MiniMax M3 debuts, eclipsing GPT-5.5 and Gemini 3.1 Pro on key benchmark performance for just 5-10% of the cost

MiniMax launched M3, a new large language model aimed at coding and agent workflows, with strong benchmark claims and native multimodality.

The model supports a 1-million-token context window and is priced far below leading U.S. proprietary systems.

MiniMax says it will release open weights in about 10 days, while a limited-time API discount is already available.

The launch could help narrow the gap between low-cost open models and top-tier proprietary AI, especially for enterprise use.