Model Comparison

DeepSeek VL2 Small vs Grok-1.5VWhich is better in 2026?

DeepSeek VL2 Small has a slight edge in benchmark performance.

Verdict: DeepSeek VL2 Small vs Grok-1.5V — which is better?

DeepSeek VL2 Small (by DeepSeek) and Grok-1.5V (by xAI) 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 VL2 Small outperforms in 4 benchmarks (ChartQA, DocVQA, MathVista, TextVQA), while Grok-1.5V is better at 3 benchmarks (AI2D, MMMU, RealWorldQA). DeepSeek VL2 Small has a slight edge in benchmark performance.

Choose DeepSeek VL2 Small if…

  • you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 4 of 7 shared benchmarks
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Dec 2024
  • you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune

Choose Grok-1.5V if…

  • you are already invested in the xAI ecosystem

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

7 benchmarks

DeepSeek VL2 Small outperforms in 4 benchmarks (ChartQA, DocVQA, MathVista, TextVQA), while Grok-1.5V is better at 3 benchmarks (AI2D, MMMU, RealWorldQA).

DeepSeek VL2 Small has a slight edge in benchmark performance.

Fri Jul 10 2026 • llm-stats.com

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Both DeepSeek VL2 Small and Grok-1.5V support multimodal inputs.

They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.

DeepSeek VL2 Small

Text
Images
Audio
Video

Grok-1.5V

Text
Images
Audio
Video

License

Usage and distribution terms

DeepSeek VL2 Small is licensed under deepseek, while Grok-1.5V uses a proprietary license.

License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.

DeepSeek VL2 Small

deepseek

Open weights

Grok-1.5V

Proprietary

Closed source

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

DeepSeek VL2 Small was released on 2024-12-13, while Grok-1.5V was released on 2024-04-12.

DeepSeek VL2 Small is 8 months newer than Grok-1.5V.

DeepSeek VL2 Small

Dec 13, 2024

1.6 years ago

8mo newer
Grok-1.5V

Apr 12, 2024

2.2 years ago

Knowledge Cutoff

When training data ends

Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.

Unable to compare the recency of their training data.

No cutoff dates available

Outputs Comparison

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

DeepSeek
Has open weights
Higher ChartQA score (84.5% vs 76.1%)
Higher DocVQA score (92.3% vs 85.6%)
Higher MathVista score (60.7% vs 52.8%)
Higher TextVQA score (83.4% vs 78.1%)
xAI
Higher AI2D score (88.3% vs 80.0%)
Higher MMMU score (53.6% vs 48.0%)
Higher RealWorldQA score (68.7% vs 65.4%)

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against DeepSeek VL2 Small and Grok-1.5V side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

DeepSeek VL2 Small
✓ Preferred
Grok-1.5V
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
DeepSeek
DeepSeek VL2 Small
xAI
Grok-1.5V

FAQ

Common questions about DeepSeek VL2 Small vs Grok-1.5V.

Which is better, DeepSeek VL2 Small or Grok-1.5V?

DeepSeek VL2 Small has a slight edge in benchmark performance. DeepSeek VL2 Small is made by DeepSeek and Grok-1.5V is made by xAI. The best choice depends on your use case — compare their benchmark scores, pricing, and capabilities above.

How does DeepSeek VL2 Small compare to Grok-1.5V in benchmarks?

DeepSeek VL2 Small scores DocVQA: 92.3%, ChartQA: 84.5%, OCRBench: 83.4%, TextVQA: 83.4%, MMBench: 80.3%. Grok-1.5V scores AI2D: 88.3%, DocVQA: 85.6%, TextVQA: 78.1%, ChartQA: 76.1%, RealWorldQA: 68.7%.

What are the main differences between DeepSeek VL2 Small and Grok-1.5V?

Key differences include licensing (deepseek vs Proprietary). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes DeepSeek VL2 Small and Grok-1.5V?

DeepSeek VL2 Small is developed by DeepSeek and Grok-1.5V is developed by xAI.

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