Qwen3 VL 235B A22B (non-reasoning)

Visionary Multimodal Powerhouse

Qwen3 VL 235B A22B (non-reasoning)

A powerful multimodal model excelling in visual understanding, offering robust performance for complex image-to-text tasks.

MultimodalVision-LanguageOpen LicenseLarge ContextText GenerationImage Input

The Qwen3 VL 235B A22B model emerges as a significant contender in the multimodal AI landscape, specifically designed for tasks requiring a deep understanding of both text and visual inputs. Developed by Alibaba, this open-license model offers a substantial 262k token context window, enabling it to process and generate highly detailed responses based on complex visual information and extensive textual prompts. Its 'VL' designation highlights its core strength in Vision-Language tasks, making it a go-to choice for applications ranging from advanced image captioning to visual document analysis and interactive visual question answering.

Benchmarked on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, Qwen3 VL 235B A22B achieves a score of 44, positioning it above the average of 33 for comparable models. This indicates a strong capability in understanding and processing complex instructions, especially when visual data is involved. However, it's important to note its classification as a 'non-reasoning' model, meaning its strengths lie in pattern recognition and information synthesis rather than complex logical inference or problem-solving. During evaluation, the model demonstrated a high degree of verbosity, generating 19 million tokens compared to an average of 11 million, which can have implications for both processing time and cost.

While its intelligence is commendable, the model's performance profile reveals a trade-off in speed and cost. With an average output speed of 38 tokens per second, it falls below the class average of 45 tokens per second. Pricing is also a factor, with input tokens costing $0.70 per million (above the average of $0.56) and output tokens at $2.80 per million (compared to an average of $1.67). This positions Qwen3 VL 235B A22B as a somewhat more expensive option, particularly for high-volume or verbose applications. The total evaluation cost for the Intelligence Index was $93.89, underscoring the importance of provider selection and optimization strategies.

Despite these considerations, Qwen3 VL 235B A22B's robust multimodal capabilities and large context window make it an invaluable asset for developers building sophisticated visual AI applications. Its open-license nature further enhances its appeal, offering flexibility and control. Strategic provider selection and careful prompt engineering are key to harnessing its power efficiently, balancing its strong visual understanding with cost and speed considerations to achieve optimal real-world performance.

Scoreboard

Intelligence

44 (#10 / 30 / 30)

Above average for its class, demonstrating strong multimodal understanding.
Output speed

38.2 tokens/s

Slower than average (45 t/s), but provider optimization can significantly improve this.
Input price

$0.70 $/M tokens

Somewhat expensive compared to the average ($0.56/M).
Output price

$2.80 $/M tokens

Somewhat expensive compared to the average ($1.67/M).
Verbosity signal

19M tokens

Very verbose, generating significantly more tokens than average (11M) during evaluation.
Provider latency

0.31s seconds (TTFT)

Deepinfra (FP8) offers exceptional time to first token, crucial for interactive applications.

Technical specifications

Spec Details
Model Name Qwen3 VL 235B A22B Instruct
Developer Alibaba
License Open
Modality Multimodal (Vision-Language)
Input Types Text, Image
Output Types Text
Context Window 262k tokens
Intelligence Index 44 (Above Average)
Average Output Speed 38.2 tokens/s (Slower than Average)
Average Input Price $0.70 / 1M tokens (Somewhat Expensive)
Average Output Price $2.80 / 1M tokens (Somewhat Expensive)
Verbosity 19M tokens (Very Verbose)
Key Feature Robust visual understanding and generation

What stands out beyond the scoreboard

Where this model wins
  • Exceptional Multimodal Understanding: Excels at interpreting and responding to complex visual inputs combined with text.
  • Large Context Window: A 262k token context allows for processing extensive documents and detailed image descriptions.
  • Above-Average Intelligence: Scores well on the Intelligence Index, indicating strong capability in understanding instructions.
  • Open License Flexibility: Provides developers with freedom for customization and deployment.
  • Strong Performance in Visual Tasks: Ideal for applications like advanced image captioning, visual Q&A, and document analysis.
Where costs sneak up
  • Higher-than-average Token Pricing: Both input and output tokens are more expensive than many comparable models.
  • Slower Baseline Output Speed: The average speed of 38 t/s can impact real-time applications and throughput.
  • High Verbosity Can Inflate Costs: Generating more tokens per response directly translates to higher expenditure.
  • Provider Choice Significantly Impacts Cost/Performance: Benchmarks show wide variations in pricing and speed across providers.
  • FP8 Quantization Benefits: While efficient, FP8 providers may still have higher blended costs for this model.

Provider pick

Optimizing the performance and cost-efficiency of Qwen3 VL 235B A22B heavily relies on selecting the right API provider. Each provider offers a unique balance of speed, latency, and pricing, catering to different application priorities. The following table highlights key providers and their strengths for this specific model.

Priority Pick Why Tradeoff to accept
Prioritize Speed Eigen AI Unmatched output speed (71 t/s) for high-throughput applications requiring rapid text generation from visual inputs. Higher blended price ($1.00/M tokens) and latency (1.01s) compared to other top contenders.
Prioritize Latency Deepinfra (FP8) Offers the lowest time to first token (0.31s), critical for interactive user experiences and real-time visual analysis. Moderate output speed and a blended price of $0.60/M tokens, which is competitive but not the absolute lowest.
Prioritize Cost Fireworks The most cost-effective option with the lowest blended price ($0.39/M tokens), and competitive input/output token pricing. Moderate output speed (44 t/s) and latency (0.58s), not leading in performance but offering excellent value.
Balanced Performance Novita Provides a solid all-around performance with competitive output speed (29 t/s), latency (0.92s), and a blended price of $0.60/M tokens. Doesn't lead in any single metric but offers a reliable and cost-effective middle ground for general use cases.
FP8 Efficiency Parasail (FP8) Excellent latency (0.53s) and efficient FP8 quantization, balancing speed and resource utilization. Higher blended price ($1.00/M tokens) and lower output speed (27 t/s) compared to other optimized providers.

Note: Performance metrics can vary based on specific workload, region, and API configuration. Prices are subject to change by providers.

Real workloads cost table

Understanding the real-world cost of using Qwen3 VL 235B A22B involves more than just token prices; it requires considering typical usage patterns and the model's inherent verbosity. Below are estimated costs for common multimodal scenarios, using Fireworks as the provider due to its cost-effectiveness (Input: $0.22/M, Output: $0.88/M).

Scenario Input Output What it represents Estimated cost
Image Captioning 1 image, 50 text tokens 150 text tokens Generating a concise description for a single image. ~$0.000143
Visual Document Analysis 5 images, 500 text tokens 300 text tokens Extracting key information from a multi-page visual document. ~$0.000374
Interactive Visual Q&A (5 turns) 5 images, 500 text tokens (total) 400 text tokens (total) Engaging in a short conversation about visual content. ~$0.000462
Content Moderation (Visual) 10 images, 200 text tokens 100 text tokens Analyzing multiple images for policy violations with brief textual context. ~$0.000132
Detailed Visual Description 1 image, 20 text tokens 500 text tokens Generating an extensive, descriptive narrative for a single complex image. ~$0.000444

These scenarios highlight that while individual requests might seem inexpensive, costs can quickly accumulate with high-volume usage or verbose outputs, especially for detailed visual descriptions. Strategic prompt engineering to manage output length and leveraging cost-optimized providers like Fireworks are crucial for budget control.

How to control cost (a practical playbook)

Effectively managing the operational costs of Qwen3 VL 235B A22B requires a multi-faceted approach, considering both model characteristics and provider offerings. Here are key strategies to optimize your expenditure without compromising performance:

Strategic Provider Selection

The choice of API provider is arguably the most impactful decision for cost optimization. As benchmarks show, prices can vary significantly. Evaluate providers not just on blended rates, but also on their input and output token pricing, as well as their performance metrics like speed and latency, which indirectly affect cost through efficiency.

  • Benchmark Regularly: Provider pricing and performance can change. Periodically re-evaluate your chosen provider against alternatives.
  • Match Provider to Priority: If latency is critical, Deepinfra (FP8) might be worth a slightly higher cost. If raw throughput at the lowest price is key, Fireworks is a strong contender.
  • Leverage FP8 Options: Providers offering FP8 quantization (like Deepinfra and Parasail) can provide better efficiency and potentially lower costs for certain workloads, though their blended price might not always be the lowest.
Prompt Engineering for Verbosity Control

Qwen3 VL 235B A22B is noted for its verbosity. While this can be beneficial for detailed responses, it directly translates to higher output token costs. Carefully crafted prompts can guide the model to be more concise without losing essential information.

  • Specify Output Length: Explicitly ask for short, brief, or concise answers when appropriate (e.g., "Summarize this image in 50 words or less.").
  • Use Structured Output: Requesting bullet points, lists, or specific formats can naturally limit verbosity compared to free-form paragraphs.
  • Iterate and Refine: Test different prompt variations to find the sweet spot between desired detail and token count for your specific use case.
Output Token Management

Since output tokens are significantly more expensive than input tokens, minimizing unnecessary output is crucial. This goes beyond prompt engineering and involves how you handle the model's responses.

  • Truncate Responses: If your application only needs a certain amount of information, implement logic to truncate responses after a specific token count or character limit.
  • Filter Redundancy: Post-process model outputs to remove repetitive phrases or boilerplate text that doesn't add value.
  • Cache Common Responses: For frequently asked questions or recurring visual elements, consider caching model outputs to avoid repeated API calls.
Batching and Asynchronous Processing

For applications with a high volume of requests, especially those that don't require immediate real-time responses, batching requests can improve efficiency and potentially reduce costs, depending on the provider's pricing model for batched calls.

  • Group Similar Requests: Combine multiple independent requests into a single API call if the provider supports it, reducing overhead.
  • Asynchronous Processing: For non-critical tasks, process requests asynchronously in batches during off-peak hours if pricing tiers or resource availability are favorable.
  • Monitor Throughput: Understand your application's typical request volume and adjust batching strategies to maximize efficiency without hitting rate limits.

FAQ

What is Qwen3 VL 235B A22B?

Qwen3 VL 235B A22B is a powerful multimodal (Vision-Language) AI model developed by Alibaba. It is designed to understand and generate text based on both textual and image inputs, making it highly capable for a wide range of visual AI tasks. It operates under an open license, offering flexibility for developers.

What are its primary use cases?

Its primary use cases include advanced image captioning, visual question answering (VQA), visual document analysis, content generation from images, and multimodal content moderation. Its ability to process large context windows also makes it suitable for detailed analysis of complex visual data.

How does its intelligence compare to other models?

Qwen3 VL 235B A22B scores 44 on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, placing it above the average for comparable models. This indicates strong capabilities in understanding and executing complex instructions, particularly in multimodal contexts. However, it is classified as a 'non-reasoning' model, meaning its strengths are in pattern recognition and information synthesis rather than deep logical inference.

Is Qwen3 VL 235B A22B expensive to use?

Compared to the average for its class, Qwen3 VL 235B A22B is somewhat more expensive, with input tokens at $0.70/M and output tokens at $2.80/M. Its high verbosity during generation can also contribute to higher costs. However, strategic provider selection and prompt engineering can significantly mitigate these expenses.

What is its context window size?

The model boasts a substantial context window of 262,000 tokens. This large capacity allows it to process and retain a vast amount of information from both text and images within a single interaction, enabling more comprehensive and coherent responses for complex tasks.

Which providers offer the best performance for this model?

Performance varies by metric: Eigen AI offers the fastest output speed (71 t/s), Deepinfra (FP8) provides the lowest latency (0.31s), and Fireworks is the most cost-effective ($0.39/M blended price). Novita offers a balanced performance, while Parasail (FP8) provides good latency with FP8 efficiency. The 'best' provider depends on your specific application priorities.

Can Qwen3 VL 235B A22B process images?

Yes, Qwen3 VL 235B A22B is a multimodal model specifically designed to accept both text and image inputs. It can interpret visual information from images and combine it with textual prompts to generate relevant text-based outputs, making it ideal for tasks requiring visual understanding.

What does 'non-reasoning' mean for this model?

Being a 'non-reasoning' model means Qwen3 VL 235B A22B excels at tasks that involve pattern matching, information extraction, summarization, and generation based on learned data. It is not designed for complex logical deduction, abstract problem-solving, or tasks requiring deep causal reasoning. Its strength lies in its ability to understand and synthesize information from its training data, particularly across modalities.


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