Qwen3 Next 80B A3B (Instruct)

Alibaba's 80B Powerhouse for Advanced AI

Qwen3 Next 80B A3B (Instruct)

A high-performance, large-scale instruction-tuned model from Alibaba, optimized for complex reasoning and extensive context processing.

Large Language ModelInstruction-tuned80 Billion Parameters262k ContextAlibabaOpen LicenseHigh Performance

The Qwen3 Next 80B A3B model represents a significant leap in large language model capabilities, stemming from Alibaba's robust AI research. As an instruction-tuned variant, it is specifically engineered to follow complex directives and generate highly relevant, coherent, and detailed responses across a wide array of tasks. Its impressive 80 billion parameters place it firmly in the upper echelon of commercially available models, enabling sophisticated understanding and generation.

One of the most striking features of Qwen3 Next 80B A3B is its colossal 262,000 token context window. This allows the model to process and retain an extraordinary amount of information within a single interaction, making it exceptionally well-suited for tasks requiring deep analysis of lengthy documents, extensive codebases, or prolonged conversational histories. This massive context capacity minimizes the need for external retrieval systems in many scenarios, streamlining complex workflows.

Benchmarking across various API providers reveals Qwen3 Next 80B A3B's strong performance profile. Providers like Hyperbolic and Google Vertex lead in output speed, delivering rapid token generation crucial for high-throughput applications. For latency-sensitive use cases, Deepinfra and Google Vertex demonstrate superior time-to-first-token, ensuring quick initial responses. Cost-effectiveness varies, with Hyperbolic and Deepinfra often presenting the most competitive blended pricing, making this powerful model accessible for diverse operational budgets.

The model's 'Open' license, as indicated by Alibaba, suggests a commitment to broader accessibility and integration within the developer community, fostering innovation and wider adoption. This combination of raw power, extensive context, and competitive provider offerings positions Qwen3 Next 80B A3B as a compelling choice for enterprises and developers pushing the boundaries of AI applications, from advanced content generation to intricate data analysis and intelligent automation.

Scoreboard

Intelligence

Top Tier (80B Class / Large)

Exceptional reasoning and comprehension due to its 80 billion parameters, capable of handling complex instruction sets and extensive context.
Output speed

264 t/s

Hyperbolic leads with 264 t/s, closely followed by Google Vertex at 255 t/s. Other providers range from 163 t/s to 219 t/s.
Input price

$0.14 /M tokens

Deepinfra offers the lowest input token price at $0.14/M, with Novita, GMI, and Google Vertex close behind at $0.15/M.
Output price

$0.30 /M tokens

Hyperbolic provides the most cost-effective output tokens at $0.30/M, significantly lower than other providers which can reach up to $1.50/M.
Verbosity signal

Configurable tokens

As an instruction-tuned model, output length is highly controllable via max_tokens and prompt engineering, typically generating detailed responses.
Provider latency

0.29 s

Deepinfra achieves the lowest Time-to-First-Token (TTFT) at 0.29s, with Google Vertex also performing strongly at 0.32s. Other providers range up to 0.90s.

Technical specifications

Spec Details
Owner Alibaba
License Open
Context Window 262,000 tokens
Parameters 80 Billion
Model Type Large Language Model (LLM)
Fine-tuning Instruction-tuned
Architecture Transformer-based
Primary Use Cases Advanced Reasoning, Long-form Content, Code Generation, Data Analysis
Multilingual Support Strong (typical for Qwen series)
Training Data Proprietary & Public Datasets
Deployment Cloud API (various providers)
Model ID Qwen3 Next 80B A3B Instruct

What stands out beyond the scoreboard

Where this model wins
  • Unparalleled Context Handling: Its 262k token context window allows for processing and generating insights from extremely long documents, codebases, or complex conversational histories, minimizing information loss.
  • High Output Throughput: Providers like Hyperbolic and Google Vertex deliver exceptional output speeds, making it ideal for applications requiring rapid content generation or high-volume processing.
  • Low Latency for Responsiveness: Deepinfra and Google Vertex offer industry-leading Time-to-First-Token (TTFT), ensuring quick initial responses crucial for interactive applications and user experience.
  • Cost-Effective at Scale: With Hyperbolic offering highly competitive blended and output token pricing, and Deepinfra excelling in input token costs, the model can be economically viable for large-scale deployments.
  • Sophisticated Instruction Following: As an instruction-tuned model, it excels at understanding and executing complex, multi-step instructions, leading to highly accurate and relevant outputs.
Where costs sneak up
  • Variable Output Token Pricing: While some providers offer low output token costs, others can be significantly higher (e.g., Novita at $1.50/M vs. Hyperbolic at $0.30/M), leading to unexpected expenses for verbose outputs.
  • Large Context Window Utilization: While a strength, fully utilizing the 262k context window means higher input token counts, which can accumulate costs rapidly, especially with providers not optimized for input pricing.
  • Latency vs. Cost Trade-offs: Achieving the absolute lowest latency might come at a premium with certain providers, requiring careful balancing of performance needs against budget constraints.
  • Blended Price Discrepancies: The 'blended price' can mask higher individual input or output token costs. A provider with a good blended price might still be expensive if your workload is heavily skewed towards one type of token.
  • Provider-Specific Optimizations: Not all providers are equally optimized for all metrics. Relying on a single provider without understanding its specific strengths and weaknesses can lead to suboptimal cost or performance.

Provider pick

Choosing the right API provider for Qwen3 Next 80B A3B depends heavily on your primary operational priorities. Whether you prioritize raw speed, minimal latency, or the most cost-effective solution, different providers offer distinct advantages.

Below is a guide to help you navigate the options based on common performance and cost objectives, leveraging the latest benchmark data.

Priority Pick Why Tradeoff to accept
Priority Pick Why Tradeoff
Overall Cost-Effectiveness Hyperbolic Offers the lowest blended price ($0.30/M) and the lowest output token price ($0.30/M), combined with excellent output speed. Not the absolute lowest latency, but still very competitive.
Lowest Latency (TTFT) Deepinfra Achieves the fastest Time-to-First-Token (0.29s), critical for real-time and interactive applications. Output speed is moderate (176 t/s), and output token price is higher ($1.10/M).
Highest Output Speed Hyperbolic Delivers the fastest output generation (264 t/s), ideal for high-throughput content creation and summarization. Latency is good but not the absolute lowest.
Lowest Input Token Price Deepinfra Provides the most economical input token pricing ($0.14/M), beneficial for applications with large input contexts. Higher output token price and moderate output speed.
Balanced Performance & Cost Google Vertex Offers a strong balance with high output speed (255 t/s), very low latency (0.32s), and a competitive blended price ($0.41/M). Input and output token prices are not the absolute lowest, but overall value is high.
Alternative Cost-Effective Input Novita Competitive input token price ($0.15/M) and reasonable blended price ($0.49/M). Lower output speed (163 t/s) and higher output token price ($1.50/M).

Note: Pricing and performance metrics are subject to change and can vary based on region, specific API configurations, and real-time load. Always verify current rates and performance with providers.

Real workloads cost table

Understanding the cost implications of Qwen3 Next 80B A3B in real-world scenarios requires considering the typical input and output token counts for various tasks. The model's large context window means input costs can be significant if not managed, while output costs are primarily driven by verbosity.

Below are estimated costs for common workloads using Hyperbolic's competitive pricing (Input: $0.25/M, Output: $0.30/M) as a baseline, given its strong blended price and output token cost.

Scenario Input Output What it represents Estimated cost
Scenario Input (tokens) Output (tokens) What it represents Estimated Cost (Hyperbolic)
Long Document Summarization 150,000 2,000 Summarizing a 50-page report into a concise executive summary. $0.0375 (Input) + $0.0006 (Output) = $0.0381
Complex Code Analysis 100,000 5,000 Analyzing a large codebase for vulnerabilities and suggesting fixes. $0.0250 (Input) + $0.0015 (Output) = $0.0265
Extended Customer Support Chat 5,000 (per turn) 1,000 (per turn) A multi-turn conversation with a customer, averaging 5 turns. (5 * $0.00125) (Input) + (5 * $0.0003) (Output) = $0.00775
Creative Content Generation 500 10,000 Generating a detailed blog post or marketing copy from a brief. $0.000125 (Input) + $0.0030 (Output) = $0.003125
Data Extraction (Structured) 20,000 500 Extracting specific entities from a batch of invoices or legal documents. $0.0050 (Input) + $0.00015 (Output) = $0.00515
Research & Q&A (Deep Dive) 200,000 3,000 Answering complex questions based on a large corpus of research papers. $0.0500 (Input) + $0.0009 (Output) = $0.0509

These examples highlight that for Qwen3 Next 80B A3B, workloads involving extensive input context (like summarization or deep analysis) will see input token costs dominate, even with competitive pricing. For tasks generating very long outputs, output token costs become more significant. Optimizing prompt length and managing output verbosity are key to cost control.

How to control cost (a practical playbook)

Leveraging Qwen3 Next 80B A3B effectively while managing costs requires a strategic approach. Its powerful capabilities, especially the large context window, can be a double-edged sword if not utilized thoughtfully. Here are key strategies to optimize your expenditure.

Optimize Context Window Usage

While the 262k context window is a major advantage, sending unnecessary tokens can quickly inflate costs. Be judicious about what information you include in your prompts.

  • Pre-process Inputs: Summarize or extract key information from very long documents before sending them to the model, especially if only a subset is relevant.
  • Dynamic Context: Implement logic to only include the most relevant sections of a document or conversation history based on the current query, rather than sending the entire context every time.
  • Chunking & Retrieval: For extremely large datasets, consider using a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system to fetch only the most pertinent chunks of information, feeding them into the model's context.
Strategic Provider Selection

Different providers excel in different metrics. Align your provider choice with your primary application needs.

  • Cost-Sensitive Applications: Prioritize providers like Hyperbolic for overall blended cost and output pricing, or Deepinfra for input pricing, if budget is paramount.
  • Latency-Critical Systems: Opt for providers like Deepinfra or Google Vertex if real-time responsiveness is non-negotiable.
  • High-Throughput Workloads: Choose providers with top output speeds, such as Hyperbolic or Google Vertex, for batch processing or rapid content generation.
  • A/B Test Providers: Don't commit to a single provider without testing. Performance and pricing can fluctuate, and a provider that's best for one use case might not be for another.
Control Output Verbosity

Output tokens directly contribute to cost. Guide the model to be concise when appropriate.

  • Set Max Tokens: Always specify a reasonable max_tokens parameter to prevent excessively long and potentially irrelevant outputs.
  • Prompt Engineering for Conciseness: Use explicit instructions like "Summarize in 3 sentences," "Provide only the answer," or "Be brief and to the point" to guide the model's output length.
  • Iterative Refinement: For complex tasks, break them down into smaller steps. Generate a concise intermediate output, then use that as input for the next step, rather than asking for one massive, detailed output.
Implement Caching and Deduplication

For repetitive queries or common prompts, avoid re-generating responses unnecessarily.

  • Response Caching: Store model responses for identical or near-identical prompts. If a user asks the same question twice, serve the cached answer.
  • Semantic Caching: For more advanced scenarios, use embeddings to identify semantically similar queries and serve cached responses even if the exact prompt string differs slightly.
  • Deduplicate Batch Inputs: If processing batches of data, ensure you're not sending duplicate items to the model, which can lead to redundant costs.

FAQ

What is Qwen3 Next 80B A3B?

Qwen3 Next 80B A3B is a state-of-the-art large language model developed by Alibaba. It features 80 billion parameters and an exceptionally large 262,000 token context window, making it highly capable for complex instruction following, deep analysis, and extensive content generation tasks. The 'A3B' likely denotes a specific variant or optimization within the Qwen3 Next series.

How does its 262k context window benefit users?

The 262,000 token context window allows the model to process and understand an enormous amount of information in a single query. This is invaluable for tasks such as summarizing entire books, analyzing vast code repositories, conducting in-depth legal document review, or maintaining very long, coherent conversations without losing track of previous turns. It significantly reduces the need for external retrieval systems in many complex applications.

What are the main trade-offs when choosing an API provider for this model?

The primary trade-offs involve balancing cost, speed (output tokens per second), and latency (time to first token). Providers optimized for the lowest latency might have higher output token costs, while those offering the highest throughput might not have the absolute lowest blended price. Your choice should align with your application's most critical performance or budget requirements.

Is Qwen3 Next 80B A3B suitable for real-time applications?

Yes, it can be highly suitable for real-time applications, especially when paired with providers that offer low latency (TTFT). Deepinfra and Google Vertex, for example, demonstrate very fast initial response times (under 0.35 seconds), making the model viable for interactive chatbots, live content generation, or dynamic decision support systems where quick feedback is essential.

What does its 'Open' license imply for commercial use?

An 'Open' license for a model like Qwen3 Next 80B A3B typically means it can be used, modified, and distributed freely, including for commercial purposes, often under terms similar to Apache 2.0 or MIT licenses. However, it's crucial to consult the specific license terms provided by Alibaba to understand any particular conditions, restrictions, or attribution requirements before deploying in a commercial product.

What are the typical use cases for Qwen3 Next 80B A3B?

Given its size, instruction-tuning, and massive context window, Qwen3 Next 80B A3B excels in a variety of advanced use cases. These include sophisticated content creation (long-form articles, marketing copy), complex code generation and analysis, in-depth research and question-answering over large datasets, advanced summarization of extensive documents, and building highly intelligent, context-aware conversational AI agents.

How does Qwen3 Next 80B A3B compare to other large models?

Qwen3 Next 80B A3B stands out due to its combination of a very high parameter count (80B), which contributes to its strong reasoning abilities, and its industry-leading 262k token context window. While other models may offer similar parameter counts, few can match its context handling capacity, giving it a distinct advantage for tasks requiring deep, long-range understanding and generation. Its performance metrics across various providers also position it competitively in terms of speed, latency, and cost-efficiency.


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