.1 Nano and MiniMax M3 from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.