Model Comparison

Grok-2 mini vs QvQ-72B-PreviewWhich is better in 2026?

QvQ-72B-Preview significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Verdict: Grok-2 mini vs QvQ-72B-Preview — which is better?

Grok-2 mini (by xAI) and QvQ-72B-Preview (by Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team) 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.

Grok-2 mini outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while QvQ-72B-Preview is better at 2 benchmarks (MathVista, MMMU). QvQ-72B-Preview significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Choose Grok-2 mini if…

  • you are already invested in the xAI ecosystem

Choose QvQ-72B-Preview if…

  • you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 2 of 2 shared benchmarks
  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Dec 2024
  • you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
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Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

2 benchmarks

Grok-2 mini outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while QvQ-72B-Preview is better at 2 benchmarks (MathVista, MMMU).

QvQ-72B-Preview significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Wed Jun 24 2026 • llm-stats.com

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Both Grok-2 mini and QvQ-72B-Preview support multimodal inputs.

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

Grok-2 mini

Text
Images
Audio
Video

QvQ-72B-Preview

Text
Images
Audio
Video

License

Usage and distribution terms

Grok-2 mini is licensed under a proprietary license, while QvQ-72B-Preview uses Qwen.

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

Grok-2 mini

Proprietary

Closed source

QvQ-72B-Preview

Qwen

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

Grok-2 mini was released on 2024-08-13, while QvQ-72B-Preview was released on 2024-12-25.

QvQ-72B-Preview is 4 months newer than Grok-2 mini.

Grok-2 mini

Aug 13, 2024

1.9 years ago

QvQ-72B-Preview

Dec 25, 2024

1.5 years ago

4mo newer

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

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Key Takeaways

xAI

No standout differentiators in the data we have for this pair.

Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team

QvQ-72B-Preview

View details

Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team

Has open weights
Higher MathVista score (71.4% vs 68.1%)
Higher MMMU score (70.3% vs 63.2%)

Detailed Comparison

AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
xAI
Grok-2 mini
Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team
QvQ-72B-Preview

FAQ

Common questions about Grok-2 mini vs QvQ-72B-Preview.

Which is better, Grok-2 mini or QvQ-72B-Preview?

QvQ-72B-Preview significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Grok-2 mini is made by xAI and QvQ-72B-Preview is made by Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team. The best choice depends on your use case — compare their benchmark scores, pricing, and capabilities above.

How does Grok-2 mini compare to QvQ-72B-Preview in benchmarks?

Grok-2 mini scores DocVQA: 93.2%, MMLU: 86.2%, HumanEval: 85.7%, MATH: 73.0%, MMLU-Pro: 72.0%. QvQ-72B-Preview scores MathVista: 71.4%, MMMU: 70.3%, MathVision: 35.9%, OlympiadBench: 20.4%.

What are the main differences between Grok-2 mini and QvQ-72B-Preview?

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

Who makes Grok-2 mini and QvQ-72B-Preview?

Grok-2 mini is developed by xAI and QvQ-72B-Preview is developed by Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team.

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