Z.ai

Tier A · Strong with clear operating rules.

GLM 5.3

A capable A-tier builder, now backed by a complete visual benchmark suite.

Canonical model record

Current identity, limits, and pricing

Provider source · checked 2026-08-14 ↗
Status
Preview / limited access
API model ID
Not publicly verified
Context
1M
Max output
128K
API price / 1M tokens
Not publicly verified

Visual prompt runs

Benchmark runs

Open each generated scene, or compare the same prompt across models.

16 runs

City Scroll Journey

Cinematic scroll journey testing AI-generated scene continuity, scroll-scrubbed camera motion, and art-directed landing craft.

Mechanical Watch Simulator

Interactive watch movement testing mechanical legibility, accurate relative motion, and real-time 3D controls.

Stormwind Trebuchet Simulator

Counterweight siege simulation testing coupled mechanics, trajectory prediction, projectile cameras, and interactive tuning.

Superbash commentary

Our take

Back to the full tier list →

GLM 5.3 enters A tier after finishing all 16 Superbash visual benchmarks in one local session; every artifact validates and runs. The first attempt stalled when the account hit its usage ceiling, but the rerun at lower concurrency completed the full set, so the visual placement no longer rests on an incomplete run.

Best for

  • Complex software engineering
  • Long-horizon agent tasks
  • Coding Plan workflows

Watch out

  • Game balance and gold times are tuned analytically, not by long playtesting
  • Still expensive in the team's initial use
  • General API access is still coming soon

Why it is ranked here

  1. Z.ai documents GLM 5.3 with a one-million-token context window, 128K maximum output, and multiple reasoning modes.
  2. The completed 16-run visual set covers the full prompt range, from office simulations to a coupled trebuchet model, with honest manifest warnings where things were simplified.
  3. The team saw Kimi-level potential on day one; the complete visual runs support A tier while the earlier credit-limited experience keeps the placement measured.

Evidence and commentary

2026-08-17

Superbash editorial model ranking

Takeaway: GLM 5.3 is currently placed in Tier A.

The August 2026 editorial roster places GLM 5.3 at rank 7.

Open source →
2026-08-14

Introducing GLM 5.3

Takeaway: Use GLM 5.3 for cost-conscious coding work after reviewing the output.

The model is currently available through Z.ai's Coding Plan; verify general API availability before building a direct integration.

Open source →

Official benchmark profile

GLM-5.3 coding, agent, and cybersecurity results.

Z.ai reports large gains over GLM-5.2 across coding, terminal-agent, and cybersecurity evaluations. These are vendor-reported launch results; the general GLM-5.3 API is still marked as coming soon.

Z.ai sourceAugust 2026Source report →
Agentic coding

Terminal-Bench 3.0

28.3%
Coding

DeepSWE v1.1

66.9%
Terminal agents

Agents’ Last Exam (CLI)

28.5%
Full official benchmark table6 rows with source settings and peer charts
BenchmarkAreaScoreSetting / comparison
Terminal-Bench 3.0Agentic coding28.3%Z.ai launch result; GLM-5.2 scored 4.6% in the same comparison.
DeepSWE v1.1Coding66.9%Z.ai launch result; GLM-5.2 scored 46.2% in the same comparison.
Agents’ Last Exam (CLI)Terminal agents28.5%Z.ai launch result; GLM-5.2 scored 23.8% in the same comparison.
GDPval-AA v2Professional work1769 EloZ.ai-reported Artificial Analysis occupational-work result.
CyberGymCybersecurity84.5%Z.ai launch result.
GLM 5.384.5%
Claude Mythos 583.8%
GPT-5.6 Sol83.6%
ExploitBenchCybersecurity54.4%Z.ai launch result; GLM-5.2 scored 24.4% in the same comparison.