Beam 1.0 501B A23B vs Muse Spark 1.2
Pricing, context window and real answers (October 2026)
Beam 1.0 501B A23B (Reflection AI) and Muse Spark 1.2 (Meta), 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 |  Muse Spark 1.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Reflection AI | Meta |
| Input (per 1M tokens) | $0.422 | $1.38 |
| Output (per 1M tokens) | $1.27 | $4.68 |
| Typical cost (1,000 in + 500 out tokens × 1,000 calls) | $1.06 | $3.72 |
| Context window | 1,048,576 tokens | 1,048,576 tokens |
| Release date | 10/16/2026 | 8/5/2026 |
| Input modalities | text | text, image, video, file, audio |
| Throughput (p50) | — | — |
| Arena · overall | Unranked | #12 · ELO 1,493 |
| Arena · Japanese | Unranked | Unranked |
| Arena · coding | Unranked | #11 · ELO 1,539 |
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, Beam 1.0 501B A23B: $1.27 per 1M output tokens, 73% less than Muse Spark 1.2.
- 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
Muse Spark 1.2
There are **3** 'r's in "strawberry".
Here is my reasoning step by step:
1. Write out the word and its spelling: **s-t-r-a-w-b-e-r-r-y**
2. Go through each letter one by one and check if it is an 'r':
* 1. s - not an 'r' -> count = 0
* 2. t - not an 'r' -> count = 0
* 3. **r** - yes, it's an 'r' -> count = 1
* 4. a - not an 'r' -> count = 1
* 5. w - not an 'r' -> count = 1
* 6. b - not an 'r' -> count = 1
* 7. e - not an 'r' -> count = 1
* 8. **r** - yes, it's an 'r' -> count = 2
* 9. **r** - yes, it's an 'r' -> count = 3
* 10. y - not an 'r' -> count = 3
3. Final total = **3**.
13.3s1123 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
Muse Spark 1.2
This error means `users` is `undefined` when the component tries to render.
You are calling `.map()` on `users` at line 12, but `.map()` only exists on arrays. If `users` is `undefined` or `null`, JavaScript throws: `Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'map')`.
This usually happens for 2 reasons:
1. You didn't pass the `users` prop to the component: `<UserList />`
2. Your data is async and `users` is `undefined` on the first render. For example: `const [users, setUsers] = useState()` without an initial value, and the data hasn't been fetched yet.
### Fix it
You need to guarantee `users` is always an array before you call `.map()`.
#### 1. Best Fix: Give it a default value
U…
7.6s1142 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
Muse Spark 1.2
Here is a review of your function with a refactored, production-ready version:
### Issues in the Current Version
#### 1. Readability
1. **Generic name:** `get_data` tells nothing about what it does. `get_active_items` is better.
2. **Imports inside function:** `import requests, time` should be at the top of the file. It's slower and violates PEP 8.
3. **Magic numbers:** `200`, `10`, `2` have no context.
4. **Verbose loop:** Manual `for` loop + `append` can be replaced with a list comprehension.
5. **No documentation/typing:** No docstring, no type hints, so callers don't know what it expects or returns.
6. **`== True` is redundant:** `if item["active"] == True:` should be `if item["a…
11.8s2278 output tokens
Frequently asked questions
- Which is cheaper, Beam 1.0 501B A23B or Muse Spark 1.2?
- Per 1M output tokens, Beam 1.0 501B A23B is $1.27 and Muse Spark 1.2 is $4.68 on FastMetal (US dollars, before tax), so Beam 1.0 501B A23B is cheaper.
- How do the context windows of Beam 1.0 501B A23B and Muse Spark 1.2 compare?
- Beam 1.0 501B A23B takes 1,048,576 tokens; Muse Spark 1.2 takes 1,048,576.
- Can I use Beam 1.0 501B A23B and Muse Spark 1.2 with the same API key?
- Yes. On FastMetal's OpenAI-compatible endpoint, switch by passing "beam-1.0" or "muse-spark-1.2" 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 Muse Spark 1.2 from the browser chat and the API. No monthly fee.