MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) vs Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch)
Based on weekly OpenRouter usage tracked by AI Tier List, Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) ranks #6 overall — ahead of MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) at #12. MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) is cheaper on input tokens at $0.15/1M vs $0.70/1M for Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch). MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) offers the larger context window at 524K tokens.
MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) vs Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch): which should you use?
Choose MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) if…
- Cheaper to read — $0.15 vs $0.70 per 1M input tokens, which is what dominates long-prompt and RAG workloads.
- Cheaper to write — $0.60 vs $2.20 per 1M output tokens, the line item that decides generation-heavy costs.
- Bigger context window — 524K vs 512K tokens.
- It accepts image, video input, which Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) does not.
Choose Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) if…
- It sees more real traffic — #6 overall on OpenRouter's weekly ranking, against #12 for MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch).
- It is the newer model — released Jun 2026 against May 2026.
Spec Comparison
| Spec | MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) | Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) |
|---|---|---|
| Author | minimax | z-ai |
| Input price (per 1M tokens) | $0.15 | $0.70 |
| Output price (per 1M tokens) | $0.60 | $2.20 |
| Context window | 524K | 512K |
| Input modalities | text, image, video | text |
| Output modalities | text | text |
| AA Intelligence | — | — |
| AA Coding | — | — |
| AA Agentic | — | — |
| Released | May 2026 | Jun 2026 |
What MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) and Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) actually cost to run
On a read-heavy job — 1M tokens in, 100K out — MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) costs $0.21 and Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) costs $0.92.
Flip the shape — 100K in, 1M out — and it becomes $0.61 for MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) versus $2.27 for Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch).
Both figures are the published per-token rates multiplied out; caching and batch discounts are not included.
Usage Rank by Task
| Task | MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) | Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | #12 | #6 |
| Memory Extraction | #9 | #7 |
| Multi-step Planning | #8 | #5 |
| Tool Dispatch | #7 | #5 |
| Web Search | #8 | #6 |
| Agent Workflows | #9 | #4 |
| Classification & Tagging | #2 | — |
| Debugging | #10 | #2 |
| DevOps Config | #8 | #3 |
| File Read/Write | #7 | #5 |
| Frontend UI | #8 | #3 |
| Code Implementation | #9 | #2 |
| Repo Analysis | #7 | #7 |
| Code Review & Security | #9 | #1 |
| Shell Execution | #10 | #5 |
About MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) and Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch)
MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch)
Built by minimax · released May 2026 · 524K-token context
MiniMax-M3 is a multimodal foundation model from MiniMax. It supports text, image, and video inputs with text output, a 1M-token context window, and is suited for long-horizon agentic work, coding,...
Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch)
Built by z-ai · released Jun 2026 · 512K-token context
GLM 5.2 is a large-scale reasoning model from Z.ai. It supports text input and output with a 1M-token context window, and is suited for long-horizon agent workflows, project-level software engineering,...
Related comparisons
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- MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) vs OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Luna (batch)
- Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) vs DeepSeek: DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731
- Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) vs Tencent: Hy3
- Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) vs OpenAI: GPT-5.6 Luna (batch)
Get notified when MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) or Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) moves
Usage ranks and prices refresh weekly. We email you when they move — once a week, no spam.
FAQ
Which is better, MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) or Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch)?
Based on weekly OpenRouter usage tracked by AI Tier List, Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) ranks #6 overall — ahead of MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) at #12. MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) is cheaper on input tokens at $0.15/1M vs $0.70/1M for Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch). MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) offers the larger context window at 524K tokens.
Which is cheaper, MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) or Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch)?
MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) is cheaper at $0.15 per 1M input tokens. Output pricing: MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) $0.60, Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) $2.20.
Which is better for coding, MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) or Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch)?
Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch). Best coding-task usage rank this week: MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) #7, Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) #1.
Is Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) still ahead of MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch) right now?
Yes. For the week of 2026-08-10, Z.ai: GLM 5.2 (batch) ranks #6 overall on OpenRouter usage against #12 for MiniMax: MiniMax M3 (batch). Ranks refresh weekly, and the verdict on this page flips if they cross.
Usage ranks are weekly data aggregated by OpenRouter. Prices are USD per 1M tokens.