API cost decision in 10 seconds

NewQwen3.8 2.4T A95B vs Laguna XS 2.1

Pick Laguna XS 2.1 for lower cost; pick Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B only if the larger context window matters more.

Page updated:  Data confirmed:  Prices normalized to USD per 1M tokens Sample workload: 1M input + 500K output

Budget verdict

Pick Laguna XS 2.1 for lower cost; pick Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna XS 2.1 is estimated at $0.12 vs $5 for Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B, saving $4.88 (97.6% lower).

Cost-first pickLaguna XS 2.1
Context-first pickQwen3.8 2.4T A95B
Sample savings$4.8897.6%
10x traffic gap$48.8

Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B has more context, but Laguna XS 2.1 saves $4.88 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $48.8. Use the calculator below to replace the sample workload with your own token volume.

Cost sensitivity

Workload Sensitivity

Same prices, different token mixes.

Laguna XS 2.1 stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.

Workload shapeToken mixBetter pickQwen3.8 2.4T A95BLaguna XS 2.1
Input-heavy / RAG5M input + 500K outputLaguna XS 2.1$13$0.36
Balanced workload1M input + 1M outputLaguna XS 2.1$8$0.18
Output-heavy chatbot1M input + 5M outputLaguna XS 2.1$32$0.66
Cheaper input Laguna XS 2.1 $2 vs $0.06 / 1M

Laguna XS 2.1 is $1.94 cheaper per 1M input tokens (97% lower; 33.3x difference).

Cheaper output Laguna XS 2.1 $6 vs $0.12 / 1M

Laguna XS 2.1 is $5.88 cheaper per 1M output tokens (98% lower; 50x difference).

Larger context Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B 1.05M vs 262.14K

Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B has 786.43K more context (4x larger).

Sample workload Laguna XS 2.1 $5 vs $0.12

Laguna XS 2.1 is $4.88 cheaper on the standard workload (97.6% lower).

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.
Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B Calculating… Estimated API cost
Laguna XS 2.1 Calculating… Estimated API cost
Cheaper for this workload Calculating… Difference: calculating…

This estimate uses normalized public API pricing per 1M tokens. It is a planning aid, not a billing quote. Verify provider pricing, limits, and terms before production use.

Quick Decision

Verdict

Laguna XS 2.1 has the lower input price; Laguna XS 2.1 has the lower output price; Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Laguna XS 2.1 is cheaper for the standard workload.

For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $5 for Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B and $0.12 for Laguna XS 2.1.

Best Fit

Choose Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B when you care most about larger context window.

Choose Laguna XS 2.1 when you care most about lower input-token price, and lower output-token price.

Decision Notes
  • On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna XS 2.1 is estimated at $0.12 vs $5 for Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B, saving $4.88 (97.6% lower).
  • Laguna XS 2.1 is $4.88 cheaper on the standard workload (97.6% lower).
  • Laguna XS 2.1 is $1.94 cheaper per 1M input tokens (97% lower; 33.3x difference).
  • Laguna XS 2.1 is $5.88 cheaper per 1M output tokens (98% lower; 50x difference).
  • Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B has 786.43K more context (4x larger).
Head-to-Head Specs
FeatureNewQwen3.8 2.4T A95B
(Qwen)
Laguna XS 2.1
(Poolside)
Input Price
prompt tokens per 1M
$2$0.06
Completion Price
per 1M tokens
$6$0.12
Sample Workload Cost
1M input + 500K output
$5$0.12
Context Window1.05M262.14K
Release Date

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use caseBetter pickWhy
Budget-constrained productionLaguna XS 2.1On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna XS 2.1 is estimated at $0.12 vs $5 for Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B, saving $4.88 (97.6% lower).
High-volume input processingLaguna XS 2.1Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbotsLaguna XS 2.1Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document workQwen3.8 2.4T A95BA larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files.

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Qwen catalog

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Poolside catalog

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Qwen3.8 2.4T A95B

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Laguna XS 2.1

Laguna XS 2.1 is the latest coding agent model in the 33B-A3B category from [Poolside](https://poolside.ai/) and a step forward from their Laguna XS.2 model (released in April 2026). It combines...