Model comparison
Compare MiniMax M3 and NVIDIA Nemotron 3.5 Lightning using the same provider-sourced text & reasoning rubric. No mystery score and no invented benchmark ranking.
Facts checked September 4, 2026
Set your usage. Your estimate updates as you type.
Example: 6,000 input tokens for 10 pages, plus a 500-token summary. Page lengths vary; adjust the numbers below.
One run sends your input to the model once and receives an answer. Tokens are pieces of text: input is what you send, output is the answer you receive.
Estimates exclude taxes, tools, cache storage/writes, free allowances and custom discounts. Image estimates cover output only, not prompt or reference-image charges. Quality modes differ by model. Unlisted settings are not treated as free.
| Model | Access | Estimated total (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| MiniMax M3MiniMax | MiniMax | No reviewed rate |
| NVIDIA Nemotron 3.5 LightningNVIDIA | NVIDIA | No reviewed rate |
Quick take
MiniMax's million-token multimodal model for coding, agents, computer use, and long projects at a low direct API price.
Do not assume the headline rate applies above 512K tokens or on every provider. Also review MiniMax's content-use and retention terms before sending private code or business files.
NVIDIA's compact 30B mixture-of-experts model for efficient specialist agents and high-volume text workflows.
The current release is labeled preview. Validate the exact precision, language, tool template, provider route, and long-context memory needs before standardizing a production fleet.
Compare the published facts
Values use each provider's own published units and limits. A blank means the provider did not publish a directly comparable value in the sources reviewed.
| Text & reasoning | MiniMax M3 | NVIDIA Nemotron 3.5 Lightning |
|---|---|---|
| Context windowMaximum combined prompt and working context documented by the provider. | 1M tokens | Up to 1M tokens |
| Maximum outputProvider-published response limit, where available. | Up to 262K on supported hosted routes | Not separately published |
| Knowledge cutoffLatest reliable knowledge date explicitly published by the model provider. Search and connected tools can retrieve newer information but do not change the model's built-in cutoff. | Not published | Pretraining through Sep 2025; post-training through May 2026 |
| Input priceCurrent standard list price per million input tokens unless noted. | From $0.30 / 1M direct | Free prototype or deployment cost |
| Output priceCurrent standard list price per million output tokens unless noted. | From $1.20 / 1M direct | Free prototype or deployment cost |
| InputsMedia types accepted by the listed model endpoint. | Text, image, video | Text |
| Tools & agentsSelected native tools and agent-building capabilities, not an exhaustive list. | Coding agents, tools, computer use, structured workflows | Agentic tools and long-running workflows |
How to choose
Start with the job you need to complete, then validate cost, access, and policy details on your exact provider route.
MiniMax's privacy policy describes collection and use of service content but does not provide one simple no-training commitment for every API plan. Review the current plan terms before sending confidential data.
Provider and API links
Self-hosted weights keep request data under the operator's controls. NVIDIA API trials, OpenRouter, and cloud partners each apply separate logging, retention, and training-use policies.
Provider and API links
Frequently asked questions
MiniMax M3: MiniMax's million-token multimodal model for coding, agents, computer use, and long projects at a low direct API price. NVIDIA Nemotron 3.5 Lightning: NVIDIA's compact 30B mixture-of-experts model for efficient specialist agents and high-volume text workflows.
Consider MiniMax M3 when your priority is Cost-conscious coding agents. Consider NVIDIA Nemotron 3.5 Lightning when your priority is High-volume agent sub-tasks. Test both with your own data and provider route before committing.
No. This comparison aligns provider-published facts for the Text & reasoning category. It does not claim a universal winner or combine incompatible third-party benchmark scores.
