Model Comparison

Kimi-k1.5 vs Qwen3.8 MaxWhich is better in 2026?

Comparing Kimi-k1.5 and Qwen3.8 Max across benchmarks, pricing, and capabilities.

Verdict: Kimi-k1.5 vs Qwen3.8 Max — which is better?

Kimi-k1.5 (by Moonshot AI) and Qwen3.8 Max (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.

Choose Kimi-k1.5 if…

  • you are already invested in the Moonshot AI ecosystem

Choose Qwen3.8 Max if…

  • you want the most recent training data — it shipped Aug 2026

Performance Benchmarks

Comparative analysis across standard metrics

No common benchmarks found

Kimi-k1.5 and Qwen3.8 Maxdon't have any common benchmark datasets to compare. They may have been evaluated on different testing suites.

Arena Performance

Human preference votes

Input Capabilities

Supported data types and modalities

Both Kimi-k1.5 and Qwen3.8 Max support multimodal inputs.

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

Kimi-k1.5

Text
Images
Audio
Video

Qwen3.8 Max

Text
Images
Audio
Video

License

Usage and distribution terms

Both models are licensed under proprietary licenses.

Both models have usage restrictions defined by their respective organizations.

Kimi-k1.5

Proprietary

Closed source

Qwen3.8 Max

Proprietary

Closed source

Release Timeline

When each model was launched

Kimi-k1.5 was released on 2025-01-20, while Qwen3.8 Max was released on 2026-08-02.

Qwen3.8 Max is 19 months newer than Kimi-k1.5.

Kimi-k1.5

Jan 20, 2025

1.5 years ago

Qwen3.8 Max

Aug 2, 2026

2 days ago

1.5yr 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

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

Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team

Qwen3.8 Max

View details

Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team

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

Detailed Comparison

Interactive Arena

Judge for yourself.

Run your own prompts against Kimi-k1.5 and Qwen3.8 Max side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.

Kimi-k1.5
✓ Preferred
Qwen3.8 Max
Open in Playground
AI Model Comparison Table
Feature
Moonshot AI
Kimi-k1.5
Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team
Qwen3.8 Max

FAQ

Common questions about Kimi-k1.5 vs Qwen3.8 Max.

Which is better, Kimi-k1.5 or Qwen3.8 Max?

Kimi-k1.5 (Moonshot AI) and Qwen3.8 Max (Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team) each have strengths in different areas. Compare their benchmark scores, pricing, context windows, and capabilities above to determine which fits your needs.

How does Kimi-k1.5 compare to Qwen3.8 Max in benchmarks?

Kimi-k1.5 scores MATH-500: 96.2%, CLUEWSC: 91.4%, C-Eval: 88.3%, MMLU: 87.4%, IFEval: 87.2%. Qwen3.8 Max scores PaperBench: 93.0%, GPQA: 92.6%, VideoMME w sub.: 90.4%, RealWorldQA: 88.0%, Terminal-Bench 2.1: 86.6%.

Who makes Kimi-k1.5 and Qwen3.8 Max?

Kimi-k1.5 is developed by Moonshot AI and Qwen3.8 Max is developed by Alibaba Cloud / Qwen Team.

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