Beam 1.0 501B A23B vs DeepSeek V4 Flash
Pricing, context window and real answers (October 2026)
Beam 1.0 501B A23B (Reflection AI) and DeepSeek V4 Flash (DeepSeek), compared as you can actually call them on FastMetal. Both are served from the same OpenAI-compatible endpoint and API key; switching is a change to the model string.
Specs and pricing
| Beam 1.0 501B A23B |  DeepSeek V4 Flash | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Reflection AI | DeepSeek |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | $0.422 | $0.095 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | $1.27 | $0.1899 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | $1.06 | $0.1899 |
| Context window | 1,048,576 tokens | 1,048,576 tokens |
| Release date | 10/16/2026 | 4/24/2026 |
| Input modalities | text | text |
| Throughput (p50) | — | 47 tokens/s (n=26) |
| Arena · overall | Unranked | #104 · ELO 1,436 |
| Arena · Japanese | Unranked | #88 · ELO 1,398 |
| Arena · coding | Unranked | #105 · ELO 1,484 |
Prices are FastMetal's rates, before tax.
Rankings: LMArena leaderboard dataset (lmarena-ai/leaderboard-dataset), CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-10-15; category names mapped and ratings rounded by FastMetal.
Which should you pick?
- On price, DeepSeek V4 Flash: $0.1899 per 1M output tokens, 85% less than Beam 1.0 501B A23B.
- If in doubt, try both on the same key. Switching is a change to the model string, and each is billed at its own rate.
Real answers to the same prompts
Exactly what the FastMetal gateway returned, side by side. Not benchmark scores: actual output.
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'
Count the number of 'r's in 'strawberry'. Explain your reasoning step by step.
Beam 1.0 501B A23B
The word “strawberry” is spelled:
s - t - r - a - w - b - e - r - r - y
The letter “r” appears in these positions:
- s**r**awberry (1st r)
- strawbe**r**ry (2nd r)
- strawber**r**y (3rd r)
Therefore, there are **3** r's in “strawberry.”
7.6s278 output tokens
DeepSeek V4 Flash
The word "strawberry" is spelled as s-t-r-a-w-b-e-r-r-y. I go through each letter: s (no), t (no), r (yes, first), a (no), w (no), b (no), e (no), r (yes, second), r (yes, third), y (no). Thus, there are three 'r's.
3.9s251 output tokens
Debug This Error
I'm getting the following error in my Node.js application: TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map') at UserList (/app/components/UserList.js:12:25) at renderWithHooks (/app/node_modules/rea…
Beam 1.0 501B A23B
The error means `users` is `undefined` when `UserList` renders, so calling `.map` on `undefined` throws.
### Common causes
1. Parent renders `<UserList />` without a `users` prop.
2. Parent passes `users={data}` where `data` is still `undefined` (e.g., fetch not resolved).
3. Destructured prop name mismatch.
### Fixes
**1. Default the prop**
```js
function UserList({ users = [] }) {
return (
<ul>
{users.map(user => <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>)}
</ul>
);
}
```
**2. Guard in JSX**
```js
{Array.isArray(users) && users.map(user => <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>)}
```
**3. Optional chaining**
```js
{users?.map(user => <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>)}
```
Note…
12.8s414 output tokens
DeepSeek V4 Flash
The error occurs because `users` is `undefined` when the component tries to call `.map()` on it.
## Why this happens
Your component expects `users` to be an array, but it's receiving `undefined` as a prop. This typically happens when:
1. The parent component doesn't pass the `users` prop
2. The data fetching hasn't completed yet (async data loading)
3. The API response is missing the expected data structure
## How to fix it
### Option 1: Default prop value (Recommended for initial state)
```jsx
function UserList({ users = [] }) {
return (
<ul>
{users.map(user => <li key={user.id}>{user.name}</li>)}
</ul>
);
}
```
### Option 2: Guard clause (More explicit)
```jsx
func…
6.3s422 output tokens
Code Review
Please review the following Python function and suggest improvements for readability, performance, and best practices: def get_data(url, retries=3): import requests import time for i in range(retries):…
Beam 1.0 501B A23B
Here are some key issues and improvements:
### Main issues in the original
- **Imports inside the function** run on every call and hurt readability.
- **Bare `except:`** catches `KeyboardInterrupt`, `SystemExit`, and programming errors.
- **Retries every non-200 response**, including `404`/`400`, which usually should not be retried.
- **`item["active"] == True`** can raise `KeyError` and is stricter than necessary unless you truly need exact boolean equality.
- **Fixed sleep and unnecessary final sleep** before returning.
- **Repeated `item["name"]` / `item["id"]`** lookups are slightly slower and less clean than a comprehension.
- No handling/validation for malformed JSON or non-list respo…
16.8s1927 output tokens
DeepSeek V4 Flash
Here's a comprehensive review with suggested improvements:
## Issues Identified:
1. **Import at wrong location** - Imports inside functions are inefficient and non-standard
2. **Bare `except:` clause** - Catches all exceptions including `KeyboardInterrupt`, `SystemExit`
3. **Missing error handling granularity** - Should distinguish between retryable and non-retryable errors
4. **Duplicate sleep logic** - Same sleep in `else` and `except` blocks
5. **Unnecessary variable** - `data` is only used once
6. **Inefficient list building** - Manual loop instead of list comprehension
7. **Hardcoded error message** - No logging or error context
8. **Missing type hints** - No type annotations
9. **Fun…
12.6s987 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Beam 1.0 501B A23B or DeepSeek V4 Flash?
- Per 1M output tokens, Beam 1.0 501B A23B is $1.27 and DeepSeek V4 Flash is $0.1899 on FastMetal (US dollars, before tax), so DeepSeek V4 Flash is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of Beam 1.0 501B A23B and DeepSeek V4 Flash compare?
- Beam 1.0 501B A23B takes 1,048,576 tokens; DeepSeek V4 Flash takes 1,048,576.
- Can I use Beam 1.0 501B A23B and DeepSeek V4 Flash with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "beam-1.0" or "deepseek-v4-flash" as the model. Each is billed at its own rate from the same prepaid balance.
Try both on one API key
Create an account and add credit to call Beam 1.0 501B A23B and DeepSeek V4 Flash from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.