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Sweep 22 Oct 2026 · 04:32Z Build v2.1.308 527 read Stable v2.1.308 Latest v2.1.308 Next v2.1.308 Feeds RSS JSON llms.txt llms-full.txt Unofficial
HomeDocsClaude Developer Platform 15 Oct 2026
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choosing-a-model changedabout-claude/models/choosing-a-model

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99When choosing a Claude model, consider first evaluating these factors:
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1111* **Capabilities:** What specific features or capabilities will you need the model to have to meet your needs?
12* **Speed:** How quickly does the model need to respond in your application? Claude Opus 5.5, Claude Opus 5, and Claude Opus 4.8 support [fast mode](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/fast-mode) (research preview), which delivers up to 2.5x higher output speed at premium pricing.
12* **Speed:** How quickly does the model need to respond in your application? [Fast mode](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/fast-mode) delivers up to 2.5x higher output speed at premium pricing on [supported models](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/fast-mode#supported-models).
1313* **Cost:** What's your budget for both development and production usage?
1414* **Effort:** Several Claude models support an [effort parameter](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/effort) that trades intelligence for latency and cost within a single model. Tuning effort is often a better lever than switching models. On Claude Fable 5.1, Claude Opus 5, and Claude Sonnet 5.5, start with the default (`high`) and adjust up or down based on your evals. On Claude Opus 5.5 and Claude Haiku 5.5 the default is `medium`; start there and adjust the same way. On Claude Opus 4.8 and Claude Opus 4.7, the `xhigh` effort level, between `high` and `max`, is the best setting for most coding and agentic use cases.
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