Pairwise benchmark snapshot · Aug 1, 2026
In this head-to-head showdown, GPT-4o mini delivers higher overall intelligence and human-preferred responses (Elo 1,272 vs 1,248), while GPT-4o mini leads in SWE-bench software engineering benchmarks (41.2%), while GPT-4o mini is more budget-friendly at $0.6/1M per 1M output tokens. Review the complete breakdown below to determine which model best fits your performance and budget requirements.
9 direct benchmark disciplines evaluated across capability, speed, and cost
Original Claude 3 flagship. Kept so opus 3 vs later Opus and vs GPT-4o still resolve.
Legacy small OpenAI model. Useful as a cheap baseline.
Δ 24 Arena Elo pts
160 tok/s
$0.6 / 1M output
Relative percentile scores computed across all active models in the benchmark catalog.
Comparing top Western standard models with China's leading frontier rival across 6 skill dimensions. Tap any spoke or dot to inspect.
Category wins across reasoning intelligence, generation speed, and token cost.
Preference Elo, Coding proficiency, SWE-bench & LiveBench accuracy
Generation throughput and time to first token responsiveness
Cost per million tokens and max context window length
| Benchmark | Claude 3 Opus | GPT-4o mini | Advantage Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preference Elo | +24 | ||
| LiveBench | +1.9% | ||
| SWE-bench | +2.8% | ||
| GPQA Diamond | +9.7% | ||
| Time to first token | +290 ms | ||
| Output speed | 48 tok/s | 160 tok/s | +112 tok/s |
| Input price | $0.15/1M | +$14.85/1M | |
| Output price | $0.6/1M | +$74.4/1M | |
| Context window | +72k |
Simulate monthly production API costs in USD (US Dollar).
GPT-4o mini is estimated to save $1,635.75/month ($19,629/year).
Higher SWE-bench (41.2%).
Lower output list price ($0.6/1M).
Lower TTFT (130 ms).
Larger window (200k).
Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GPT-4o mini).
| Target Workload | Recommended Pick | Evaluation Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Repo / coding agents | GPT-4o mini | Higher SWE-bench (41.2%). |
| High-volume chat | GPT-4o mini | Lower output list price ($0.6/1M). |
| Voice / low-latency UI | GPT-4o mini | Lower TTFT (130 ms). |
| Long-document RAG | Claude 3 Opus | Larger window (200k). |
| Screenshots / vision | GPT-4o mini | Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GPT-4o mini). |
No comments posted on this matchup yet. Be the first to share an evaluation note!
Dynamic OpenGraph banner generated at /compare/claude-3-opus-vs-gpt-4o-mini/opengraph-image
Verified Head-to-Head Telemetry