GPT-5.4 Mini vs GPT Realtime
GPT-5.4 Mini and GPT Realtime are both current openai production-tier models. GPT-5.4 Mini is meaningfully cheaper at $0.75 / $4.5 per 1M. GPT-5.4 Mini has a 400k context window — about 3× the 128k of GPT Realtime. GPT-5.4 Mini leads on coding, reasoning, long-context retrieval.
Specs side by side
| Metric | OpenAI GPT-5.4 Mini | OpenAI GPT Realtime |
|---|---|---|
| Input price (per 1M) | $0.75 | $4 |
| Output price (per 1M) | $4.5 | $16 |
| Context window | 400k tokens | 128k tokens |
| Speed tier | fast | ultra |
| Open weights | No | No |
| EU region | Yes | Yes |
| Free tier | No | No |
| Prompt caching | Yes | No |
| Vision input | Yes | No |
| Extended thinking | Yes | No |
When to choose each
Choose GPT-5.4 Mini if…
- Cost is a priority ($0.75 / $4.5 per 1M vs $4 / $16 per 1M)
- You need 400k context (3× more than GPT Realtime)
- HIPAA eligibility is required
- You need image input / vision
- Coding is central to your workload
- Reasoning is central to your workload
Choose GPT Realtime if…
- You need realtime speech-to-speech
Benchmark delta
GPT-5.4 Mini leads on
- Coding
- Reasoning
- Long-context retrieval
GPT Realtime leads on
GPT Realtime has no meaningful benchmark lead in this pair.
FAQ — GPT-5.4 Mini vs GPT Realtime
GPT-5.4 Mini vs GPT Realtime — which is better?
GPT-5.4 Mini and GPT Realtime are both current openai production-tier models. GPT-5.4 Mini is meaningfully cheaper at $0.75 / $4.5 per 1M. GPT-5.4 Mini has a 400k context window — about 3× the 128k of GPT Realtime. GPT-5.4 Mini leads on coding, reasoning, long-context retrieval. The right pick depends on your use case — see "When to choose each" above for a data-driven decision.
How does GPT-5.4 Mini pricing compare to GPT Realtime?
GPT-5.4 Mini costs $0.75 / $4.5 per 1M vs GPT Realtime at $4 / $16 per 1M. GPT-5.4 Mini is cheaper on output tokens by roughly 256%. Both support prompt caching, which reduces effective cost by 80-90% on repeat system prompts.
Does GPT-5.4 Mini or GPT Realtime have the bigger context window?
GPT-5.4 Mini has a 400k-token context window — 3× the 128k context of GPT Realtime. Enough for long reports and multi-document analysis.
Is there a free tier for GPT-5.4 Mini or GPT Realtime?
GPT-5.4 Mini: no — Near-free at $0.75/$4.50 per 1M; starter credits only. GPT Realtime: no — Paid-only.
Which is better for coding — GPT-5.4 Mini or GPT Realtime?
GPT-5.4 Mini leads on coding benchmarks (GPT-5.4 Mini: 84/100, GPT Realtime: 78/100). For production coding agents also weigh tool-use performance — GPT-5.4 Mini scores 86, GPT Realtime scores 84.