Mistral Small (Feb) (non-reasoning)

Fast, cost-effective, non-reasoning model from Mistral.

Mistral Small (Feb) (non-reasoning)

A highly efficient and affordable model, ideal for high-throughput, non-reasoning tasks.

MistralSmall ModelHigh SpeedCost-Effective33k ContextProprietary

Mistral Small (Feb '24) emerges as a compelling option for developers prioritizing speed and cost-efficiency over complex reasoning capabilities. Positioned as a non-reasoning model, it excels in high-throughput scenarios where rapid text generation and processing are paramount. Its performance metrics, particularly in output speed and pricing, set it apart in its class, making it a strategic choice for a wide array of practical applications.

Despite its designation as 'Small,' this model boasts a substantial 33,000-token context window, allowing it to handle moderately long inputs and generate coherent, extended outputs without losing track of the conversation or document. This generous context, combined with its low operational cost, unlocks new possibilities for applications that require processing larger chunks of text efficiently, such as document summarization, content rephrasing, or generating initial drafts.

However, it's crucial to align expectations with its core design. Mistral Small (Feb '24) scores 8 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it at the lower end among comparable models, which average around 30. This indicates it is not engineered for tasks demanding deep logical inference, creative problem-solving, or nuanced understanding. Instead, its strength lies in its ability to quickly and affordably execute well-defined, less cognitively intensive language tasks.

The model's pricing structure is exceptionally competitive. With an input token price of $1.00 per 1M tokens (compared to an average of $2.00) and an output token price of $3.00 per 1M tokens (significantly below the $10.00 average), Mistral Small (Feb '24) offers remarkable value. This aggressive pricing, coupled with its impressive speed of 136 tokens per second, positions it as a frontrunner for budget-conscious projects and applications requiring rapid, scalable text processing.

Scoreboard

Intelligence

8 (52 / 54 / 54)

Among the lowest-scoring models, best suited for tasks not requiring complex reasoning.
Output speed

136 tokens/s

Exceptional speed, ranking among the fastest models available for high-throughput tasks.
Input price

$1.00 per 1M tokens

Highly competitive input pricing, well below the average for similar models.
Output price

$3.00 per 1M tokens

Outstanding output pricing, significantly more affordable than many alternatives.
Verbosity signal

N/A

Verbosity data not available for this model in our current benchmarks.
Provider latency

0.29 seconds

Very low time to first token, ensuring quick initial responses and a snappy user experience.

Technical specifications

Spec Details
Model Name Mistral Small (Feb)
Owner Mistral
License Proprietary
Context Window 33,000 tokens
Median Output Speed 139 tokens/s
Latency (TTFT) 0.29 seconds
Input Token Price $1.00 / 1M tokens
Output Token Price $3.00 / 1M tokens
Blended Price (3:1) $1.50 / 1M tokens
Intelligence Index 8 (out of 100)
Model Type Non-reasoning, high-throughput
Release Date February 2024

What stands out beyond the scoreboard

Where this model wins
  • **High-Volume, Low-Complexity Generation:** Ideal for tasks like generating boilerplate text, simple email drafts, or product descriptions where speed and cost are critical.
  • **Cost-Sensitive Applications:** Its exceptionally low input and output token prices make it perfect for projects with tight budgets or those requiring massive scale.
  • **Rapid Content Rephrasing & Summarization:** Excels at quickly rephrasing existing text or summarizing documents where deep semantic understanding isn't the primary goal.
  • **Initial Content Drafts:** Can serve as a highly efficient tool for generating first drafts, outlines, or content ideas that will later be refined by humans or more capable models.
  • **Applications Benefiting from Large Context at Low Cost:** The 33k context window, combined with its affordability, makes it suitable for processing and generating text from moderately long documents without breaking the bank.
Where costs sneak up
  • **Complex Reasoning Tasks:** Any application requiring logical inference, problem-solving, or nuanced decision-making will likely yield unsatisfactory results.
  • **Creative Writing & Idea Generation:** While it can generate text, its low intelligence score means it struggles with truly novel or highly creative outputs.
  • **Factual Accuracy & Knowledge Retrieval:** Without external validation, relying on Mistral Small for factual accuracy can lead to hallucinations or incorrect information.
  • **Sentiment Analysis & Nuanced Interpretation:** It may lack the sophistication to accurately gauge subtle sentiments or interpret complex human emotions in text.
  • **Over-prompting for Intelligence:** Attempting to force complex reasoning through elaborate prompts will likely increase token usage without improving output quality, leading to wasted costs.

Provider pick

For Mistral Small (Feb '24), the choice of API provider is straightforward as it is a proprietary model offered directly by Mistral. Utilizing the first-party API ensures optimal performance, direct access to the latest updates, and the most competitive pricing.

While third-party aggregators might eventually offer access, going direct to Mistral is almost always the recommended path for their foundational models.

Priority Pick Why Tradeoff to accept
Default Mistral Direct access to the model, optimized performance, and official support. No significant tradeoffs for a first-party model.
Cost-Efficiency Mistral Guaranteed best pricing directly from the source, no intermediary markups. None.
Performance Mistral Lowest latency and highest throughput due to direct API integration and optimization. None.
Reliability & Stability Mistral Direct access ensures the most stable and reliable service, backed by the model's developer. None.

For proprietary models like Mistral Small (Feb), the model owner is typically the sole and best provider, offering direct access and optimal conditions.

Real workloads cost table

Understanding the real-world cost implications of Mistral Small (Feb '24) requires looking beyond raw token prices. Its high speed and low cost per token make it incredibly efficient for specific use cases. Below are some estimated costs for common scenarios, demonstrating its affordability for high-volume tasks.

These estimates are based on the model's input price of $1.00/1M tokens and output price of $3.00/1M tokens, assuming a 3:1 input-to-output token ratio for blended pricing calculations where applicable.

Scenario Input Output What it represents Estimated cost
Email Draft Generation 200 tokens 300 tokens Generating a standard business email or response. ~$0.0011
Product Description 150 tokens 250 tokens Creating a short, factual product blurb for e-commerce. ~$0.00095
Content Rephrasing 500 tokens 400 tokens Rewriting a paragraph or section of an article for clarity or SEO. ~$0.0017
Simple Chatbot Response 50 tokens 100 tokens Generating a quick, direct answer for a customer service chatbot. ~$0.00035
Data Extraction (Simple) 1000 tokens 100 tokens Extracting specific, clearly defined fields from a document. ~$0.0013
Summarizing Short Article 1500 tokens 200 tokens Condensing a news article into a brief summary. ~$0.0021

As these examples illustrate, Mistral Small (Feb '24) offers extremely low costs per interaction for tasks that align with its capabilities. Its efficiency makes it a powerhouse for applications requiring high volume and rapid turnaround, where individual transaction costs are critical.

How to control cost (a practical playbook)

Leveraging Mistral Small (Feb '24) effectively means understanding its strengths and optimizing your usage to maximize its cost-efficiency. Here are key strategies to keep your operational costs low while achieving desired outcomes.

Optimize Prompts for Conciseness

Since input tokens contribute to cost, crafting concise yet clear prompts is crucial. Avoid unnecessary preamble or overly verbose instructions. Get straight to the point, providing just enough context for the model to understand the task without wasting tokens.

  • **Be Direct:** Use imperative verbs and clear instructions.
  • **Provide Examples:** For specific formats, a few short examples are more effective than long descriptions.
  • **Iterate & Refine:** Test different prompt variations to find the shortest one that yields acceptable results.
Leverage for High-Throughput Tasks

Mistral Small's exceptional speed and low cost make it ideal for tasks that need to be performed at scale. Think about scenarios where you need to process thousands or millions of simple text operations.

  • **Batch Processing:** Group multiple requests into single API calls if your application allows, reducing overhead.
  • **Automated Workflows:** Integrate it into automated pipelines for tasks like content moderation, tag generation, or data normalization.
  • **Initial Filtering:** Use it as a first pass for large datasets, then route more complex cases to larger, more expensive models.
Chain with Smarter Models

For tasks requiring some level of reasoning or creativity, consider a multi-model approach. Use Mistral Small for the initial, low-complexity steps, and then pass the output to a more capable (and expensive) model for refinement or complex analysis.

  • **Drafting & Editing:** Generate a first draft with Mistral Small, then use a larger model to edit, enhance, or fact-check.
  • **Summarization & Analysis:** Summarize a long document with Mistral Small, then feed the summary to a reasoning model for deeper insights.
  • **Categorization & Refinement:** Use Small for initial broad categorization, then a more intelligent model for fine-grained classification.
Monitor Token Usage Closely

Implement robust logging and monitoring for both input and output token counts. This allows you to identify unexpected token consumption patterns and optimize your application's interaction with the model.

  • **Set Usage Alerts:** Configure alerts for exceeding certain token thresholds.
  • **Analyze Output Lengths:** Ensure the model isn't generating excessively long outputs when shorter ones would suffice.
  • **Cost Attribution:** Track token usage per feature or user to understand where costs are accumulating.
Control Output Length

Explicitly specify `max_tokens` in your API requests to prevent the model from generating unnecessarily long responses, which directly impacts your output token costs. Tailor this parameter to the minimum required length for your specific use case.

  • **Define Clear Limits:** Always set a reasonable `max_tokens` value.
  • **Test Output Lengths:** Experiment to find the optimal `max_tokens` that balances completeness and cost.
  • **Post-Processing:** If the model occasionally exceeds desired length, implement client-side truncation as a fallback.

FAQ

What is Mistral Small (Feb)?

Mistral Small (Feb '24) is a proprietary, non-reasoning language model developed by Mistral. It is designed for high-speed, cost-effective text generation and processing tasks, featuring a 33,000-token context window.

How does its intelligence compare to other models?

Mistral Small (Feb '24) scores 8 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it among the lower-tier models in terms of reasoning capabilities. It is explicitly a 'non-reasoning' model, meaning it is not suited for tasks requiring complex logic, problem-solving, or deep understanding.

What are the primary strengths of Mistral Small (Feb)?

Its main strengths are exceptional output speed (136 tokens/s) and highly competitive pricing ($1.00/1M input tokens, $3.00/1M output tokens). It also offers a generous 33k context window for its price point, making it ideal for high-volume, cost-sensitive applications.

What tasks is Mistral Small (Feb) best suited for?

It excels at tasks like generating simple email drafts, product descriptions, content rephrasing, summarization of non-complex texts, and initial content drafts. Essentially, any task that requires fast, affordable text output without demanding advanced cognitive functions.

What is its context window size?

Mistral Small (Feb '24) features a 33,000-token context window. This allows it to process and generate text based on a substantial amount of input, supporting longer conversations or document-based tasks.

Is Mistral Small (Feb) good for complex reasoning or creative writing?

No, it is not. Its low intelligence score indicates it will struggle with complex reasoning, logical inference, and highly creative or nuanced writing tasks. For such applications, more capable (and typically more expensive) models would be a better choice.

How does its pricing compare to other models?

Mistral Small (Feb '24) offers highly competitive pricing. Its input token price of $1.00 per 1M tokens is significantly below the average of $2.00, and its output token price of $3.00 per 1M tokens is remarkably lower than the average of $10.00 for comparable models, making it one of the most cost-effective options available.


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