Perplexity Computer Update: Ultrafast and Gemini 4 Argon by Plan
Perplexity Computer update: Ultrafast GPT-6 speed for Max, Gemini 4 Argon for Pro and Max, role-based connectors for Enterprise and Mac folders in Projects.
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On October 19, 2026, Perplexity shipped a batch of changes to Computer, its agent that does multi-step work such as research reports, documents and apps. The headline is Ultrafast, a speed option for GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol that only Max subscribers get, plus Gemini 4 Argon in Computer for both Pro and Max. Computer tasks are billed in credits; ordinary Ask searches still use none. Perplexity’s changelog entry does not sort the items by plan, so we have.
What Perplexity Ultrafast is and who gets it
Ultrafast is a speed setting, not a new model, for two OpenAI models, GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol, in Computer on the web, for Max subscribers only. You choose it under Custom > Speed. Perplexity’s only statement on cost is that “Ultrafast uses more credits than Normal or Fast”. It has published no multiplier, so we cannot tell you how much more.
Do not confuse it with Ultra. Computer’s effort mode offers four presets, Light, Standard, High and Ultra, which decide how much work Computer puts into a task. Custom is the fifth option: you pick the model, its reasoning level and “any speed settings offered for that model”. Ultrafast lives there. Effort mode is not in the macOS and Windows desktop apps, which keep the regular model picker, so use the web.
What’s new for each Perplexity plan
| Plan (price at the time of writing) | New in this update | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Pro ($20/month) | Gemini 4 Argon in Computer; Nemotron 3.5 Super VL in Search | Choosing Argon yourself needs credits (see below) |
| Max ($200/month) | Everything in Pro, plus Ultrafast and Gemini 4 Argon in Search | Ultrafast uses more credits; no figure published |
| Enterprise (sales-assisted; Enterprise Pro from $40/seat, Enterprise Max $325/seat) | Connector access by role | Changes appear in audit logs |
| Everyone with Computer | Nano Banana 2.1 image generation and editing; thumbnail rail for presentations, PDFs and Word files; /reverse-engineer skill | The skill is free to try through October 31, 2026, up to 10,000 credits per account |
| Mac app (26.38 or later) | Attach a local folder to a Project | Private to you, even in shared Projects |
Our Gemini 4 Argon news post covers the model itself, its Google plans and API price.
Gemini 4 Argon in Computer: the Pro catch
Pro gets Argon in Computer, but not in Search: the models help article, with its table dated October 17, still lists Argon in Search as Max-only.
In Computer, the catch is credits. Pro has no monthly credit allowance, only a one-time 4,000-credit bonus for new subscribers that expires in about 30 days. Paid Pro plans get weekly included Computer usage instead, but the credits help page says that with included usage and no credits, Computer runs on the Light setting and “other effort settings are unavailable until you have credits”. Custom, where you pick a model, is one of those settings. Our reading of the two pages: on Pro, you need credits to choose Argon yourself. At the time of writing 100 credits cost $1.
Connector roles for Enterprise and Mac folders in Projects
On Enterprise plans bought through Perplexity’s sales team, admins can now set which roles may use each connector, under Organization settings > Connectors: All Members, Admin or Selected roles, including custom roles. Newly added connectors can start disabled, existing access stays as it was until an admin changes it, and changes are recorded in the audit logs. The connector access help page adds that the check happens before the agent runs, so a blocked connector call uses no credits.
On the Mac, a Project can now have a local folder. Computer reads and saves files there, new tasks in the Project use it by default, and nobody else can use it even when the Project is shared. One caution from the local files help page: deleting local files “does not always send them to Trash and may not be recoverable”, so read the approval prompt and keep backups.
Should you change plans?
Ultrafast alone is not a reason to move from Pro to Max. It suits Max users who wait on long Computer runs and have credits to spare. Pro users who want Argon should budget for credits rather than expect it on included usage. Enterprise admins should review connector roles before rolling out new connectors. Developers get the Decisions API with open-weight pplx-decider v1.2 models, MIT-licensed pplx-embed-v2-late embedding models and SPACE, the open-source sandbox behind Computer.
For the plans, credits and our verdict, read our Perplexity review; for how it stacks up against ChatGPT, see Perplexity vs ChatGPT for research. If you mainly search academic papers, our AI research tools directory lists alternatives. More updates are in news.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ultrafast in Perplexity?
Ultrafast is a speed setting for GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol in Perplexity Computer. It is available to Max subscribers on the web, under Custom > Speed, and Perplexity says it uses more credits than the Normal or Fast settings.
How many credits does Perplexity Ultrafast use?
Perplexity has not published a figure. Its changelog only says Ultrafast uses more credits than Normal or Fast. For scale, 100 credits equal $1 at the time of writing, and Max includes 10,000 credits a month.
Can Perplexity Pro use Gemini 4 Argon?
Yes in Computer, not in Search, where Argon is still Max-only. Picking it yourself means using Computer's Custom setting, and Pro's weekly included usage runs on the Light setting only until you have credits, so in practice you need credits.
Is Ultrafast the same as the Ultra effort setting?
No. Ultra is one of Computer's four effort presets (Light, Standard, High, Ultra), which decide how hard Computer works on a task. Ultrafast is a speed option you choose inside Custom for two specific OpenAI models.
How do I attach a local folder to a Perplexity Project?
Use version 26.38 or later of the Perplexity Mac app and attach the folder to the Project. Computer can then read and save files there, new tasks use it by default, and only you can use it, even in a shared Project. Change or remove it from the Project page.
