Comparison of OpenAI's O3 Mini and DeepSeek R1: Performance and Cost Analysis

00:00 Introduction

A head-to-head comparison of OpenAI’s O3 Mini and DeepSeek R1 is presented, focusing on their performance in coding and reasoning tasks, along with cost and contact window differences.

01:30 Cost and Performance

• O3 Mini is available only on OpenAI, while R1 is hosted by various providers at higher prices.
• O3 Mini has a context window of 200,000 tokens, surpassing R1's 128,000 tokens.
• In reasoning benchmarks, O3 Mini outperforms R1, but both are comparable in coding tasks.

05:00 Testing Methodology

Tests are conducted using single runs, acknowledging that results may vary with multiple prompts. A comparison of reasoning processes is emphasized.

10:00 Random Number Selection Test

• O3 Mini and R1 are tasked with picking a random number between 0 and 1,000.
• O3 Mini generates numbers quickly, while R1 employs a lengthy reasoning process.

15:30 Coding Challenge

Both models are challenged to create a JavaScript animation for falling letters. O3 Mini produces working code more quickly than R1, which struggles with output.

25:00 Reasoning Challenges

Various reasoning problems are tested, including modified versions of classic paradoxes. O3 Mini demonstrates awareness of prompt variations, while R1 often defaults to standard responses.

35:00 Conclusion

Both models show strong performance, with R1 excelling in some coding tasks. However, O3 Mini's API is deemed more reliable. Users are encouraged to test both models independently for a comprehensive understanding.