DeepSeek technical team member Tianyi Cui said V4 Pro requests will be routed to V4.1 Flash after the V4.1 Flash model officially launches and before V4.1 Pro goes online. Cui said V4.1 Flash outperforms V4 Pro across performance, cost, speed, and total time metrics, making it inappropriate to continue offering the weaker V4 Pro at a higher price and slower speed. Routed V4 Pro requests will be billed at Flash prices.