Mini vs midi vs crossword
Mini means a few minutes on a 5×5. Midi, in the Times sense, means a 9×9 or 11×11 that still is not a full Sunday crossword.
| Name | Size | Time quoted | Times access | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini | 5×5 | A rewarding minute, in the company’s words | Subscription since late August 2025 | 1 publisher · NYT company; subscription reporting is separate |
| Midi | 9×9 or 11×11 | About 3–10 minutes | Subscription | 1 source · Beebom |
| Crossword | 15×15, Sunday often 21×21 | Much longer | Subscription | 1 source · Beebom |
The middle size is new
For a decade “the mini” meant the small daily. In February 2026 the Times added a midi, and Beebom describes it as 9×9 or 11×11, aimed at a solve of roughly three to ten minutes, and sold inside the same games subscription as the mini. I have one write-up for those dimensions, so I am not stacking a second size on top. If you see 7×7, that is a different newsroom: the Boston Globe uses 7×7 on Sunday and still calls it a mini.
A full daily crossword is the 15×15 you already know, with a larger Sunday grid. The skill is the same crossing idea. The difference is how long you expected to sit there. A mini can be a commute. A midi is a short break. A Sunday crossword is an afternoon if you let it be.
What we publish
This site’s dated puzzles are 5×5. The unlimited page can also draw a 7×7 from a separate bank, which is closer to a roomy mini than to a Times midi. I am not calling our 7×7 a midi. Midi is the Times name for their middle product. Using it for a different size would muddy the comparison you came here to read.
Questions
Is a midi just a big mini?
In spirit, yes. In the Times product list it is its own puzzle, 9×9 or 11×11, behind the same subscription.
When did the Times midi start?
Beebom places the launch at the end of February 2026. I have not found a second dated announcement in this set, so that month stays one source.
Which should I play if I have five minutes?
A 5×5 mini. Use the grid on our home page if you do not want a subscription.
Sources
Public-source check: 2026-11-04. Pages from the same publisher count as one source.