Looking for an honest Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 vs OpenAI o1-mini comparison in 2026? We scored both ai language models on the same six-dimension framework — performance, battery, display, camera, design and value — using identical methodology, so the numbers below are directly comparable. In our overall scoring the OpenAI o1-mini comes out ahead 54/100 to 69/100 — a 15-point gap. The widest gap is in design and build, where the OpenAI o1-mini pulls noticeably ahead.
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OpenAI o1-mini clearly outperforms the Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 in the ai language models category, especially in design, scoring 69 vs 54. If you want the better overall ai language models, OpenAI o1-mini is the recommended choice.
Scores are relative within the ai language modelscategory. Percentages show each dimension's weight in the overall score. A difference of less than 0.5 points is considered a tie.
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
✓ Pros
✗ Cons
Lower cost = better value. Free = open-source self-hosted.
| Metric | Small 3 | OpenAI o1-mini |
|---|---|---|
| Input (Prompt) | ✓$0.10/1M | $3.00/1M |
| Output (Completion) | ✓$0.30/1M | $12.00/1M |
| Open Source | ✓ Free | Proprietary |
Context Window (tokens)
| Metric | Small 3 | OpenAI o1-mini |
|---|---|---|
| Max Output | 4,096 tok | ✓65,536 tok |
| Speed | ✓200 tok/s | 80 tok/s |
| Time to First Token | ✓250ms | 1.2s |
| Languages | 12+ | ✓30+ |
Higher is better. Industry-standard AI evaluation benchmarks.
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| Feature | Small 3 | OpenAI o1-mini |
|---|---|---|
| Reasoning / Chain-of-Thought | ✕ | ✓ |
| Vision (Image Input) | ✕ | ✕ |
| Audio Input | ✕ | ✕ |
| Video Input | ✕ | ✕ |
| Image/Audio Output | ✕ | ✕ |
| Function Calling / Tools | ✓ | ✕ |
| JSON Mode | ✓ | ✕ |
| Real-time Web Access | ✕ | ✕ |
| Fine-tuning Support | ✓ | ✕ |
| Batch API | ✓ | ✕ |
| Streaming | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open Source | ✓ | ✕ |
| Field | Small 3 | OpenAI o1-mini |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Mistral AI | OpenAI |
| Parameters | 24B | — |
| Knowledge Cutoff | 2024-01 | 2024-09 |
| License | Apache 2.0 | Commercial |
| Best For | cost efficiencyopen sourceself hostinghigh volume | mathcodingstemcost efficient reasoning |
Buy Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 if…
Choose the Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy OpenAI o1-mini if…
Buy the OpenAI o1-mini if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
OpenAI o1-mini clearly outperforms the Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 in the ai language models category, especially in design, scoring 69 vs 54. If you want the better overall ai language models, OpenAI o1-mini is the recommended choice.
No, OpenAI o1-mini scores higher (75 vs 75).
Check the latest prices using the buy links above.
Choose the Mistral AI Mistral Small 3 if budget is your top priority — it offers competitive specs at a lower price point.
Buy the OpenAI o1-mini if you want the best performance in this comparison. It scores higher overall and is the recommended choice for most buyers.
Reviewed by VersusMatrix Editorial Team
Last updated: June 1, 2026
Methodology: AI-powered analysis of technical specifications from manufacturer data. Scores are calculated by comparing products across multiple dimensions and normalized relative to the full category database. Our editorial process is independent and not influenced by affiliate partnerships.