Pairwise benchmark snapshot · Aug 16, 2026
This page compares Gemini 3.6 Flash (Google) and MiniMax M2.5 (MiniMax) using the latest snapshots we have as of Aug 16, 2026. On preference Elo, Gemini 3.6 Flash is ahead by 28 points (1,506 vs 1,478; seed-bootstrap (Aug 16, 2026)). On SWE-bench coding, MiniMax M2.5 resolves 75.8% versus 70.8% (seed-bootstrap (Aug 1, 2026)). Gemini 3.6 Flash streams faster (198 tok/s) while MiniMax M2.5 is the cheaper output token ($0.9/1M). Gemini 3.6 Flash has the larger context window (1M tokens). Every cell below is a dated snapshot from a named public source — we do not invent missing scores, and we do not run SWE-bench ourselves.
Google Jul 21 workhorse. Now shares the 3.7 Flash introductory $0.75/$3.75 rate through Dec 31 2026.
MiniMax
MiniMax M2.5MiniMax coding model. Tied near the top of official SWE-bench bash-only in Feb 2026.
Instant pairwise benchmark recalculation across 400+ LLMs
Category wins across intelligence, speed, and pricing efficiency.
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
Each spoke is a skill. Farther from the center is better (0–100th percentile). Tap any dot to inspect details.
28 pts advantage
108 tok/s faster
$2.85/1M cheaper
Simulate monthly production API costs based on published $/1M tokens.
MiniMax M2.5 is estimated to save $61.30/month ($736/year).
Higher SWE-bench (75.8%).
Lower output list price ($0.9/1M).
Lower TTFT (92 ms).
Larger window (1M).
Gemini 3.6 Flash is the side marked multimodal in the catalog.
| Target Workload | Recommended Pick | Evaluation Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Repo / coding agents | MiniMax M2.5 | Higher SWE-bench (75.8%). |
| High-volume chat | MiniMax M2.5 | Lower output list price ($0.9/1M). |
| Voice / low-latency UI | Gemini 3.6 Flash | Lower TTFT (92 ms). |
| Long-document RAG | Gemini 3.6 Flash | Larger window (1M). |
| Screenshots / vision | Gemini 3.6 Flash | Gemini 3.6 Flash is the side marked multimodal in the catalog. |
Jul 21 workhorse that inherited $0.75/$3.75 through year-end. Keep the row; 3.7 is the newer sibling.
Tied near the top of official SWE-bench bash-only in Feb 2026. Coding lists should still see it.
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The real PNG is generated at /compare/gemini-3-6-flash-vs-minimax-m2-5/opengraph-image for crawlers.
Verified head-to-head card
