API cost decision in 10 seconds

NewHy4 preview vs Laguna XS.2 (free)

Pick Laguna XS.2 (free) for lower cost; pick Hy4 preview 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 (free) for lower cost; pick Hy4 preview only if the larger context window matters more.

On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna XS.2 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $2.08 for Hy4 preview, saving $2.08 (100% lower).

Cost-first pickLaguna XS.2 (free)
Context-first pickHy4 preview
Sample savings$2.08100%
10x traffic gap$20.84

Hy4 preview has more context, but Laguna XS.2 (free) saves $2.08 on the standard workload. At 10x that traffic, the same price gap is about $20.84. 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 (free) stays cheaper across input-heavy, balanced, and output-heavy sample workloads.

Workload shapeToken mixBetter pickHy4 previewLaguna XS.2 (free)
Input-heavy / RAG5M input + 500K outputLaguna XS.2 (free)$5.42$0
Balanced workload1M input + 1M outputLaguna XS.2 (free)$3.33$0
Output-heavy chatbot1M input + 5M outputLaguna XS.2 (free)$13.34$0
Cheaper input Laguna XS.2 (free) $0.834 vs $0 / 1M

Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for input tokens while Hy4 preview costs $0.83 per 1M tokens.

Cheaper output Laguna XS.2 (free) $2.501 vs $0 / 1M

Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for output tokens while Hy4 preview costs $2.5 per 1M tokens.

Larger context Hy4 preview 1.05M vs 262.14K

Hy4 preview has 786.43K more context (4x larger).

Sample workload Laguna XS.2 (free) $2.08 vs $0

Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $2.08.

Estimate your workload cost

Your Workload Cost

Prices are normalized to USD per 1M tokens.
Hy4 preview Calculating… Estimated API cost
Laguna XS.2 (free) 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 (free) has the lower input price; Laguna XS.2 (free) has the lower output price; Hy4 preview offers the larger context window. For the 1M input plus 500K output sample, Laguna XS.2 (free) is cheaper for the standard workload.

For a 1M input token plus 500K output token workload, the estimated API cost is $2.08 for Hy4 preview and $0 for Laguna XS.2 (free).

Best Fit

Choose Hy4 preview when you care most about larger context window.

Choose Laguna XS.2 (free) 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 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $2.08 for Hy4 preview, saving $2.08 (100% lower).
  • Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for the standard workload while the other model is estimated at $2.08.
  • Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for input tokens while Hy4 preview costs $0.83 per 1M tokens.
  • Laguna XS.2 (free) is free for output tokens while Hy4 preview costs $2.5 per 1M tokens.
  • Hy4 preview has 786.43K more context (4x larger).
Head-to-Head Specs
FeatureNewHy4 preview
(Tencent)
Laguna XS.2 (free)
(Poolside)
Input Price
prompt tokens per 1M
$0.834$0
Completion Price
per 1M tokens
$2.501$0
Sample Workload Cost
1M input + 500K output
$2.08$0
Context Window1.05M262.14K
Release Date

Use-Case Decision Matrix

Use caseBetter pickWhy
Budget-constrained productionLaguna XS.2 (free)On the standard 1M input plus 500K output workload, Laguna XS.2 (free) is estimated at $0 vs $2.08 for Hy4 preview, saving $2.08 (100% lower).
High-volume input processingLaguna XS.2 (free)Lower prompt-token price matters most when prompts, retrieved passages, or documents dominate the bill.
Long responses and chatbotsLaguna XS.2 (free)Lower output-token price matters most when assistants generate many completion tokens.
RAG or long-document workHy4 previewA larger context window leaves more room for retrieved passages, conversation history, or source files.

Related Alternatives

Same-provider lower-cost swaps
  • Hy3 (free) can replace Hy4 preview when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.
  • Hy-MT2-1.8B can replace Hy4 preview when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.13.
  • Hy-MT2-30B-A3B can replace Hy4 preview when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.22.
  • Hy-MT2-7B can replace Hy4 preview when lower sample workload cost matters most: $0.22.

Cheaper alternatives

Review low-cost models sorted by a standard 1M input plus 500K output workload.

Open cheapest models

Larger context alternatives

Find models with larger context windows for RAG, long documents, and codebase review.

Open largest context models

Provider catalogs

Compare models within provider hubs before choosing a final API vendor.

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Tencent catalog

Review all tracked Tencent models before deciding whether this matchup is the right shortlist.

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Poolside catalog

Check other Poolside models with comparable pricing, context, or release timing.

Open Poolside models
Hy4 preview

Tencent: Hy4 preview is a mixture-of-experts model from Tencent, with 49B active parameters out of 770B total. It is designed for coding agents, complex tool-use workflows, and productivity tasks that...

Laguna XS.2 (free)

Laguna XS.2 is the second-generation model in the XS size class from [Poolside](https://poolside.ai/), their efficient coding agent series. It combines tool calling and reasoning capabilities with a compact footprint, offering...