GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol reported to now run 50% faster
The speed boost applies across products that use Sign in with ChatGPT, days after OpenAI cut prices with its cheaper Sol model
OpenAI’s two headline models just got a lot quicker. According to a post on X, GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol are now 50% faster across products that use Sign in with ChatGPT.
What changed, and where
The speed increase is not limited to OpenAI’s own chat app. It covers products built on Sign in with ChatGPT, the login feature that lets users bring their ChatGPT account into third-party apps.
The research findings describe Sign in with ChatGPT as a way to improve third-party app accessibility for users. A 50% speed bump makes that pitch easier for developers to sell.
Both models named in the update sit at different points on OpenAI’s lineup. Astra is the flagship. Sol is the cheaper sibling that has been closing the gap fast.
A month of rapid releases
GPT-6 Astra arrived in September 2026. GPT-6 Sol followed on September 22. Then, just one week later, OpenAI unveiled GPT-6.1 Sol at its DevDay event on September 29.
GPT-6.1 Sol was pitched as a direct rival to Astra, aimed at coding and professional workflows. Its main selling point is price.
The model costs $2 per million tokens for input and output. Astra costs $10 per million tokens.
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So Sol runs at one-fifth of Astra’s token cost. According to the research findings, it delivers performance close to Astra at approximately 1/5th the cost per task.
OpenAI also cut cached input pricing for GPT-6.1 Sol to $0.10 per million tokens, down from what the earlier GPT-6 Sol model charged.
Speed was already part of the story
This is not the first time OpenAI has leaned on speed this cycle. The company also introduced an Ultrafast tier that can generate output at up to 300 tokens per second.
The research findings describe that rate as significantly faster than previous models. The new 50% improvement for Astra and Sol across Sign in with ChatGPT products is a separate announcement, but it points in the same direction.
Why the speed bump matters
The research findings suggest GPT-6.1 Sol’s lower price point could make advanced AI capabilities more accessible to a broader audience, including small businesses and individual developers.
The research findings also note that lower operational costs could lead to higher adoption rates, which may create opportunities for investors in AI technology stocks.
For now, the practical takeaway for users is simple. If an app runs on Sign in with ChatGPT and uses Astra or Sol, responses should arrive noticeably faster than they did before.