ChatGPTs hidden backup model just got smarter as OpenAI adds a cheaper Pro option

Date:
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 11:56:13 +0000

Description:
OpenAI has upgraded ChatGPTs hidden fallback model while rolling out a new $100 Pro tier that makes its pricing, and who gets what, more layered than ever

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Become a Member in Seconds Unlock instant access to exclusive member
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your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful Join the club Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards. Explore An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter ChatGPTs hidden backup model just got smarter and its a stealth upgrade that happens in the background OpenAI also announced a new $100 Pro plan, shaking up who gets access to its best tools The changes show OpenAI is making
ChatGPT more tiered and more complex behind the scenes OpenAI just made two big changes to ChatGPT , but only one of them is obvious. The big news is
that theres now a new $100 Pro plan that comes in cheaper than its $200 Pro option, but gives you more access to Codex , OpenAI's programming tool, than
a Plus user would get.

The second change is introducing a new ChatGPTs fallback model, for when
youve hit your rate limits on ChatGPT-5.3 Instant. The new model is called ChatGPT-5.3 Instant Mini, and you cant select it in the model picker, since it's what you default to when youve hit your rate limits. Taken together, the new changes show OpenAI is reshaping both the free-flow experience of using ChatGPT and the way it packages higher-end access. Article continues below
You may like OpenAI is planning a $100 ChatGPT Pro Lite tier OpenAI
introduces ChatGPT 5.4 Thinking for solving bigger problems ChatGPT can be tricky about what model it uses The hidden upgrade you wont notice GPT-5 Instant Mini replaces ChatGPT-5.3 Instant as the fallback model you get after youve hit your GPT-5.3 Instant limits, which will depend on what plan youre on. Before the new release, you were defaulting to ChatGPT-5 mini. OpenAI claims that ChatGPT-5.3 Instant Mini outperforms GPT-5 Instant Mini across a range of different use cases.

Compared with GPT-5 Instant Mini, GPT-5.3 Instant Mini feels more natural in conversation, with stronger writing and contextual awareness throughout chat, OpenAI said in the release notes for ChatGPT-5.3 Instant Mini.

The change is happening behind the scenes, but even if this only affects the overflow experience, it shows that this is where a lot of regular users end up. Its the Pro users who will be less likely to be affected, since they have much higher usage rates. The new $100 Pro tier At the same time, OpenAI is introducing a new $100/month Pro tier (89 in the UK, AU price to be determined) aimed at longer, high-intensity Codex sessions. It includes unlimited access to GPT-5.4, access to GPT-5.4 Pro, and temporary up to 10x mode Codex usage than the Plus tier. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals,
and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting
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Whats confusing is that the $200/month Pro plan still exists, so now there
are two plans for ChatGPT called Pro. It's easiest to think of the $100/month plan as a middle tier between Plus and the more expensive Pro option.

OpenAI describes the $100/month Pro plan as having 5x more usage than the
Plus tier, while the $200/month plan has 20x more usage. Aside from that, everything between the two plans seems the same. What changes for Plus users There is also one small change for $20/month Plus users. The temporary Codex promotion on Plus is ending, so OpenAI is rebalancing Plus usage to support more sessions across the week, rather than for longer, high-intensity
sessions on a single day.

This is effectively OpenAI redefining what Plus is for: lighter, steadier everyday use rather than heavy-duty bursts. At the same time, it's
introducing a new middle tier in the hope that those people using ChatGPT
Plus for coding will upgrade. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/ai-platforms-assistants/chatgpt/chatgpts-hidden-back up-model-just-got-smarter-as-openai-adds-a-cheaper-pro-option


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