Qwen3.8 Max Prime vs Qwen3.8 Max (0902)
Qwen3.8 Max Prime took 37 min 2 s and $2.29 at list price, Qwen3.8 Max (0902) took 77 min 11 s and $1.20 at list price. Qwen3.8 Max (0902) took 2.1× as long, and Qwen3.8 Max Prime cost 1.9× as much.
Qwen3.8 Max Prime
Alibaba · $12.00/M out
Qwen3.8 Max (0902)
Alibaba · $6.00/M out · 3 HN pts
Pelican
Generate an SVG of a pelican riding a bicycle
Watch
Draw a mechanical wristwatch that shows the current local time, with a sweeping seconds hand and a date window. Make it look expensive.
Landing
Build the landing page for Lumen Cycles, a Copenhagen workshop that builds custom cargo bikes to order. Make it look like a real brand you would trust with 4,000 euros.
Breakout
Make a Breakout game I can play right now with the keyboard or the mouse. Give it several levels, a score and some juice.
Logo
Design a logo for Night Heron, an independent bookshop that only opens after dark.
About
Write the opening of the About us page for Patchbay, a three-person studio in Rotterdam that repairs vintage synthesizers. About 150 words.
Patchbay is a small studio in Rotterdam dedicated to the repair and care of vintage synthesizers. Run by three people who share a deep love for these instruments, we work hands-on with analog circuits, voices, keyboards, and aging components to bring old machines back to reliable musical life. Every synthesizer that enters the studio has a history, and we treat that history with respect, preserving original character while making sure the instrument can be played with confidence today. Our work ranges from routine servicing and calibration to careful troubleshooting and restoration of rare or badly worn gear. We work patiently, because these machines ask for time, attention, and understanding. We believe these instruments deserve to be heard, not stored away, and that good repair is a form of listening. From our bench in Rotterdam, we serve musicians, collectors, and studios who value craftsmanship, honesty, and the enduring sound of classic electronic instruments.
Patchbay is a small repair studio in Rotterdam dedicated to vintage synthesizers. We are three people who care about old instruments, their history, and the players who keep them alive. From classic analog polys to rare drum machines, we take the time to understand each machine before we touch it. Our work is practical and respectful: careful diagnosis, honest advice, and repairs that preserve the character of the instrument. We know these synths are more than circuits and knobs. They carry stories from studios, stages, and secondhand shops, and they deserve to be treated with patience. Whether a machine needs a simple clean, a full restoration, or help finding a hard-to-source part, we aim to make the process clear and personal from start to finish. Based in Rotterdam, we help musicians, collectors, and studios keep old synthesizers making sound for years to come. We do it with patience and respect.
Specs and numbers
| Qwen3.8 Max Prime | Qwen3.8 Max (0902) | |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Alibaba | Alibaba |
| Made in | China | China |
| Released | 23 Sep 2026 | 3 Sep 2026 |
| Price in, per M tokens | $4.00 | $2.00 |
| Price out, per M tokens | $12.00 | $6.00 |
| Context | 1,000,000 tokens | 1,000,000 tokens |
| Weights | closed | closed |
| Hacker News points | — | 3 |
| Time for the six prompts | 37 min 2 s | 77 min 11 s |
| List price of the six prompts | $2.29 | $1.20 |
Qwen3.8 Max (0902) was cheaper: $1.08 less at list price, and less on 5 of the 6 prompts. Qwen3.8 Max Prime was faster: 40 min 8 s less in total, and faster on each of the 6 prompts.
In the recording, both Breakout games play.
Rebuild this screen experiment: Qwen3.8 Max (0902)'s rebuild matched the screenshot at 81%; Qwen3.8 Max Prime was not in it. Tea Garden experiment: Qwen3.8 Max (0902)'s game passed 5 of 5 checks; Qwen3.8 Max Prime was not in it.