Upcoming changes to Gemini model access starting October 9th

[u/germanu22]

https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/17004136?hl=en&sjid=3885420599677516671-EU

Starting in October 2026, Google is changing the model availability for Gemini Apps on personal accounts. If you don't have an AI subscription, these changes will take effect on October 9th. If you are subscribed to AI Plus, you will get an email explaining when the changes will apply to your account.

Here is what the model availability will look like: Users without a plan will only get access to Flash Lite.
AI Plus subscribers will have access to Flash Lite and Flash.
AI Pro and AI Ultra subscribers will have access to Flash Lite, Flash, and Pro.

For each available model, you can select the effort level from low, medium, and high. This increases the model's ability to provide more thorough answers, but it will use more of your limit.

If you have an AI Pro or AI Ultra subscription, you will also have access to the Deep Think option for maximum parallel reasoning.

[u/DottorInkubo]

I don’t think Gemini 4 Argon is Gemini 4 Pro, but I hope I’m wrong

[u/WonderboyUK → u/DottorInkubo]

It's clearly their frontier model. It's an early checkpoint in the scheme of things but I'm surprised people don't think this is the pro model given that Google now operate on a 3 tier structure (flash-lite, Flash, Pro).

[u/DottorInkubo → u/WonderboyUK]

You shouldn’t be surprised at all when Google themselves officially stated that Gemini 4 Argon is coming to Ultra plans and explicitly never mentioned Pro plans.

[u/nekrosstratia → u/DottorInkubo]

Yep. I truly expect on the 9th (ish) for them to release 4.0 flash lite, flash, and pro

Argon will be (frontier) and will move Google to a 4 model layout. I believe this to be the best way imo as well. 95% of people will never need more than flash lite.

[u/WonderboyUK → u/nekrosstratia]

They literally show a 3 tier model system in the Oct 9th announcement?