choosing-a-model changedabout-claude/models/choosing-a-model
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1111* **Capabilities:** What specific features or capabilities will you need the model to have to meet your needs?
1212* **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?
14* **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 5.2, 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.
14* **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 5.2, 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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1616***
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43432. [Optimize your prompts](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/prompt-engineering/prompting-claude-opus-5-5) for this model.
44443. Evaluate if performance meets your requirements.
45454. Consider increasing efficiency by lowering [effort](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/effort) or downgrading models over time with greater workflow optimization.
465. If your evals at `xhigh` or `max` effort still fall short on demanding reasoning or long-horizon agentic work, move to [Claude Fable 5.2](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/models/fable-5-2/whats-new-fable-5-2).
465. If your evals at `xhigh` or `max` effort still fall short on demanding reasoning or long-horizon agentic work, move to [Claude Fable 5.2](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/models/fable-5-2/overview).
4747
4848This approach is best for:
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5858**Claude Fable 5.2** (`claude-fable-5-2`) is Anthropic’s most capable model open to all customers. It’s built for demanding reasoning and long-horizon agentic work. **Claude Mythos 5.2** (`claude-mythos-5-2`) offers the same capabilities only to organizations verified through Anthropic’s verification programs, such as the [Cyber Verification Program](https://support.claude.com/en/articles/14604842). Both models use always-on [adaptive thinking](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/build-with-claude/thinking). If your code changes `system`, `tools`, or earlier messages in a conversation, moves a conversation between models, uses the `computer_20251124` computer use tool, or uses the advisor tool, see [Claude Fable 5.2 breaking changes](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/models/fable-5-2/whats-new-fable-5-2#breaking-changes) before switching.
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60For context windows, output limits, and prices, see the [model comparison table](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/models/overview#latest-models-comparison).
60For context windows, output limits, and prices, see the [All models](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/models/overview#all-models) table.
6161
6262## Model selection matrix
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7474
7575## Decide whether to upgrade or change models
7676
77To determine if you need to upgrade or change models, you should:
77To decide whether to upgrade or change models:
7878
79791. [Create benchmark tests](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/test-and-evaluate/develop-tests) specific to your use case. Having a good evaluation set is the most important step in the process.
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9090
9191## Combine models
9292
93Multi-model strategies pair a lower-cost model with a frontier model so that most tokens are billed at the lower rate. The two common patterns are an executor that escalates hard decisions to an advisor, and an orchestrator that delegates bulk work to lower-cost workers. See [Optimizing for cost and intelligence](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/about-claude/models/optimizing-for-cost-and-intelligence) for both strategies, measured examples, and implementation options.
93Multimodel strategies pair a lower-cost model with a frontier model so that most tokens are billed at the lower rate. The two common patterns are an executor that escalates hard decisions to an advisor, and an orchestrator that delegates bulk work to lower-cost workers. See [Optimizing for cost and intelligence](https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/about-claude/models/optimizing-for-cost-and-intelligence) for both strategies, measured examples, and implementation options.
9494
9595## Next steps
9696
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