Anthropic has just introduced a new rapid mode for Claude, with a significantly high price tag: the "Fast Mode" for Opus 4.6 costs up to six times the standard rate. In return, Anthropic claims the model responds 2.5 times faster while maintaining the same quality level. This mode is specifically designed for real-time debugging, rapid code iteration, and time-sensitive tasks. For longer autonomous runs, batch processing/CI-CD pipelines, and cost-sensitive workloads, Anthropic suggests users are better off sticking with the standard mode.

Fast Mode can be activated within Claude Code and is operational on platforms like Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Figma, and Windsurf. A 50% discount is currently available, valid until February 16. This mode is not accessible through Amazon Bedrock, Google Vertex AI, or Microsoft Azure Foundry.