Grok 4.6 vs MiniMax M2.7
Pricing, context window and real answers (August 2026)
Grok 4.6 (xAI) and MiniMax M2.7 (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
 Grok 4.6 |  MiniMax M2.7 | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | xAI | MiniMax |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | ¥357.4 | ¥53.61 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | ¥1,072.2 | ¥214.44 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | ¥894 | ¥161 |
| Context window | 500,000 tokens | 204,800 tokens |
| Release date | 8/12/2026 | 3/18/2026 |
| Input modalities | text, image, file | text |
| Arena · overall | #48 · ELO 1,461 | #121 · ELO 1,417 |
| Arena · Japanese | Unranked | #166 · ELO 1,278 |
| Arena · coding | #44 · ELO 1,510 | #94 · ELO 1,481 |
Prices are FastMetal's yen rates before tax. Arena ranks are as of the latest leaderboard scrape.
Which should you pick?
- On price, MiniMax M2.7: ¥214.44 per 1M output tokens, 80% less than Grok 4.6.
- On the Overall arena board, Grok 4.6 ranks higher (#48; MiniMax M2.7 is #121).
- On the Coding arena board, Grok 4.6 ranks higher (#44; MiniMax M2.7 is #94).
- For long documents, Grok 4.6: a 500,000-token context window against 204,800 for MiniMax M2.7.
- 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.
Grok 4.6
The word "strawberry" consists of the following letters in order:
s-t-r-a-w-b-e-r-r-y
Checking each one:
- s: not r
- t: not r
- r: yes (count = 1)
- a: not r
- w: not r
- b: not r
- e: not r
- r: yes (count = 2)
- r: yes (count = 3)
- y: not r
There are exactly 3 r's.
Final answer: 3
3.9s451 output tokens
MiniMax M2.7
**Step‑by‑step counting**
1. Write the word **strawberry** as a sequence of its letters:
`s‑t‑r‑a‑w‑b‑e‑r‑r‑y`
2. Go through each letter and check whether it is the letter **r** (case‑insensitive).
| Position | Letter | Is it “r”? |
|----------|--------|------------|
| 1 | s | No |
| 2 | t | No |
| 3 | **r** | Yes → count = 1 |
| 4 | a | No |
| 5 | w | No |
| 6 | b | No |
| 7 | e | No |
| 8 | **r** | Yes → count = 2 |
| 9 | **r** | Yes → count = 3 |
| 10 | y | No |
3. After checking all ten positions, the total number of times the letter **…
11.1s475 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…
Grok 4.6
**The error happens because `users` is `undefined` when `.map()` is called.**
`UserList` destructures `{ users }` from its props. If the parent doesn't pass a `users` prop (or passes `undefined`/`null`), `users` is `undefined` and `undefined.map` throws.
This is extremely common when:
- Data is loaded asynchronously (initial render happens before the fetch finishes).
- The parent component forgets to pass the prop or uses a different name.
- The component is rendered before the data is ready (e.g. in a loading state).
### Quick fixes
**1. Default to an empty array (recommended)**
```jsx
function UserList({ users = [] }) {
return (
<ul>
{users.map(user => (
<li key={us…
20.3s598 output tokens
MiniMax M2.7
# Fixing the "Cannot read properties of undefined" Error
## The Problem
The error occurs because `users` is `undefined` when the component renders. The `.map()` method can't be called on `undefined`.
This typically happens when:
- The parent component doesn't pass the `users` prop
- The data is still loading/fetching
- The initial state is `undefined` instead of an empty array
---
## Solutions
### 1. Add a Default Parameter (Recommended)
```javascript
function UserList({ users = [] }) {
return (
<ul>
{users.map(user => <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>)}
</ul>
);
}
```
### 2. Use Optional Chaining
```javascript
function UserList({ users }) {
return (
<ul>…
14.2s695 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):…
Grok 4.6
Here is a focused review of the function, followed by a cleaned-up version.
## Issues
**Imports inside the function**
`requests` and `time` should live at module level. Importing on every call is slower, hides dependencies, and is harder to mock in tests.
**Bare `except:`**
This swallows `KeyboardInterrupt`, `SystemExit`, and programming errors. Catch `requests.RequestException` (network/timeout/HTTP adapter errors) and JSON/`KeyError`/`TypeError` separately.
**Retrying the wrong things**
A 404 or 400 will never succeed on retry. Retry transient failures (timeouts, connection errors, 429, 5xx). Fail fast on most 4xx responses.
**Sleep after the last attempt**
On the final failur…
27.9s1770 output tokens
MiniMax M2.7
# Code Review: `get_data` Function
## Issues Identified
### 1. **Critical Issues**
```python
# ❌ Bare except clause - catches everything including KeyboardInterrupt
except:
time.sleep(2)
```
```python
# ❌ Comparing to True - redundant comparison
if item["active"] == True:
```
```python
# ❌ No JSON error handling - r.json() can raise ValueError
data = r.json()
```
### 2. **Code Quality Issues**
| Issue | Location | Problem |
|-------|----------|---------|
| Imports inside function | Line 2-3 | Should be at module level |
| Magic numbers | `timeout=10`, `sleep(2)` | Not descriptive |
| No docstring | Function | No documentation |
| No type hints | Function signature | Missing type safet…
31.7s1690 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Grok 4.6 or MiniMax M2.7?
- Per 1M output tokens, Grok 4.6 is ¥1,072.2 and MiniMax M2.7 is ¥214.44 on FastMetal (yen, before tax), so MiniMax M2.7 is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of Grok 4.6 and MiniMax M2.7 compare?
- Grok 4.6 takes 500,000 tokens; MiniMax M2.7 takes 204,800.
- Which ranks higher, Grok 4.6 or MiniMax M2.7?
- Grok 4.6 ranks higher on the public arena (Grok 4.6 #48, MiniMax M2.7 #166). Ranks move as the leaderboard updates.
- Can I use Grok 4.6 and MiniMax M2.7 with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "grok-4.6" or "minimax-m2.7" 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 Grok 4.6 and MiniMax M2.7 from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.