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 |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| 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.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on vision: GPT-5.2 Codex, multimodal input: GPT-5.2 Codex, reasoning mode: GPT-5.2 Codex, function calling: GPT-5.2 Codex, tool use: GPT-5.2 Codex, and code execution: GPT-5.2 Codex. Both models share structured outputs, 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.
For cost, GPT-4o-mini Search Preview lists $0.15/1M input and $0.60/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while GPT-5.2 Codex lists $1.75/1M input and $14/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts GPT-4o-mini Search Preview lower by about $5.14 per million blended tokens. Availability is 2 providers versus 2, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose GPT-4o-mini Search Preview when provider fit and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose GPT-5.2 Codex when coding workflow support and larger context windows are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions.
FAQ
Which has a larger context window, GPT-4o-mini Search Preview or GPT-5.2 Codex?
GPT-5.2 Codex supports 400k tokens, while GPT-4o-mini Search Preview supports 128k tokens. That gap matters most for long documents, large codebases, retrieval-heavy agents, and conversations where earlier context must remain visible.
Which is cheaper, GPT-4o-mini Search Preview or GPT-5.2 Codex?
GPT-4o-mini Search Preview is cheaper on tracked token pricing. GPT-4o-mini Search Preview costs $0.15/1M input and $0.60/1M output tokens. GPT-5.2 Codex costs $1.75/1M input and $14/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is GPT-4o-mini Search Preview or GPT-5.2 Codex open source?
GPT-4o-mini Search Preview is listed under Proprietary. GPT-5.2 Codex 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 vision, GPT-4o-mini Search Preview or GPT-5.2 Codex?
GPT-5.2 Codex has the clearer documented vision signal in this comparison. If vision is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ. Use this as a quick comparison signal, then confirm the provider-specific limits before committing to production.
Which is better for multimodal input, GPT-4o-mini Search Preview or GPT-5.2 Codex?
GPT-5.2 Codex has the clearer documented multimodal input signal in this comparison. If multimodal input is mission-critical, validate it against the provider endpoint because model-level support and API-level exposure can differ.
Where can I run GPT-4o-mini Search Preview and GPT-5.2 Codex?
GPT-4o-mini Search Preview is available on OpenRouter and Vercel AI Gateway. GPT-5.2 Codex is available on Vercel AI Gateway and OpenAI API. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-30. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.