Test: Opus 5.5 on Low Reasoning Effort Matches Max at 12x Lower Cost
daniel_mac8 · x · 2026-09-25
Developer danielmac8 ran tests and found Claude Opus 5.5 on low reasoning effort was at parity with max on task completion, at roughly 12x lower cost. Recommendation: default to low effort and raise it only for the hardest problems. Others joked that humans also work best in 'low effort' mode.
Related event: Opus 5.5 Low Reasoning Mode Matches Max at 12x Lower Cost(2 posts)→
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