diff --git a/app/session/[id].tsx b/app/session/[id].tsx
index 9eccc5f..8f1a328 100644
--- a/app/session/[id].tsx
+++ b/app/session/[id].tsx
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import {
   StatusIndicator,
   SlashPopover,
   ModelPicker,
+  VariantPicker,
   ImageAttachments,
   SessionInfo,
   type SlashCommand,
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
 
   const flatListRef = useRef<FlatList>(null)
   const modelSheetRef = useRef<BottomSheet>(null)
+  const variantSheetRef = useRef<BottomSheet>(null)
   const [input, setInput] = useState("")
   const [attachments, setAttachments] = useState<Attachment[]>([])
   const [showInfo, setShowInfo] = useState(false)
@@ -115,6 +117,8 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
   const agent = catalog.agent || ""
   const model = catalog.model
   const setModel = catalog.setModel
+  const variant = catalog.variant
+  const setVariant = catalog.setVariant
   const cycleAgent = catalog.cycleAgent
 
   // Permission & question state
@@ -338,7 +342,7 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
     // Messages are queued server-side when the session is busy.
     // No need to abort - just send and it will be processed after current response.
     try {
-      await sendMessage(text, model || undefined, agent || undefined, files)
+      await sendMessage(text, model || undefined, agent || undefined, files, variant || undefined)
     } catch (err) {
       console.error("Send failed:", err)
       // Restore the user's text and attachments so their input isn't lost.
@@ -456,6 +460,14 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
   const agentColor = currentAgent?.color || "#8b5cf6"
   const modelLabel = model?.modelID ? model.modelID.split("/").pop() || model.modelID : "default"
 
+  // Variants for current model (for reasoning effort picker)
+  const currentModelVariants = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!model) return undefined
+    const provider = providers.find((p) => p.id === model.providerID)
+    const found = provider?.models.find((m) => m.id === model.modelID)
+    return found?.variants
+  }, [model, providers])
+
   return (
     <>
       <Stack.Screen
@@ -611,6 +623,18 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
               {modelLabel}
             </Text>
           </TouchableOpacity>
+
+          {currentModelVariants && Object.keys(currentModelVariants).length > 0 && (
+            <TouchableOpacity
+              style={[s.variantChip, isDark && s.variantChipDark, variant && s.variantChipActive]}
+              onPress={() => variantSheetRef.current?.expand()}
+            >
+              <Ionicons name="flash-outline" size={14} color={variant ? "#8b5cf6" : isDark ? "#888888" : "#666666"} />
+              <Text style={[s.variantLabel, isDark && s.metaDark, variant && s.variantLabelActive]} numberOfLines={1}>
+                {variant ? variant.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + variant.slice(1) : "Auto"}
+              </Text>
+            </TouchableOpacity>
+          )}
         </View>
 
         {/* Attachment preview */}
@@ -678,6 +702,15 @@ export default function SessionScreen() {
         isDark={isDark}
         onSelect={handleModelSelect}
       />
+
+      {/* Reasoning effort (variant) picker bottom sheet */}
+      <VariantPicker
+        sheetRef={variantSheetRef}
+        variants={currentModelVariants}
+        selected={variant}
+        isDark={isDark}
+        onSelect={setVariant}
+      />
     </>
   )
 }
@@ -771,6 +804,21 @@ const s = StyleSheet.create({
   modelChipDark: { backgroundColor: "#1a1a1a" },
   modelLabel: { fontSize: 12, color: "#666666", maxWidth: 160 },
 
+  // Variant (reasoning effort) chip
+  variantChip: {
+    flexDirection: "row",
+    alignItems: "center",
+    gap: 4,
+    backgroundColor: "#f5f5f5",
+    borderRadius: 12,
+    paddingHorizontal: 10,
+    paddingVertical: 4,
+  },
+  variantChipDark: { backgroundColor: "#1a1a1a" },
+  variantChipActive: { backgroundColor: "#f5f3ff" },
+  variantLabel: { fontSize: 12, color: "#666666" },
+  variantLabelActive: { color: "#8b5cf6" },
+
   // Input
   inputContainer: {
     padding: 12,
diff --git a/src/components/chat/VariantPicker.tsx b/src/components/chat/VariantPicker.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e416ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/components/chat/VariantPicker.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+import { View, Text, TouchableOpacity, StyleSheet } from "react-native"
+import { Ionicons } from "@expo/vector-icons"
+import BottomSheet, { BottomSheetBackdrop, BottomSheetFlatList } from "@gorhom/bottom-sheet"
+
+interface VariantOption {
+  id: string | null
+  label: string
+  description: string
+}
+
+interface Props {
+  variants: Record<string, { reasoningEffort?: string }> | undefined
+  selected: string | null
+  isDark: boolean
+  onSelect: (variant: string | null) => void
+  sheetRef: React.RefObject<BottomSheet | null>
+}
+
+const AUTO_OPTION: VariantOption = {
+  id: null,
+  label: "Auto",
+  description: "Use model default reasoning",
+}
+
+const EFFORT_DESCRIPTIONS: Record<string, string> = {
+  low: "Faster, less thorough reasoning",
+  medium: "Balanced reasoning and speed",
+  high: "Deep, thorough reasoning",
+}
+
+export function VariantPicker({ variants, selected, isDark, onSelect, sheetRef }: Props) {
+  const options: VariantOption[] = [
+    AUTO_OPTION,
+    ...Object.keys(variants || {}).map((id) => ({
+      id,
+      label: id.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + id.slice(1),
+      description: EFFORT_DESCRIPTIONS[id] ?? id,
+    })),
+  ]
+
+  const handleSelect = (id: string | null) => {
+    onSelect(id)
+    sheetRef.current?.close()
+  }
+
+  return (
+    <BottomSheet
+      ref={sheetRef}
+      index={-1}
+      snapPoints={["30%", "50%"]}
+      enablePanDownToClose
+      backgroundStyle={isDark ? s.sheetDark : s.sheet}
+      handleIndicatorStyle={{ backgroundColor: isDark ? "#666666" : "#cccccc" }}
+      backdropComponent={(props) => (
+        <BottomSheetBackdrop {...props} disappearsOnIndex={-1} appearsOnIndex={0} opacity={0.5} />
+      )}
+    >
+      <View style={s.header}>
+        <Text style={[s.title, isDark && s.textWhite]}>Reasoning Effort</Text>
+      </View>
+      <BottomSheetFlatList
+        data={options}
+        keyExtractor={(item: VariantOption) => item.id ?? "auto"}
+        renderItem={({ item }: { item: VariantOption }) => {
+          const active = item.id === selected
+          return (
+            <TouchableOpacity
+              style={[s.row, isDark && s.rowDark, active && (isDark ? s.rowSelectedDark : s.rowSelected)]}
+              onPress={() => handleSelect(item.id)}
+            >
+              <View style={s.rowText}>
+                <Text style={[s.rowName, isDark && s.textWhite]}>{item.label}</Text>
+                <Text style={[s.rowDesc, isDark && s.metaDark]}>{item.description}</Text>
+              </View>
+              {active && <Ionicons name="checkmark-circle" size={20} color="#8b5cf6" />}
+            </TouchableOpacity>
+          )
+        }}
+        contentContainerStyle={s.content}
+      />
+    </BottomSheet>
+  )
+}
+
+const s = StyleSheet.create({
+  sheet: { backgroundColor: "#ffffff" },
+  sheetDark: { backgroundColor: "#1a1a1a" },
+  header: { paddingHorizontal: 16, paddingBottom: 12 },
+  title: { fontSize: 18, fontWeight: "700", color: "#0a0a0a" },
+  textWhite: { color: "#ffffff" },
+  metaDark: { color: "#666666" },
+  content: { paddingBottom: 40 },
+  row: {
+    flexDirection: "row",
+    alignItems: "center",
+    paddingHorizontal: 16,
+    paddingVertical: 14,
+    borderBottomWidth: StyleSheet.hairlineWidth,
+    borderBottomColor: "#e5e5e5",
+  },
+  rowDark: { borderBottomColor: "#2a2a2a" },
+  rowSelected: { backgroundColor: "#f5f3ff" },
+  rowSelectedDark: { backgroundColor: "#1f1a2e" },
+  rowText: { flex: 1 },
+  rowName: { fontSize: 15, fontWeight: "600", color: "#0a0a0a" },
+  rowDesc: { fontSize: 12, color: "#999999", marginTop: 2 },
+})
diff --git a/src/components/chat/index.ts b/src/components/chat/index.ts
index 2710ff0..4df6472 100644
--- a/src/components/chat/index.ts
+++ b/src/components/chat/index.ts
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ export { QuestionPrompt } from "./QuestionPrompt"
 export { StatusIndicator } from "./StatusIndicator"
 export { SlashPopover, type SlashCommand } from "./SlashPopover"
 export { ModelPicker } from "./ModelPicker"
+export { VariantPicker } from "./VariantPicker"
 export { ImageAttachments, type Attachment } from "./ImageAttachments"
 export { DirectorySwitcher } from "./DirectorySwitcher"
 export { DirectoryBrowserSheet } from "./DirectoryBrowserSheet"
diff --git a/src/lib/sdk.ts b/src/lib/sdk.ts
index 9266a91..b26571c 100644
--- a/src/lib/sdk.ts
+++ b/src/lib/sdk.ts
@@ -418,6 +418,7 @@ export function createClient(config: ClientConfig) {
                 cost?: { input: number; output: number }
                 limit: { context: number; output: number }
                 status?: "alpha" | "beta" | "deprecated" | "active"
+                variants?: Record<string, { reasoningEffort?: string }>
               }
             >
           }>
diff --git a/src/stores/catalog.ts b/src/stores/catalog.ts
index 59bcf35..c3943cc 100644
--- a/src/stores/catalog.ts
+++ b/src/stores/catalog.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ export interface ProviderModel {
   reasoning: boolean
   attachment: boolean
   limit?: { context: number; output: number }
+  variants?: Record<string, { reasoningEffort?: string }>
 }
 
 export interface Provider {
@@ -23,6 +24,10 @@ interface ModelSelection {
   modelID: string
 }
 
+function sameModel(left: ModelSelection | null, right: ModelSelection | null) {
+  return left?.providerID === right?.providerID && left?.modelID === right?.modelID
+}
+
 interface CatalogState {
   agents: Agent[]
   commands: Command[]
@@ -31,12 +36,14 @@ interface CatalogState {
   // Current selections
   agent: string // agent name, e.g. "build"
   model: ModelSelection | null
+  variant: string | null // model variant for reasoning effort (e.g. "low", "medium", "high")
   loaded: boolean
 
   // Actions
   load: () => Promise<void>
   setAgent: (name: string) => void
   setModel: (selection: ModelSelection | null) => void
+  setVariant: (variant: string | null) => void
   cycleAgent: (direction?: 1 | -1) => void
 }
 
@@ -47,6 +54,7 @@ export const useCatalog = create<CatalogState>((set, get) => ({
   defaults: {},
   agent: "",
   model: null,
+  variant: null,
   loaded: false,
 
   load: async () => {
@@ -81,6 +89,7 @@ export const useCatalog = create<CatalogState>((set, get) => ({
                 reasoning: m.reasoning ?? false,
                 attachment: m.attachment ?? false,
                 limit: m.limit,
+                variants: m.variants,
               })),
           }))
           .filter((p) => p.models.length > 0)
@@ -104,17 +113,36 @@ export const useCatalog = create<CatalogState>((set, get) => ({
       agentModel: defaultAgent?.model || null,
     })
 
-    set({ agents: visible, commands, providers, defaults, agent, model, loaded: true })
+    set((state) => ({
+      agents: visible,
+      commands,
+      providers,
+      defaults,
+      agent,
+      model,
+      variant: sameModel(state.model, model) ? state.variant : null,
+      loaded: true,
+    }))
   },
 
   setAgent: (name) => {
     const match = get().agents.find((a) => a.name === name)
     if (!match) return
     const model = match.model || get().model
-    set({ agent: name, model })
+    set((state) => ({
+      agent: name,
+      model,
+      variant: sameModel(state.model, model) ? state.variant : null,
+    }))
   },
 
-  setModel: (selection) => set({ model: selection }),
+  setModel: (selection) =>
+    set((state) => ({
+      model: selection,
+      variant: sameModel(state.model, selection) ? state.variant : null,
+    })),
+
+  setVariant: (variant) => set({ variant }),
 
   cycleAgent: (direction = 1) => {
     const { agents, agent } = get()
diff --git a/src/stores/sessions.ts b/src/stores/sessions.ts
index aee117c..4f9b8dd 100644
--- a/src/stores/sessions.ts
+++ b/src/stores/sessions.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ interface SessionsState {
     model?: { providerID: string; modelID: string },
     agent?: string,
     files?: Array<{ uri: string; mime: string; filename?: string; base64?: string }>,
+    variant?: string,
   ) => Promise<void>
   abortSession: () => Promise<void>
   refreshMessages: () => Promise<void>
@@ -222,7 +223,7 @@ export const useSessions = create<SessionsState>((set, get) => ({
     }
   },
 
-  sendMessage: async (text, model, agent, files) => {
+  sendMessage: async (text, model, agent, files, variant) => {
     const client = clientFor(get().currentSession?.directory)
     const session = get().currentSession
     if (!client || !session) {
@@ -287,7 +288,7 @@ export const useSessions = create<SessionsState>((set, get) => ({
       }
 
       // Fire and forget - SSE events will update messages/parts/status in real-time
-      client.session.prompt(session.id, { parts: promptParts, model, agent }).catch((err) => {
+      client.session.prompt(session.id, { parts: promptParts, model, agent, variant }).catch((err) => {
         console.error("Failed to send message:", err)
         // The user may have switched sessions while this send was in flight. Clear
         // the sending flag for the session we actually sent to (keyed by id, safe),