---
title: "opencode variants"
description: "Opencode is changing on the daily right now, today I noticed the word pop up in Orange text in my opencode window. Looking into this they are exposing..."
date: 2026-01-13
published: true
tags:
  - ai
  - llm
  - opencode
template: til
---


Opencode is changing on the daily right now, today I noticed the word `low` pop
up in Orange text in my opencode window.  Looking into this they are exposing
[variants](https://opencode.ai/docs/models/#variants) to the user.  This allows
you to change between fast or slow and thinking, the later taking more time to
prepare before doing an action.

![Swapping Variants in opencode](https://dropper.waylonwalker.com/file/0b6bfe5e-41b0-4e44-8c5a-ff88739a770e.mp4)

It looks like this toggle may have been here for awhile and I'm just now
discovering it. Potentially because its a new feature of the free Zen provider.

> Variants
Many models support multiple variants with different configurations. OpenCode ships with built-in default variants for popular providers.
> 
> Built-in variants
> OpenCode ships with default variants for many providers:
> 
> Anthropic:
> 
> high - High thinking budget (default)
> max - Maximum thinking budget
> OpenAI:
> 
> Varies by model but roughly:
> 
> none - No reasoning
> minimal - Minimal reasoning effort
> low - Low reasoning effort
> medium - Medium reasoning effort
> high - High reasoning effort
> xhigh - Extra high reasoning effort
> Google:
> 
> low - Lower effort/token budget
> high - Higher effort/token budget