Model Comparison

Kimi-k1.5 vs QvQ-72B-PreviewWhich is better in 2026?

Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.

Verdict: Kimi-k1.5 vs QvQ-72B-Preview — which is better?

Kimi-k1.5 (by Moonshot AI) 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.

Kimi-k1.5 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (MathVista), while QvQ-72B-Preview is better at 1 benchmark (MMMU). Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.

Choose Kimi-k1.5 if…

  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jan 2025

Choose QvQ-72B-Preview if…

  • you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

2 benchmarks

Kimi-k1.5 outperforms in 1 benchmarks (MathVista), while QvQ-72B-Preview is better at 1 benchmark (MMMU).

Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks.

Tue Jul 28 2026 • llm-stats.com

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Both Kimi-k1.5 and QvQ-72B-Preview support multimodal inputs.

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

Kimi-k1.5

Text
Images
Audio
Video

QvQ-72B-Preview

Text
Images
Audio
Video

License

Usage and distribution terms

Kimi-k1.5 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.

Kimi-k1.5

Proprietary

Closed source

QvQ-72B-Preview

Qwen

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

Kimi-k1.5 was released on 2025-01-20, while QvQ-72B-Preview was released on 2024-12-25.

Kimi-k1.5 is 1 month newer than QvQ-72B-Preview.

Kimi-k1.5

Jan 20, 2025

1.5 years ago

3w newer
QvQ-72B-Preview

Dec 25, 2024

1.6 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

Moonshot AI
Higher MathVista score (74.9% vs 71.4%)
Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team

QvQ-72B-Preview

View details

Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team

Has open weights
Higher MMMU score (70.3% vs 70.0%)

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against Kimi-k1.5 and QvQ-72B-Preview side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

Kimi-k1.5
✓ Preferred
QvQ-72B-Preview
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
Moonshot AI
Kimi-k1.5
Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team
QvQ-72B-Preview

FAQ

Common questions about Kimi-k1.5 vs QvQ-72B-Preview.

Which is better, Kimi-k1.5 or QvQ-72B-Preview?

Both models are evenly matched across the benchmarks. Kimi-k1.5 is made by Moonshot AI 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 Kimi-k1.5 compare to QvQ-72B-Preview in benchmarks?

Kimi-k1.5 scores MATH-500: 96.2%, CLUEWSC: 91.4%, C-Eval: 88.3%, MMLU: 87.4%, IFEval: 87.2%. QvQ-72B-Preview scores MathVista: 71.4%, MMMU: 70.3%, MathVision: 35.9%, OlympiadBench: 20.4%.

What are the main differences between Kimi-k1.5 and QvQ-72B-Preview?

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

Who makes Kimi-k1.5 and QvQ-72B-Preview?

Kimi-k1.5 is developed by Moonshot AI and QvQ-72B-Preview is developed by Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team.

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