DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp vs Inkling-Small
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp is 1.6x cheaper per token.
DeepSeek · Thinking Machines Lab · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp outperforms in 1 benchmarks (Terminal-Bench 2.1), while Inkling-Small is better at 0 benchmarks. DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
On price, DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp is roughly 1.6x cheaper per token on a blended 3:1 input/output basis, which adds up quickly at production volume.
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp also accepts a larger context window (1,048,576 input tokens), making it the stronger choice for long documents and large codebases.
Based on current benchmark, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp
- you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 1 of 1 shared benchmarks
- cost matters — it's about 1.6x cheaper per token
- you process long inputs — it offers a 1,048,576 token context window
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Aug 2026
Choose Inkling-Small
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Performance Benchmarks
Comparative analysis across standard metrics
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp outperforms in 1 benchmarks (Terminal-Bench 2.1), while Inkling-Small is better at 0 benchmarks.
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Arena Performance
Playground indexes and blind preference scores
Pricing Analysis
Price comparison per million tokens
For input processing, DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp ($0.22/1M tokens) is 1.4x cheaper than Inkling-Small ($0.30/1M tokens).
For output processing, DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp ($0.66/1M tokens) is 1.8x cheaper than Inkling-Small ($1.20/1M tokens).
In conclusion, Inkling-Small is more expensive than DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp.*
* Using a 3:1 ratio of input to output tokens
Context Window
Maximum input and output token capacity
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp accepts 1,048,576 input tokens compared to Inkling-Small's 256,000 tokens. DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp can generate longer responses up to 393,216 tokens, while Inkling-Small is limited to 256,000 tokens.
Input Capabilities
Supported data types and modalities
Both DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp and Inkling-Small support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp
Inkling-Small
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp was released on 2026-08-21, while Inkling-Small was released on 2026-07-30.
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp is 1 month newer than Inkling-Small.
Aug 21, 2026
4 days ago
3w newerJul 30, 2026
3 weeks 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-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp is available from DeepSeek. Inkling-Small is available from Thinking Machines Lab.
DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp
Inkling-Small
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp and Inkling-Small side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about DeepSeek-V4-Flash-Vision-Exp vs Inkling-Small.