DeepSeek V3.2 vs Phi-4 Mini Reasoning
DeepSeek V3.2 (2025) and Phi-4 Mini Reasoning (2026) are frontier reasoning models from DeepSeek and Microsoft Research. DeepSeek V3.2 ships a 160K-token context window, while Phi-4 Mini Reasoning ships a 128K-token context window. On Google-Proof Q&A, DeepSeek V3.2 leads by 32 pts. This comparison covers specs, pricing, capabilities, benchmarks, provider availability, and production fit. It focuses on practical selection signals rather than broad model-family marketing.
Phi-4 Mini Reasoning is safer overall; choose DeepSeek V3.2 when coding workflow support matters.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | DeepSeek V3.2 | Phi-4 Mini Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | provider-routed production | reasoning-heavy apps |
| Decision fit | Coding, RAG, and Agents | Long context |
| Context window | 160K | 128K |
| Cheapest output | $0.38/1M tokens | - |
| Provider routes | 7 tracked | 0 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | Google-Proof Q&A leader | 1 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- DeepSeek V3.2 leads the largest shared benchmark signal on Google-Proof Q&A by 32 points.
- DeepSeek V3.2 has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- DeepSeek V3.2 has broader tracked provider coverage for fallback and procurement flexibility.
- DeepSeek V3.2 uniquely exposes Structured outputs and Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags DeepSeek V3.2 for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
- Phi-4 Mini Reasoning uniquely exposes Reasoning in local model data.
- Local decision data tags Phi-4 Mini Reasoning for Long context.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
DeepSeek V3.2
$296
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
Phi-4 Mini Reasoning
Unavailable
No complete token price in local provider data
Cost delta unavailable until both models have sourced input and output token prices.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for DeepSeek V3.2 and Phi-4 Mini Reasoning; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Structured outputs and Code execution before moving production traffic.
- Phi-4 Mini Reasoning adds Reasoning in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Phi-4 Mini Reasoning and DeepSeek V3.2; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Check replacement coverage for Reasoning before moving production traffic.
- DeepSeek V3.2 adds Structured outputs and Code execution in local capability data.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-12-01 | 2026-05-16 |
| Context window | 160K | 128K |
| Parameters | 671B | 3.8B |
| Architecture | decoder only | - |
| License | Open Source | Proprietary |
| Knowledge cutoff | - | 2025-02 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | DeepSeek V3.2 | Phi-4 Mini Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.25/1M tokens | - |
| Output price | $0.38/1M tokens | - |
| Providers | - |
Capabilities
| Capability | DeepSeek V3.2 | Phi-4 Mini Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | No |
| Multimodal | No | No |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| Function calling | No | No |
| Tool use | No | No |
| Structured outputs | Yes | No |
| Code execution | Yes | No |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
| Benchmark | DeepSeek V3.2 | Phi-4 Mini Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Google-Proof Q&A | 84.0 | 52.0 |
Deep dive
On shared benchmark coverage, Google-Proof Q&A has DeepSeek V3.2 at 84 and Phi-4 Mini Reasoning at 52, with DeepSeek V3.2 ahead by 32 points. The largest visible gap is 32 points on Google-Proof Q&A, which matters most when that benchmark mirrors your workload. Treat isolated benchmark wins as directional, because provider routing, prompt style, and tool access can move real application results.
The capability footprint differs most on reasoning mode: Phi-4 Mini Reasoning, structured outputs: DeepSeek V3.2, and code execution: DeepSeek V3.2. Both models share the core language-model surface, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
Pricing coverage is uneven: DeepSeek V3.2 has $0.25/1M input tokens and Phi-4 Mini Reasoning has no token price sourced yet. Provider availability is 7 tracked routes versus 0. Treat unknown pricing as an integration gap, then verify the route you will actually call before estimating production spend.
Choose DeepSeek V3.2 when coding workflow support, larger context windows, and broader provider choice are central to the workload. Choose Phi-4 Mini Reasoning when reasoning depth are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, DeepSeek V3.2 or Phi-4 Mini Reasoning?
DeepSeek V3.2 supports 160K tokens, while Phi-4 Mini Reasoning supports 128K tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Is DeepSeek V3.2 or Phi-4 Mini Reasoning open source?
DeepSeek V3.2 is listed under Open Source. Phi-4 Mini Reasoning is listed under Proprietary. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for reasoning mode, DeepSeek V3.2 or Phi-4 Mini Reasoning?
Phi-4 Mini Reasoning has the clearer documented reasoning mode signal in this comparison. If reasoning mode is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for structured outputs, DeepSeek V3.2 or Phi-4 Mini Reasoning?
DeepSeek V3.2 has the clearer documented structured outputs signal in this comparison. If structured outputs is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Which is better for code execution, DeepSeek V3.2 or Phi-4 Mini Reasoning?
DeepSeek V3.2 has the clearer documented code execution signal in this comparison. If code execution is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run DeepSeek V3.2 and Phi-4 Mini Reasoning?
DeepSeek V3.2 is available on Fireworks AI, NVIDIA NIM, AWS Bedrock, OpenRouter, and Microsoft Foundry. Phi-4 Mini Reasoning is available on the tracked providers still being sourced. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-22. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.