VerdictPal · editorial desk · updated 21 Oct 2026VerdictPal

Compare · Two models, head-to-head

Pick two models. See the diff.

Composite scores, benchmark ranks, capability grids, and pricing per million tokens. All sourced from the same data that powers the model atlas.

Tools Models

Step 5 Preview vs DeepSeek V4.1 Flash

Model A

Model B

MODEL A

Step 5 Preview

StepFun · Step

Composite 0Intel 01 rows1 sources

StepFun's 20 Sep 2026 flagship preview. 1M context, 64K max output. Text, image, and video in; text out. Tool use, and reasoning effort low, medium, or high. The token list is in RMB. Knowledge cutoff is not on the docs.

MODEL B

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash

DeepSeek · DeepSeek V4.1

Composite 56Intel 564 rows1 sources

DeepSeek's Flash API, now serving the 17 Oct 2026 weights. 1M context, 384K max output, native vision. Official off-peak list is still $0.15 / $0.60 per 1M tokens (cache-miss input / output); peak doubles. Retired V4-Flash aliases route here.

Step 5 Preview0stats won

Tied1stats

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash5stats won

Spec showdown

Capacity, price, freshness.

Step 5 PreviewvsDeepSeek V4.1 Flash

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash leads on composite score (56 vs 0), with deeper benchmark coverage across more families.

Composite score
Step 5 Preview0DeepSeek V4.1 Flash56Winner on this row
Benchmark mix
Step 5 Preview0DeepSeek V4.1 Flash56Winner on this row
Context window
Step 5 Preview1MDeepSeek V4.1 Flash1M
Max output
Step 5 Preview64KDeepSeek V4.1 Flash384KWinner on this row
Input price / 1M (lower wins)
Step 5 Preview—DeepSeek V4.1 Flash$0.15Winner on this row
Output speed (AA default API)
Step 5 Preview88 t/sDeepSeek V4.1 Flash205 t/sWinner on this row

Composite score

Benchmark mix

Context window

Max output

64K

384K

Input price / 1M (lower wins)

—

$0.15

Output speed (AA default API)

88 t/s

205 t/s

Capability grid

What each model can do.

Modalities

Step 5 PreviewDeepSeek V4.1 Flash

Text●●

Image●●

Audio——

Video●—

Code●●

Tool use●●

Reasoning●●

Access

Step 5 PreviewDeepSeek V4.1 Flash

API●●

Consumer app—●

Open weights●●

Managed cloud——

On-device——

Family profile

Top score per benchmark family.

No shared benchmark families between these two models.

Benchmark ranks

Every shared benchmark, side by side.

Performance

AA output speed#71/196 · #11/196

88 t/s

205 t/s

Dossier facts

Dates, sources, fineprint.

Step 5 PreviewDeepSeek V4.1 Flash

ProviderStepFunDeepSeek

FamilyStepDeepSeek V4.1

Release date2026-09-202026-09-10

Knowledge cutoffunpublishedunpublished

Context window1M1M

Max output64K384K

Input price /1M—$0.15

Output price /1M—$0.60

Statusflagshipsolid

Composite score056

Intelligence score056

Intel sourcenonecomposite

Benchmark rows14

Source count11

Freshnessfreshfresh

Pricing checked2026-10-212026-10-21

Ecosystem

Which tools wrap each model.

Step 5 Preview

Not listed in any tool yet.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash

deepseek

Verdict

Which model to actually pick.

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash leads on composite score (56 vs 0), with deeper benchmark coverage across more families.

Open Step 5 Preview's dossier Open DeepSeek V4.1 Flash's dossier

Questions this comparison answers

Every answer below is assembled from the dated fields on this page. Nothing is written separately for search.

Should you use Step 5 Preview or DeepSeek V4.1 Flash?

DeepSeek V4.1 Flash leads on composite score (56 vs 0), with deeper benchmark coverage across more families.

Is Step 5 Preview or DeepSeek V4.1 Flash cheaper?

Step 5 Preview: — / —. DeepSeek V4.1 Flash: $0.15 / $0.60.

How do the Step 5 Preview and DeepSeek V4.1 Flash context windows compare?

Step 5 Preview: 1M. DeepSeek V4.1 Flash: 1M.