GPT-4o-mini Search Preview vs GPT-5.2 Codex
GPT-4o-mini Search Preview (2025) and GPT-5.2 Codex (2025) compare a standalone API model against a coding-specialized model. GPT-4o-mini Search Preview ships a 128k-token context window, while GPT-5.2 Codex ships a 400k-token context window. On pricing, GPT-4o-mini Search Preview costs $0.15/1M input tokens versus $1.75/1M for the alternative. This page treats the result as workflow and deployment fit, not a universal model winner.
Treat this as a product-type comparison: GPT-4o-mini Search Preview is standalone API model, while GPT-5.2 Codex is coding-specialized model. Choose based on workflow fit before reading any benchmark or price row as decisive.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | GPT-4o-mini Search Preview | GPT-5.2 Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Standalone API model | Coding-specialized model |
| Best for | provider-routed production | custom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops |
| Decision fit | RAG, Long context, and Classification | Coding, RAG, and Agents |
| Context window | 128k | 400k |
| Cheapest output | $0.60/1M tokens | $14/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 2 tracked | 2 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 shared | 0 shared |
Decision tradeoffs
- GPT-4o-mini Search Preview has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $0.60/1M tokens.
- Local decision data tags GPT-4o-mini Search Preview for RAG, Long context, and Classification.
- GPT-5.2 Codex has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- GPT-5.2 Codex uniquely exposes Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GPT-5.2 Codex for Coding, RAG, and Agents.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
GPT-4o-mini Search Preview
$270
Cheapest tracked route/tier: OpenRouter
GPT-5.2 Codex
$4,900
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Vercel AI Gateway
Estimated monthly gap: $4,630. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- Provider overlap exists on Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GPT-5.2 Codex is $13.40/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- GPT-5.2 Codex adds Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning in local capability data.
- Provider overlap exists on Vercel AI Gateway; start route-level A/B tests there.
- GPT-4o-mini Search Preview is $13.40/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- Check replacement coverage for Vision, Multimodal, and Reasoning before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2025-02-26 | 2025-12-18 |
| Context window | 128k | 400k |
| Parameters | — | — |
| Architecture | Decoder Only | Decoder Only |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Openness | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Weights | Not released | Not released |
| Code | Unknown | Unknown |
| Commercial use | Commercial use: conditional | Commercial use: conditional |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2023-10 | 2025-08 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | GPT-4o-mini Search Preview | GPT-5.2 Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.15/1M tokens | $1.75/1M tokens |
| Output price | $0.60/1M tokens | $14/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | GPT-4o-mini Search Preview | GPT-5.2 Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | No | Yes |
| Multimodal | No | Yes |
| Reasoning | No | Yes |
| JSON / Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | Yes | Yes |
| Code execution | No | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark scores are currently available for this pair.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-30. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.