Model Comparison

Kimi-k1.5 vs Qwen3 VL 32B InstructWhich is better in 2026?

Kimi-k1.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Verdict: Kimi-k1.5 vs Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct — which is better?

Kimi-k1.5 (by Moonshot AI) and Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct (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 2 benchmarks (IFEval, MMLU), while Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct is better at 0 benchmarks. Kimi-k1.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Choose Kimi-k1.5 if…

  • you want the strongest raw capability — it leads on 2 of 2 shared benchmarks

Choose Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct if…

  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Sep 2025
  • 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 2 benchmarks (IFEval, MMLU), while Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct is better at 0 benchmarks.

Kimi-k1.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.

Fri Jun 26 2026 • llm-stats.com

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Both Kimi-k1.5 and Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct support multimodal inputs.

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

Kimi-k1.5

Text
Images
Audio
Video

Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct

Text
Images
Audio
Video

License

Usage and distribution terms

Kimi-k1.5 is licensed under a proprietary license, while Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct uses Apache 2.0.

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

Kimi-k1.5

Proprietary

Closed source

Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct

Apache 2.0

Open weights

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

Kimi-k1.5 was released on 2025-01-20, while Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct was released on 2025-09-22.

Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct is 8 months newer than Kimi-k1.5.

Kimi-k1.5

Jan 20, 2025

1.4 years ago

Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct

Sep 22, 2025

9 months ago

8mo 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

Notice missing or incorrect data?Start an Issue discussion→

Key Takeaways

Moonshot AI
Higher IFEval score (87.2% vs 84.7%)
Higher MMLU score (87.4% vs 86.4%)
Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team

Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct

View details

Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team

Has open weights

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against Kimi-k1.5 and Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

Kimi-k1.5
✓ Preferred
Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
Moonshot AI
Kimi-k1.5
Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team
Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct

FAQ

Common questions about Kimi-k1.5 vs Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct.

Which is better, Kimi-k1.5 or Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct?

Kimi-k1.5 significantly outperforms across most benchmarks. Kimi-k1.5 is made by Moonshot AI and Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct 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 Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct in benchmarks?

Kimi-k1.5 scores MATH-500: 96.2%, CLUEWSC: 91.4%, C-Eval: 88.3%, MMLU: 87.4%, IFEval: 87.2%. Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct scores DocVQAtest: 96.9%, ScreenSpot: 95.8%, CharXiv-D: 90.5%, MMLU-Redux: 89.8%, AI2D: 89.5%.

What are the main differences between Kimi-k1.5 and Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct?

Key differences include licensing (Proprietary vs Apache 2.0). See the full comparison above for benchmark-by-benchmark results.

Who makes Kimi-k1.5 and Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct?

Kimi-k1.5 is developed by Moonshot AI and Qwen3 VL 32B Instruct is developed by Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team.

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