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Grok-2 MinivsGrok 3 Mini

xAI vs xAI — Side-by-side model comparison

Grok 3 Mini leads 1/5 categories

Head-to-Head Comparison

MetricGrok-2 MiniGrok 3 Mini
Provider
Arena Rank
#16
#16
Context Window
128K
128K
Input Pricing
$0.30/1M tokens
$0.30/1M tokens
Output Pricing
$1.50/1M tokens
$0.50/1M tokens
Parameters
Undisclosed
Undisclosed
Open Source
No
No
Best For
Fast responses, chat, lightweight tasks
Lightweight reasoning, fast responses, chat
Release Date
Aug 13, 2024
Apr 12, 2025

Grok-2 Mini

Grok-2 Mini, developed by xAI, is a compact and fast variant of Grok-2 with a 128K token context window. The model maintains Grok's real-time X (Twitter) data access and distinctive conversational style while delivering faster response times at reduced cost. It handles chat, content generation, and lightweight reasoning tasks effectively. Priced at $0.30 per million input tokens and $1.50 per million output tokens, Grok-2 Mini targets high-volume applications where current information and fast responses outweigh maximum analytical depth. The model supports function calling and structured outputs for production integrations. Grok-2 Mini ranks #16 on the Chatbot Arena leaderboard, demonstrating competitive performance for a compact model and providing a cost-effective entry point to xAI's model ecosystem.

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Grok 3 Mini

Grok 3 Mini, developed by xAI, is a compact reasoning model with built-in chain-of-thought capabilities and real-time access to X (Twitter) data. The model combines the speed of smaller architectures with the accuracy improvements of deliberative reasoning, using internal thinking tokens to improve performance on complex queries. Grok 3 Mini maintains the distinctive personality of the Grok model family while offering faster response times and reduced pricing compared to the full Grok 3. It handles everyday coding, analysis, and conversational tasks effectively, with the added advantage of current information from the X platform. The model targets developers and consumers who need capable AI with real-time knowledge at accessible pricing. It serves as the entry point to xAI's model ecosystem, competing with GPT-4o Mini and Claude Haiku for cost-sensitive applications.

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G

When to use Grok-2 Mini

  • +Your use case involves fast responses, chat, lightweight tasks
View full Grok-2 Mini specs →
G

When to use Grok 3 Mini

  • +Your use case involves lightweight reasoning, fast responses, chat
View full Grok 3 Mini specs →

Cost Analysis

Both models have similar pricing. For a typical enterprise workload processing 100M tokens per month:

Grok-2 Mini monthly cost

$90

100M tokens/mo (50/50 in/out)

Grok 3 Mini monthly cost

$40

100M tokens/mo (50/50 in/out)

The Verdict

Grok 3 Mini wins our head-to-head comparison with 1 out of 5 category wins. It's the stronger choice for lightweight reasoning, fast responses, chat, though Grok-2 Mini holds an edge in fast responses, chat, lightweight tasks.

Last compared: April 2026 · Data sourced from public benchmarks and official pricing pages

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, Grok-2 Mini or Grok 3 Mini?
In our head-to-head comparison, Grok 3 Mini leads in 1 out of 5 categories (arena rank, context window, input pricing, output pricing, and parameters). Grok 3 Mini excels at lightweight reasoning, fast responses, chat, while Grok-2 Mini is better suited for fast responses, chat, lightweight tasks. The best choice depends on your specific requirements, budget, and use case.
How does Grok-2 Mini pricing compare to Grok 3 Mini?
Grok-2 Mini charges $0.30 per 1M input tokens and $1.50 per 1M output tokens. Grok 3 Mini charges $0.30 per 1M input tokens and $0.50 per 1M output tokens. For high-volume production workloads, the pricing difference can significantly impact total cost of ownership.
What is the context window difference between Grok-2 Mini and Grok 3 Mini?
Grok-2 Mini supports a 128K token context window, while Grok 3 Mini supports 128K tokens. Context window size matters most for tasks involving long documents, large codebases, or extended conversations.
Can I use Grok-2 Mini or Grok 3 Mini for free?
Grok-2 Mini is a paid API model starting at $0.30 per 1M input tokens. Grok 3 Mini is a paid API model starting at $0.30 per 1M input tokens.
Which model has better benchmarks, Grok-2 Mini or Grok 3 Mini?
Grok-2 Mini holds arena rank #16, while Grok 3 Mini holds rank #16. Note that benchmarks don't capture every use case — we recommend testing both models on your specific tasks.
Is Grok-2 Mini or Grok 3 Mini better for coding?
Grok-2 Mini's primary strength is fast responses, chat, lightweight tasks. Grok 3 Mini's primary strength is lightweight reasoning, fast responses, chat. For coding specifically, arena rank and code-specific benchmarks are the best indicators of performance.