GPT-5.1 Codex vs Grok 3 Mini

Side-by-side benchmark comparison across coding, math, reasoning, speed, and pricing.

GPT-5.1 Codex by OpenAI wins on 10 of 14 benchmarks against Grok 3 Mini by xAI, which leads on 4. This head-to-head comparison covers coding, math, reasoning, speed, and pricing metrics from our benchmark data.

Category-by-Category Breakdown

General Intelligence: In general intelligence, GPT-5.1 Codex scores 1395 on Chatbot Arena ELO compared to Grok 3 Mini's 1260, while GPT-5.1 Codex scores 82.0% on MMLU-Pro compared to Grok 3 Mini's 68.0%.

Coding: In coding, GPT-5.1 Codex scores 96.0% on HumanEval+ compared to Grok 3 Mini's 78.0%, while GPT-5.1 Codex scores 78.0% on SWE-bench Verified compared to Grok 3 Mini's 30.0%, while GPT-5.1 Codex scores 85.0% on LiveCodeBench compared to Grok 3 Mini's 35.0%.

Math: In math, GPT-5.1 Codex scores 85.0% on MATH compared to Grok 3 Mini's 72.0%, while GPT-5.1 Codex scores 95.0% on GSM8K compared to Grok 3 Mini's 88.0%.

Reasoning: In reasoning, GPT-5.1 Codex scores 65.0% on GPQA Diamond compared to Grok 3 Mini's 42.0%, while GPT-5.1 Codex scores 52.0% on ARC-AGI compared to Grok 3 Mini's 20.0%.

Context: In context, GPT-5.1 Codex scores 400K on Context Length compared to Grok 3 Mini's 131K.

Pricing Comparison

GPT-5.1 Codex costs $1.3/1M input tokens and $10.0/1M output tokens, while Grok 3 Mini costs $0.30/1M input and $0.50/1M output. Grok 3 Mini is the more affordable option for API usage.

Speed Comparison

GPT-5.1 Codex generates output at 85 tok/s compared to Grok 3 Mini's 130 tok/s, and the time to first token is 400 ms for GPT-5.1 Codex versus 160 ms for Grok 3 Mini. Grok 3 Mini delivers faster throughput.

Verdict

For developers prioritizing coding and general intelligence and math, GPT-5.1 Codex has the edge. For those who value affordability and speed, Grok 3 Mini is the stronger choice.

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GPT-5.1 Codex vs Grok 3 Mini — FAQ

Which is better, GPT-5.1 Codex or Grok 3 Mini?

GPT-5.1 Codex wins on more benchmarks overall (10 vs 4). However, the best choice depends on your specific needs — each model excels in different areas.

How does GPT-5.1 Codex compare to Grok 3 Mini for coding?

GPT-5.1 Codex is better for coding, scoring 78.0% on SWE-bench Verified compared to 30.0%. SWE-bench tests real-world software engineering by resolving actual GitHub issues.

Is GPT-5.1 Codex cheaper than Grok 3 Mini?

Yes, Grok 3 Mini is cheaper. GPT-5.1 Codex costs $1.3/1M input and $10.0/1M output tokens. Grok 3 Mini costs $0.30/1M input and $0.50/1M output tokens.

Which is faster, GPT-5.1 Codex or Grok 3 Mini?

Grok 3 Mini is faster, generating output at 130 tok/s compared to 85 tok/s. Faster output speed means shorter wait times for API responses.

What benchmarks does the GPT-5.1 Codex vs Grok 3 Mini comparison cover?

This comparison covers 14 benchmarks including Chatbot Arena ELO, MMLU-Pro, HumanEval+, MATH, GPQA Diamond, SWE-bench Verified, Output Speed, LiveCodeBench, and more. Metrics span general intelligence, coding, math, reasoning, speed, and cost categories.