MiniMax M2.1 vs Gemini 3.8 Flash: price, context window and capabilities
MiniMax M2.1 (minimax/minimax-m2.1) is a language model from MiniMax and Gemini 3.8 Flash (google/gemini-3.8-flash) a multimodal language model from Google; both are on the OceanToken API. MiniMax M2.1 costs less per token than Gemini 3.8 Flash: $0.30 against $0.675 per 1M input tokens (56% less) and $1.20 against $3.375 per 1M output tokens (64% less). Gemini 3.8 Flash is 10% off its official price on OceanToken, for every account. Gemini 3.8 Flash has the larger context window: 1.05M tokens (1,048,576) against 205K (204,800) for MiniMax M2.1. Both support tool calling and reasoning; only Gemini 3.8 Flash also lists structured outputs, image input, file input, audio input and video input.
Side by side
| Spec | MiniMax M2.1 | Gemini 3.8 Flash −10% |
|---|---|---|
| Model | MiniMax M2.1minimax/ | Gemini 3.8 Flashgoogle/ |
| Publisher | MiniMax | |
| Kind | Text | Text, vision, audio & video |
| Context window | 205K tokens204,800 | 1.05M tokens1,048,576 |
| Input price | $0.30 / 1M tokens | $0.675 / 1M tokens |
| Output price | $1.20 / 1M tokens | $3.375 / 1M tokens |
| Cached input price | $0.03 / 1M tokens | $0.075 / 1M tokens |
| Cache write price | – | $0.792 / 1M tokens |
| Web search price | – | $0.014 / search |
| Discount (vs official, top tier) | — | −10% |
| Inputs | text | text, images, files, audio and video |
| Outputs | text | text |
| Tool calling | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Not listed | Yes |
About these prices
Which should you choose?
- Choose MiniMax M2.1 to spend less per token: 56% less for input and 64% less for output than Gemini 3.8 Flash.
- Choose Gemini 3.8 Flash for the longest inputs: its context window holds 1.05M tokens against 205K for MiniMax M2.1.
- Choose Gemini 3.8 Flash if you need structured outputs, image input, file input, audio input and video input: MiniMax M2.1 does not list them.
- Not sure? Call both with the same OceanToken API key and compare them on your own prompts; each request is billed per use from one prepaid balance.
Get API Key MiniMax M2.1 Gemini 3.8 Flash
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, MiniMax M2.1 or Gemini 3.8 Flash?
MiniMax M2.1. MiniMax M2.1 costs less per token than Gemini 3.8 Flash: $0.30 against $0.675 per 1M input tokens (56% less) and $1.20 against $3.375 per 1M output tokens (64% less). Gemini 3.8 Flash is 10% off its official price on OceanToken, for every account. The OceanToken console always shows the current price.
Which has the larger context window, MiniMax M2.1 or Gemini 3.8 Flash?
Gemini 3.8 Flash. Gemini 3.8 Flash has the larger context window: 1.05M tokens (1,048,576) against 205K (204,800) for MiniMax M2.1.
Can I call both MiniMax M2.1 and Gemini 3.8 Flash with one API key?
Yes. Both are on the OceanToken API at https://api.oceantoken.ai/v1: one API key and one prepaid balance call either model. Send the model id minimax/minimax-m2.1 or google/gemini-3.8-flash.
Models and publishers
MiniMax M2.1 · Gemini 3.8 Flash · All MiniMax models · All Google models
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