Deepseek V4 (New Model in the API): Deepseek may have just launched Deepseek V4?!

DeepSeek has quietly updated its API, with documentation now explicitly stating that DeepSeek Chat and DeepSeek Reasoner correspond to V3.2, which differs from the app and web versions. This explains why many users reported the API feeling smarter or more capable than the web interface. Unconfirmed screenshots from alleged DeepSeek staff suggest the API may be running a larger base model than the consumer version, while post-training remains broadly similar. The author tested the update and does not believe this constitutes a full V4 release, characterizing it more as a V3.3-style intermediate refresh. Reuters reporting from early 2026 had anticipated a V4 focused on coding, and the author speculates a true flagship V4 may arrive later. Key takeaways: the API and web/app versions are not the same model, benchmarking results depend heavily on which deployment is used, and the API may represent the stronger and more developer-relevant DeepSeek experience.