DeepSeek R1 vs Fugu Max
Detailed technical comparison between DeepSeek R1 (DeepSeek) and Fugu Max (Sakana AI). Review live API token pricing, context window capabilities, time-to-first-token latency, and verified benchmark scores side-by-side.
Comparison Snapshot
Fugu Max
1,000,000 tokensTie
Equal CapabilityTie
Equal SpeedDeepSeek R1
$0.70 / MTokDeepSeek R1
DeepSeek R1 is an advanced artificial intelligence model engineered by DeepSeek. Tailored for complex multi-step reasoning, programming synthesis, and extended document comprehension, DeepSeek R1 represents a key architectural iteration in the DeepSeek model family. First released in 2025-01-20, it serves enterprise developers, research teams, and autonomous system architects requiring strict instruction compliance. Featuring an input capacity of 163,840 tokens (approximately 218 words), DeepSeek R1 processes multi-file code repositories, lengthy technical reports, and complex prompts in a single inference call.
Fugu Max
Fugu Max is an advanced artificial intelligence model engineered by Sakana AI. Tailored for complex multi-step reasoning, programming synthesis, and extended document comprehension, Fugu Max represents a key architectural iteration in the Sakana AI model family. First released in 2026-09-11, it serves enterprise developers, research teams, and autonomous system architects requiring strict instruction compliance. Featuring an input capacity of 1,000,000 tokens (approximately 1,333 words), Fugu Max processes multi-file code repositories, lengthy technical reports, and complex prompts in a single inference call.
Technical Specifications
🏆 = Superior Spec| Specification | DeepSeek R1 | Fugu Max |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | DeepSeek | Sakana AI |
| Context Window | 163,840 tokens | 1,000,000 tokens🏆 |
| Agent Suitability | 78/100 (est.) | Not yet benchmarked |
| Time to First Token (TTFT) | 1800 ms (est.) | No public TTFT data |
| Deployment Model | managed api | managed api |
| Production Stability | Stable GA (est.) | Beta Access (est.) |
| API Available | Yes | Yes |
| Released Date | 2025-01-20 | 2026-09-11 |
API Pricing Comparison
Input Price per Million Tokens
DeepSeek R1
$0.70
Fugu Max
$2.00
Output Price per Million Tokens
DeepSeek R1
$2.50
Fugu Max
$6.00
💡 Cost Ratio: DeepSeek R1 is 2.9x cheaper per input token than Fugu Max.
Want to test both models live?
Run side-by-side prompt benchmarks in our dynamic multi-model Sandbox. Compare execution speeds, latency metrics, and compute actual costs in real-time.
Benchmark Performance Metrics
Standardized Scores (0–100%)Scores show verified raw accuracy percentages across standardized AI evaluation suites. Higher bars indicate superior performance in that domain.
DeepSeek R1 Quirks & Gotchas
- ▸Reasoning model — not designed for high-frequency tool calling
- ▸Pair with a smaller model (V4 Flash) for routing and use R1 for complex reasoning only
Fugu Max Quirks & Gotchas
No developer gotchas reported.
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