MiniMax: MiniMax M2 vs Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview: Which AI Model Is Better?
Updated March 24, 2026· Based on independent benchmark data
Quick Verdict
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview leads in intelligence with a score of 57.2 vs 49.6. MiniMax: MiniMax M2 is 7.8x cheaper at $0.26/1M tokens vs $2.00/1M. For speed, Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview wins at 117 tok/s vs 44 tok/s.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | MiniMax: MiniMax M2 | Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Score | 49.6 | 57.2 |
| Coding Score | 41.9 | 55.5 |
| Math Score | N/A | N/A |
| Speed (tok/s) | 44 tok/s | 117 tok/s |
| Latency (TTFT) | 2.03s | 21.91s |
| Input Price / 1M tokens | $0.26 | $2.00 |
| Output Price / 1M tokens | $1.00 | $12 |
| Context Window | 197K | 1.0M |
| Max Output Tokens | 197K | 66K |
| Input Modalities | Text | Audio + File + Image + Text + Video |
| Output Modalities | Text | Text |
| Free Tier | No | No |
Detailed Analysis
Intelligence & Quality
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview outperforms MiniMax: MiniMax M2 on the Artificial Analysis intelligence index with a score of 57.2 compared to 49.6. For coding tasks, Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview has the edge with a coding score of 55.5 vs 41.9.
Speed & Latency
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview generates output significantly faster at 117 tok/s compared to MiniMax: MiniMax M2's 44 tok/s, making it 2.7x faster for streaming responses. Time to first token is 2.03s for MiniMax: MiniMax M2 vs 21.91s for Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview, which affects perceived responsiveness in interactive applications.
Pricing
MiniMax: MiniMax M2 is more affordable at $0.26/1M input tokens ($1.00/1M output), while Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview costs $2.00/1M input ($12/1M output). That makes Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview 7.8x more expensive per token, which can add up significantly at scale. For a typical workload of 100 requests per day at 2,000 tokens each, MiniMax: MiniMax M2 would cost approximately $1.53/month vs $12.00/month for Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview in input costs alone.
Context Window
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview offers a larger context window at 1.0M tokens compared to MiniMax: MiniMax M2's 197K. This means Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview can process roughly 524 pages of text in a single request vs 98 pages for MiniMax: MiniMax M2. For output length, MiniMax: MiniMax M2 can generate up to 197K tokens per response vs 66K for Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview.
Best Use Cases
Choose MiniMax: MiniMax M2 when you need lower cost. Choose Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview when you need higher intelligence (57.2), stronger coding performance (55.5), faster output (117 tok/s), larger context window (1.0M).
Choose MiniMax: MiniMax M2 if:
- ✓You want lower latency (2.03s vs 21.91s TTFT)
- ✓Budget is a concern ($0.26/1M vs $2.00/1M)
Choose Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview if:
- ✓You need higher intelligence (score: 57.2 vs 49.6)
- ✓You prioritize coding performance (score: 55.5 vs 41.9)
- ✓You need faster throughput (117 tok/s vs 44 tok/s)
- ✓You need a larger context window (1.0M vs 197K)
- ✓You need image understanding (Supports image input)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MiniMax: MiniMax M2 better than Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview for coding?
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview scores higher on coding benchmarks (55.5 vs 41.9), making it the better choice for programming tasks.
Which is cheaper, MiniMax: MiniMax M2 or Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview?
MiniMax: MiniMax M2 is cheaper at $0.26/1M input tokens vs $2.00/1M for Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview.
Is MiniMax: MiniMax M2 faster than Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview?
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview is faster, producing output at 117 tok/s compared to MiniMax: MiniMax M2's 44 tok/s.
Can MiniMax: MiniMax M2 process images?
No, MiniMax: MiniMax M2 does not support image input. However, Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview does support images.
Which has a larger context window, MiniMax: MiniMax M2 or Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview?
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview has a larger context window at 1.0M compared to MiniMax: MiniMax M2's 197K.
Should I use MiniMax: MiniMax M2 or Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview?
It depends on your priorities. Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview scores higher on intelligence (57.2), but MiniMax: MiniMax M2 may be better for specific use cases like budget-conscious projects or speed-critical applications.
Related Comparisons
Benchmark data by Artificial Analysis
Data last synced: March 24, 2026