Hy4 vs Hy4 Preview
Which one to choose
Pick Hy4 for new work: it is Tencent's general release from November 4, 2026, it adds understanding of images, charts and documents and computer use for command-line and graphical interfaces, and Tencent reports lower hallucination than the preview. Pick Hy4 Preview only for text-only work that is already tuned to it and that you do not want to re-test. Both support tool calling, reasoning and prompt caching, so text prompts should carry over.
Pricing comparison
| Hy4 | Hy4 Preview | |
|---|---|---|
| Model maker | Tencent | Tencent |
| Delivery availability | Available | Available |
| Context window | 960K | 960K |
| Max output | 64K | 64K |
| Official price | Input$0.417per 1M tokensOutput$1.25per 1M tokens | Input$0.834per 1M tokensOutput$2.50per 1M tokens |
| Verified price | — | — |
| Model performance | Collecting data | Collecting data |
| Capabilities | ReasoningTool usePrompt CacheVision | ReasoningTool usePrompt Cache |
Choose Hy4 when
- Your inputs include charts, scanned report pages, screenshots or several images in one task.
- An agent has to work in a terminal or from what is on screen.
- You are starting a new project and want Tencent's general release instead of the preview.
Choose Hy4 Preview when
- Every input is text, so image understanding adds nothing for your workload.
- Your prompts and evaluations are tuned to the preview and you have not had time to re-test.
- You want weights that are already published; Tencent has announced Hy4 weights only for a later date.
How they differ
| Aspect | Hy4 | Hy4 Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Release status | Tencent's general release, published on November 4, 2026. | The early release that came first, which Tencent described as a preview with room left to improve. |
| Image input | Reads images, complex charts, documents and several images in one task. | Text only; images have to go to another model. |
| Computer use | Operates command-line and graphical interfaces, according to Tencent. | Tool calling on text, without the computer use that Hy4 adds. |
| Reliability | Tencent reports lower hallucination than the preview. | Tencent names over-verification and weak reasoning on some complex tasks. |
| Open weights | Tencent has announced weights and a system card for a later date. | Weights are published on Hugging Face under the Apache 2.0 license. |
Summary
- Hy4: —; Hy4 Preview: —. Rates depend on the billing unit, specification, and usage. Compare matching conditions in the model's detailed pricing; a single rate does not determine the total cost.
FAQ
Is Hy4 better than Hy4 Preview?
For most new work, yes. Hy4 is the general release, it adds image understanding and computer use, and Tencent reports lower hallucination than the preview. The preview still fits text-only work that is already tuned to it. Compare both on your own prompts before you move production traffic.
Can Hy4 replace Hy4 Preview without prompt changes?
For text prompts, usually, since both support tool calling, reasoning and prompt caching. Re-run your own tests before you switch, because a new release can change answers and style. Image input and computer use are new in Hy4, so there is nothing from the preview to carry over.
Which one should an agent use?
Use Hy4 if the agent must read screenshots, charts or documents, or operate a terminal or a graphical interface. Use Hy4 Preview if the agent works only from text and code and you want to keep a setup you have tested. Both support tool calling.
Does Hy4 have open weights like the preview?
Not yet. The weights of Hy4 Preview are published on Hugging Face under Apache 2.0. For Hy4, Tencent has announced weights and a system card for a later date. Check Tencent's own pages before you plan to self-host Hy4.
Which is cheaper, Hy4 or Hy4 Preview?
Hy4: —; Hy4 Preview: —. Rates depend on the billing unit, specification, and usage. Compare matching conditions in the model's detailed pricing; a single rate does not determine the total cost.
What are the key differences between Hy4 and Hy4 Preview?
Hy4: Vision
Sources
- Tencent launches Hy4 (PR Newswire)
- Hy4 (Tencent Cloud documentation)
- Hy4-preview model card (Hugging Face)
Reviewed Nov 5, 2026