Kimi-k1.5 vs Step3-VL-10B
Step3-VL-10B leads the LLM Stats Score 26.1 to 17.3.
Moonshot AI · StepFun · Updated for 2026
Which is better?
Step3-VL-10B leads the overall LLM Stats Score 26.1 to 17.3, ranking #143 overall.
In the 2 individual benchmarks reported for both models, Step3-VL-10B wins 2; this is a narrower head-to-head signal than the composite indexes.
Based on current LLM Stats indexes, shared benchmarks, pricing, and model metadata for 2026.
Choose Kimi-k1.5
- you are already invested in the Moonshot AI ecosystem
Choose Step3-VL-10B
- overall performance matters — it scores 26.1 and ranks #143 on LLM Stats
- your work emphasizes reasoning — it leads those capability indexes
- you value its reported benchmark strengths — it wins 2 of 2 exact shared results
- you want the most recent training data — it shipped Jan 2026
- you need open weights you can self-host or fine-tune
At a glance
The differences that matter most.
Capability indexes
Additional strengths measured across groups of related public benchmarks
Individual benchmarks
9 reported for Kimi-k1.5 · 6 for Step3-VL-10B
Kimi-k1.5 outperforms in 0 benchmarks, while Step3-VL-10B is better at 2 benchmarks (MathVista, MMMU).
Step3-VL-10B significantly outperforms across most benchmarks.
Human preference
Blind head-to-head votes and playground preference scores
Input capabilities
Documented input modalities across available providers
Both Kimi-k1.5 and Step3-VL-10B support multimodal inputs.
They are both capable of processing various types of data, offering versatility in application.
Kimi-k1.5
Step3-VL-10B
License
Usage and distribution terms
Kimi-k1.5 is licensed under a proprietary license, while Step3-VL-10B uses Apache 2.0.
License differences may affect how you can use these models in commercial or open-source projects.
Proprietary
Closed source
Apache 2.0
Open weights
Release Timeline
When each model was launched
Kimi-k1.5 was released on 2025-01-20, while Step3-VL-10B was released on 2026-01-15.
Step3-VL-10B is 12 months newer than Kimi-k1.5.
Jan 20, 2025
1.6 years ago
Jan 15, 2026
7 months ago
12mo newerKnowledge Cutoff
When training data ends
Neither model specifies a knowledge cutoff date.
Unable to compare the recency of their training data.
Outputs Comparison
Judge for yourself.
Run your own prompts against Kimi-k1.5 and Step3-VL-10B side-by-side, then vote on the output you prefer.
FAQ
Common questions about Kimi-k1.5 vs Step3-VL-10B.