Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite vs MiniMax M3
Google vs MiniMax · prices and specs, line by line
Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite (Google) vs MiniMax M3 (MiniMax), side by side: input/output/cache-hit prices, time-based pricing, context window, modalities and a fixed-assumption monthly cost. Green marks the better row.
| Dimension | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite | MiniMax M3 |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor / channel | MiniMax | |
| Context window | 1024K | 1024K |
| Modalities | Text, Image understanding, Video understanding | Text, Image understanding, Video understanding |
| Features | High-volume light tasks, Translation & data processing | Latest flagship, Dual mode |
| Input (cache miss) | $0.25 | Input ≤512K ¥2.1 Input >512K ¥4.2 |
| Output | $1.5 | Input ≤512K ¥8.4 Input >512K ¥16.8 |
| Cache hit | $0.025 | Not published |
| Time-based pricing | ||
| Est. monthly cost* | $4.69 |
¥32.76 |
| Price source | Google AI pricing | Alibaba Cloud Model Studio billing |
| Verified | 2026-10-28 | 2026-10-28 |
* Fixed assumptions for the example monthly cost: 100 calls/day · 2,000 input / 800 output tokens per call · off-peak rates · 30% cache hit rate · 30-day month — the same formula and defaults as the cost calculator. USD models are converted to CNY at the reference rate for comparison (see summary). Costs within display precision are marked tied; neither side is favored.
Comparison summary (fixed usage basis)
- Estimated monthly cost: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite ¥31.54 vs MiniMax M3 ¥32.76 on a common CNY basis (list prices $4.69 / ¥32.76) — at this fixed usage, Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is cheaper by ¥1.22/month.
- Cost ratio: under this basis, MiniMax M3 costs about 1.0× Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is ~4% cheaper). The ratio holds only at the current list prices, reference rate and fixed usage assumptions; it says nothing about capability, output quality or overall value.
- Input unit price (off-peak / single-price basis): list prices $0.25 vs ¥2.1; after conversion Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is lower (by ≈ ¥0.42/1M tokens).
- Output unit price (off-peak / single-price basis): list prices $1.5 vs ¥8.4; after conversion MiniMax M3 is lower (by ≈ ¥1.68/1M tokens).
- Cache-hit price (off-peak basis): Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite $0.025; MiniMax M3 publishes no cache price (estimated at the standard input price).
- Currencies: Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite is billed in USD, MiniMax M3 in CNY; conversion uses the CFETS central parity rate (see above) and is indicative only.
- Context window: identical at 1024K.
- Modalities: identical — Text, Image understanding, Video understanding.
- Price sources: Google AI pricing (verified 2026-10-28), Alibaba Cloud Model Studio billing (verified 2026-10-28); unit: official list price per 1M tokens (Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite in USD, MiniMax M3 in CNY; cross-currency figures converted to CNY as noted above).
These are computations from published list prices under fixed call volume, token usage, cache assumptions and billing rules. They are not rankings of capability, output quality or overall value, and do not constitute purchase advice.