Model Comparison
DeepSeek-V3 vs Nova MicroWhich is better in 2026?
DeepSeek-V3 shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks. Nova Micro is 8.3x cheaper per token.
Verdict: DeepSeek-V3 vs Nova Micro — which is better?
DeepSeek-V3 (by DeepSeek) and Nova Micro (by Amazon) are two of the AI models people compare most. Here is how they stack up on benchmarks, price and capabilities, and which one to pick in 2026.
DeepSeek-V3 outperforms in 3 benchmarks (DROP, GPQA, MMLU), while Nova Micro is better at 1 benchmark (IFEval). DeepSeek-V3 shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.
On price, Nova Micro is roughly 8.3x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
DeepSeek-V3 also accepts a larger context window (131,072 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Choose DeepSeek-V3 if…
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 3 of 4 shared benchmarks
- you process long inputs — it offers a 131,072 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Dec 2024
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
Choose Nova Micro if…
- cost matters — it's about 8.3x cheaper per token
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
DeepSeek-V3 outperforms in 3 benchmarks (DROP, GPQA, MMLU), while Nova Micro is better at 1 benchmark (IFEval).
DeepSeek-V3 shows notably better performance in the majority of benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Human preference votes
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, DeepSeek-V3 ($0.27/1M tokens) is 9.0x more expensive than Nova Micro ($0.03/1M tokens).
For output processing, DeepSeek-V3 ($1.10/1M tokens) is 7.9x more expensive than Nova Micro ($0.14/1M tokens).
In conclusion, DeepSeek-V3 is more expensive than Nova Micro.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
DeepSeek-V3 accepts 131,072 input tokens compared to Nova Micro's 128,000 tokens. DeepSeek-V3 can generate longer responses up to 131,072 tokens, while Nova Micro is limited to 128,000 tokens.
License
Usage and distribution terms
DeepSeek-V3 is licensed under MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed), while Nova Micro uses a proprietary license.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
MIT + Model License (Commercial use allowed)
Open weights
Proprietary
Closed source
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
DeepSeek-V3 was released on 2024-12-25, while Nova Micro was released on 2024-11-20.
DeepSeek-V3 is 1 month newer than Nova Micro.
Dec 25, 2024
1.5 years ago
1mo newerNov 20, 2024
1.5 years ago
Knowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Provider Availability
DeepSeek-V3 is available from DeepSeek. Nova Micro is available from Bedrock.
DeepSeek-V3
Nova Micro
Outputs Comparison
Key Takeaways
DeepSeek-V3
View detailsDeepSeek
Nova Micro
View detailsAmazon
Detailed Comparison
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FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek-V3 vs Nova Micro.