Phi-3.5 Mini vs Deepgram Nova 3
Compare Phi-3.5 Mini and Deepgram Nova 3: pricing, performance, context window, latency, and best use cases. Side-by-side comparison on XALEN.
Updated 2026-05-21 · By Abhishek Raj · Our methodology
| Feature | Phi-3.5 Mini | Deepgram Nova 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Compact | Speech |
| Parameters | 3.8B | ~1B |
| Context Window | 128K | Streaming |
| Input Price | $0.005/1M tokens | $0.004/min/1M tokens |
| Output Price | $0.01/1M tokens | N/A/1M tokens |
| Latency | ~50ms | ~100ms |
Choose Phi-3.5 Mini when:
- ✓ Simple Q&A
- ✓ Classification
- ✓ Edge inference
128K context in tiny model, Ultra-low cost, Fast
Choose Deepgram Nova 3 when:
- ✓ Real-time transcription
- ✓ Call centers
- ✓ Meeting notes
Ultra-low latency, Streaming native, Very cheap
Verdict: Phi-3.5 Mini vs Deepgram Nova 3
For cost efficiency, Deepgram Nova 3 wins at $0.004/min/1M input tokens. For speed, Deepgram Nova 3 is faster at ~100ms. Phi-3.5 Mini excels at Simple Q&A while Deepgram Nova 3 is better for Real-time transcription. Both are available on XALEN through a single API — try them in the Playground to see which fits your workload.
Detailed Analysis
Pricing Comparison
Phi-3.5 Mini costs $0.005/1M input tokens and $0.01/1M output tokens. Deepgram Nova 3 costs $0.004/min input and N/A output. Deepgram Nova 3 is 1.3x cheaper on input tokens. XALEN offers batch processing at 50% discount on both models.
Performance & Context
Phi-3.5 Mini has a 128K context window with ~50ms latency. Deepgram Nova 3 offers Streaming context at ~100ms. Both have identical context windows.
Best For
Phi-3.5 Mini (Compact) is optimized for: Simple Q&A, Classification, Edge inference. Deepgram Nova 3 (Speech) works best for: Real-time transcription, Call centers, Meeting notes.
Try Both on XALEN
Both models are available through XALEN's OpenAI-compatible API. Switch between them by changing the model parameter:
from xalen import XALEN
client = XALEN(api_key="xln_test_YOUR_KEY")
# Use Phi-3.5 Mini
response_a = client.chat.completions.create(
model="phi-3-5-mini",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Your question here"}]
)
# Use Deepgram Nova 3
response_b = client.chat.completions.create(
model="deepgram-nova-3",
messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Your question here"}]
)Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Phi-3.5 Mini or Deepgram Nova 3?
Phi-3.5 Mini (Compact, 3.8B) offers 128K context in tiny model. Deepgram Nova 3 (Speech, ~1B) offers Ultra-low latency. Choose Phi-3.5 Mini for Simple Q&A or Deepgram Nova 3 for Real-time transcription.
How much does Phi-3.5 Mini cost vs Deepgram Nova 3?
Phi-3.5 Mini: $0.005/1M input, $0.01/1M output. Deepgram Nova 3: $0.004/min/1M input, N/A/1M output. Both available on XALEN with batch processing at 50% discount.
Can I use both models on XALEN?
Yes. XALEN provides 200+ models through a single OpenAI-compatible API. Switch between Phi-3.5 Mini and Deepgram Nova 3 by changing the model parameter. No code changes needed.
Related Comparisons
Last updated: 2026-05-21. Pricing and specifications may change. Check pricing page for latest rates.