STEALTHMARK · HEAD TO HEAD

All comparisons ↗

MiniMax M3 vs Step 5 Preview

Step 5 Preview leads MiniMax M3 by 4.4 points on StealthMark, 39.0 to 34.6. MiniMax M3 leads on 5 of 9 benchmarks, including Foresight, and Step 5 Preview on 4, including Latch. MiniMax M3 scores higher on Raccoon, with its largest category advantage in prompt & likeness.

See the difference ↘
All results ↗
All results ↗

Overall StealthMark

34.6/100Overall rank 40/53
39.0/100Overall rank 36/53

General Intelligence

28.0/100
37.1/100

Visual Intelligence

45.3/100
41.9/100

Reasoning efficiency

On every task, result quality and reasoning tokens are each compared with all measured models and weighed equally. Each dot is one model.

Single-step reasoning Result quality weighed against reasoning tokens on a single problem

Multi-step reasoning Result quality weighed against reasoning tokens across connected steps, as in agentic workflows

  • MiniMax M3

BENCHMARK BY BENCHMARK

Where each model leads

  • MiniMax M3
  • Step 5 Preview
  • Other models
  • Median

DATASHEET

Specs and pricing

Both take about 1M tokens of context.

  • MiniMax M3
  • Step 5 Preview
  • Other models
  • Median
PricePer 1M output tokens, input below
MiniMax M3: $1.20$0.30 inputStep 5 Preview: No list price
Context windowTokens per request, max output below
MiniMax M3: 1MTied512K max outputStep 5 Preview: 1MTied
Output speedTokens per second, our measurement
MiniMax M3: 162tokens/sStep 5 Preview: Not measured
SizeTotal and active parameters
MiniMax M3: 428B23B activeStep 5 Preview: 600B27B active
Developer
MiniMaxStepFun
Released
1 Jun 2026Not published
Origin
SingaporeNot published
Input → output
Text, image, video → textBoth
Architecture
Mixture-of-Experts with MiniMax Sparse Attention and native multimodal encoderSparse mixture-of-experts; 92 layers (88 MoE), 352 routed experts with 8 selected per token plus a shared expert; grouped-query attention with 512-token sliding windows and full attention every fourth layer; 3 multi-token-prediction layers; vision tower for image and video input

Full datasheets, every price and sourceMiniMax M3 ↗Step 5 Preview ↗

Anticipating threats and planning ahead. Collect coins while avoiding ghosts. Ghosts move before the player each turn, and collisions cost a life. 3 levels in sequence, up to 66 turns in total. Earlier moves and outcomes carry forward, testing learning across levels.

MiniMax M3 22.1/100Rank 39/49

Survived 0 of 3
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 36 ptsTurn 7 / 20

Step 5 Preview 59.9/100Rank 42/491 of 3 levels

1 of 3 played
Foresight: complete playing field
Level 122 ptsTurn 28 / 28

Points per level

LevelMiniMax M3Step 5 Preview
Level 1Second Thoughts
17 ptsOut of lives
22 ptsSurvived
Level 2Pressure Pot
3 ptsOut of lives
Pending
Level 3Hide or Flight
6 ptsOut of lives
Pending

Cooperative planning and learning from experience. Coordinate two robots to push numbered cores onto matching sockets. Pressure plates hold doors open; moving either robot uses one turn. 5 levels in sequence, up to 152 turns in total. Earlier moves and outcomes carry forward, testing learning across levels.

MiniMax M3 31.4/100Rank 36/50

Cleared 2 of 5
Latch: complete playing field
Level 58.8 ptsTurn 11 / 40

Step 5 Preview 40.7/100Rank 28/50

Cleared 4 of 5
Latch: complete playing field
Level 515 ptsTurn 35 / 40

Points per level

LevelMiniMax M3Step 5 Preview
Level 1Hold the door
5.2 ptsCleared
5.2 ptsCleared
Level 2Crossfeed
9.4 ptsClearedFinished early · 1 beacon left
9 ptsCleared
Level 3Relay vault
0.2 ptsFinished early
18.6 ptsCleared
Level 4Passing bay
14.2 ptsFinished early
15.6 ptsClearedFinished early · 3 beacons left
Level 5Second thoughts
8.8 ptsFinished early
15 ptsFinished early

Newton's Mirror

Same task instructions

Physics, perspective and recursive reflections, tested together. Explore the test ↗

The judgment

MiniMax M3

The centered sphere, aligned left wall image, smaller lower-left continuation and partially occluded floor image provide recognizable local mirror coherence. Cyan remains airborne, the main sphere resembles white marble, and missing right-side imagery, recursive optics and panel mappings leave the scene substantially incomplete.

Step 5 Preview

The main sphere, airborne black and small colored features occupy broadly appropriate positions. Most of the defining mirror system is absent, and paint interaction remains only partially supported. The small paint features do not visibly establish a separate volume-scale violation.

Score breakdown

CategoryMiniMax M3Step 5 Preview
State at 600 ms7.0/2520.0/25
Camera and placement14.5/1513.5/15
Reflections22.0/12020.0/120
Materials and scale5.0/107.0/10
Floor-damage reward0.0/100.0/10

Benchmark task

A spinning metal sphere and paint in a mirrored room test physical reasoning, perspective and consistency across repeated reflections.

Selfie

Different task instructions

Visual construction and creative interpretation.

The judgment

MiniMax M3

The oversized coral M silhouette dominates clearly, with an expressive charcoal face and appealing miniature body. Limbs connect coherently and the cube reads clearly. The lowered left hand only loosely suggests the requested hip pose. Thin highlights and simple gradients provide limited sculptural volume; the cube's glow and grounding shadow are restrained.

Step 5 Preview

A charming diagonal climber and warm palette communicate the central idea. Simple rounded construction, crowded limb counting, uncertain footholds and an unattached upper shelf limit its physical coherence. Growth bands and the yarn trail add specificity, but the requested material distinctions and unravelled bootie remain underdeveloped.

Score breakdown

CategoryMiniMax M3Step 5 Preview
Task & likeness8.0/106.0/10
Anatomy & construction6.0/104.5/10
Space & placement7.0/105.0/10
Light & reflections6.0/105.5/10
Purposeful detail4.0/105.5/10
Artistry & character4.0/105.0/10
Materials & effects4.0/106.0/10
Visual integrity8.0/105.0/10

Benchmark task

MiniMax M3

A small robot with an oversized angular head presents a glowing object. The scene tests character proportions, gesture and contrasting materials.

Step 5 Preview

Character scenes test expression, anatomy, materials and coherent visual construction.

Mona Lisa

Same task instructions

Precise visual recall and portrait reconstruction.

The judgment

MiniMax M3

The centered portrait, dark hair and muted palette suggest Mona Lisa, but characteristic likeness and pose are poorly reproduced. The broad oval face lacks her subtle smile; rounded shoulders and a lone mittenlike hand leave the crossed-arm construction unresolved. Warm shading supplies some volume, while blurred landscape bands, generic clothing and indistinct features limit the drawing.

Step 5 Preview

A recognizable, coherent simplification with purposeful facial contours and differentiated fingers. These provide more construction and detail than the broad silhouette alone suggests. The oversized face, frontal seated pose, unresolved wrists and sparse landscape still substantially limit likeness, depth and finish.

Score breakdown

CategoryMiniMax M3Step 5 Preview
Task & likeness2.5/104.0/10
Anatomy & construction1.5/104.0/10
Space & placement2.5/104.0/10
Light & reflections3.0/103.5/10
Purposeful detail1.5/104.0/10
Artistry & character1.5/104.0/10
Materials & effects2.0/103.0/10
Visual integrity2.0/103.5/10

Benchmark task

An SVG interpretation of the Mona Lisa tests facial likeness, anatomy and the composition of a familiar portrait.

Beach

Same task instructions

Creativity, perspective and visual beauty.

The judgment

MiniMax M3

A cheerful, coherent sunset illustration with framing palms, warm gradients and an aligned sun reflection. Animals and beach toys add character, but their construction remains basic. The sailboat appears suspended above the water horizon, while absent cast shadows weaken foreground contact. Clean geometric shapes provide polish without substantial texture or depth.

Step 5 Preview

A recognizable sunset beach with clear warm-cool contrast and playful accessories. Basic animal construction, shallow foreground placement and schematic reflections limit spatial and physical credibility. Sparse descriptive detail and abruptly ended sky bands constrain the finish.

Score breakdown

CategoryMiniMax M3Step 5 Preview
Task & likeness8.0/104.0/10
Anatomy & construction4.5/103.0/10
Space & placement6.0/103.5/10
Light & reflections7.0/103.5/10
Purposeful detail6.0/103.0/10
Artistry & character5.0/103.0/10
Materials & effects5.0/103.5/10
Visual integrity5.5/104.0/10

Benchmark task

A busy shoreline at sunset tests scene composition, animal forms and the relationship between light and water reflections.

Ground Truth

Same task instructions

Physical reasoning, light and visual reconstruction.

The judgment

MiniMax M3

This benchmark has not been assessed yet.

Step 5 Preview

This benchmark has not been assessed yet.

Benchmark task

A plank, computer mouse and blueberry in a steel room test physical stability, spatial relationships, materials and lighting.

Raccoon

Same task instructions

Scene composition and interacting subjects.

The judgment

MiniMax M3

The raccoon sits above the dog's back, and the dog reaches toward the jet ski controls. Expressive faces and a vivid sunset make the scene appealing. Construction is simplified: the dog's paws and steering grip are ambiguous, the hull is shallow, and blurred wake patches give limited water displacement. Sunset glow exceeds the lighting modeled on the riders.

Step 5 Preview

Recognizable animals, a bright palette and identifying accessories support a basic cartoon. Primitive anatomy, partial seated support, unresolved steering and weak hull-water contact limit the central action. Lighting and spray provide atmosphere without establishing convincing physical depth.

Score breakdown

CategoryMiniMax M3Step 5 Preview
Task & likeness8.0/104.0/10
Anatomy & construction5.5/104.5/10
Space & placement6.5/103.0/10
Light & reflections6.0/103.5/10
Purposeful detail7.0/104.0/10
Artistry & character6.0/103.5/10
Materials & effects6.0/103.0/10
Visual integrity7.0/103.0/10

Benchmark task

A jet-ski scene pairs a canine driver with a raccoon passenger. It tests the placement and contact of interacting subjects, along with vehicle construction.

Pelican

Same task instructions

Subject construction and spatial relationships.

The judgment

MiniMax M3

The pelican's long bill, pouch and curved neck read clearly, and the warm sunset gives the composition appeal. Bicycle construction weakens the riding action: feet do not convincingly engage the pedals, crank connections are unclear, and body support is unresolved. Clean silhouettes and orderly spokes provide a competent illustrative finish.

Step 5 Preview

The pelican and bicycle are recognizable, with a pleasant palette and basic diffuse shading. The riding relationship fails physically: the bird is unsupported, the front wheel is unmounted, and pedalling is unresolved. Simple geometric construction and sparse material treatment further limit the drawing.

Score breakdown

CategoryMiniMax M3Step 5 Preview
Task & likeness8.0/103.0/10
Anatomy & construction5.5/103.0/10
Space & placement6.5/103.0/10
Light & reflections6.5/103.0/10
Purposeful detail7.5/104.0/10
Artistry & character6.5/103.0/10
Materials & effects6.0/103.0/10
Visual integrity6.5/102.0/10

Benchmark task

A cycling pelican tests anatomy, riding posture and contact between the bird and the bicycle.