GPT-5 Variants: What's the Difference?
GPT-5, the latest language model from OpenAI, comes in various sizes and configurations. But what do they all mean? In this post, we'll break down the differences between GPT-5 high, GPT-5 low, GPT-5 high fast, GPT-5 low fast, and other models used in Cursor AI.
GPT-5 Variants Basics
According to OpenAI's API release notes, GPT-5 comes in three sizes: gpt-5, gpt-5-mini, and gpt-5-nano. These models trade off performance, cost, and response speed. Additionally, there's a verbosity parameter (low, medium, high) to control how chatty the model is, and reasoning_effort, which can be lowered for faster replies.
Cursor-Specific Models
Cursor uses several GPT-5 variants labeled like: gpt-5-high, gpt-5-low, gpt-5-high-fast, and gpt-5-low-fast. But what do these labels mean? The 'high' and 'low' likely refer to the reasoning_effort levels, with high reasoning resulting in better and more detailed thoughts, while low reasoning produces faster but less deep output.
- GPT-5-high: deep, thorough responses (slower)
- GPT-5-low: quicker, more superficial (faster)
- GPT-5-high-fast: fast lane with higher expense
- GPT-5-low-fast: fast lane with higher expense
User Feedback and Experiences
Users have shared their experiences with GPT-5 variants in Cursor AI. Some have reported positive results with GPT-5-high, citing its ability to provide detailed and thorough responses. Others have found GPT-5-low to be sufficient for quick fixes and iterative coding.
| Model Variant | Speed | Reasoning Depth | Cost | Use Case |
| gpt-5-high | Slow | High or deep | Standard | Complex, careful tasks |
| gpt-5-low | Fast | Lower but solid | Standard | Quick fixes, iterative coding |
| gpt-5-high-fast | Very fast | High~2× price | Immediate deep output, if $$ isn't an issue | |
| gpt-5-low-fast | Very fast | Lower~2× price | Rapid dev tasks where cost doesn't matter |
Conclusion
In conclusion, understanding the differences between GPT-5 variants is crucial for choosing the right model for your needs. Whether you prioritize speed, reasoning depth, or cost, there's a GPT-5 variant that suits your requirements. Experiment with different models and find the one that works best for you.
