diff --git a/public/index.html b/public/index.html
index fafc20f..2c943a1 100644
--- a/public/index.html
+++ b/public/index.html
@@ -115,11 +115,32 @@
                         </div>
                     </div>
                     <div class="chat-header-actions">
-                        <div class="model-select">
-                            <label for="model">Model</label>
-                            <select id="model">
-                                <option disabled selected>Loading models...</option>
-                            </select>
+                        <div class="model-menu">
+                            <button id="modelMenuButton" class="model-badge-button" type="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="modelPopover">
+                                <span class="model-badge-label">Equipped Model:</span>
+                                <strong id="modelBadgeName">Loading...</strong>
+                            </button>
+                            <div id="modelPopover" class="model-popover hidden" role="dialog">
+                                <div class="model-select">
+                                    <div class="model-select-header">
+                                        <label for="model">Model</label>
+                                        <span id="modelCount" class="model-count">Loading</span>
+                                    </div>
+                                    <div class="model-select-control">
+                                        <select id="model">
+                                            <option disabled selected>Loading models...</option>
+                                        </select>
+                                        <span class="model-select-chevron" aria-hidden="true"></span>
+                                    </div>
+                                </div>
+                                <div id="modelHelp" class="model-help" aria-live="polite">
+                                    <div class="model-help-header">
+                                        <strong id="modelHelpTitle">Choose a model</strong>
+                                        <span id="modelHelpBadge" class="model-help-badge">Waiting</span>
+                                    </div>
+                                    <p id="modelHelpSummary" class="model-help-summary">Pick a model to see what it is best suited for.</p>
+                                </div>
+                            </div>
                         </div>
                         <div class="persona-menu">
                             <button id="personaMenuButton" class="secondary-action" type="button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="personaPopover">
diff --git a/public/script.js b/public/script.js
index 96d1a3b..8228dd7 100644
--- a/public/script.js
+++ b/public/script.js
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 const $ = (id) => document.getElementById(id);
 const authDiv = $("auth"), chatDiv = $("chat"), authMsg = $("authMsg");
 const messagesDiv = $("messages"), modelSelect = $("model");
+const modelMenuButton = $("modelMenuButton"), modelPopover = $("modelPopover"), modelBadgeName = $("modelBadgeName");
+const modelCount = $("modelCount");
+const modelHelpTitle = $("modelHelpTitle"), modelHelpBadge = $("modelHelpBadge"), modelHelpSummary = $("modelHelpSummary");
 const loginForm = $("loginForm"), registerForm = $("registerForm"), msgInput = $("msgInput"), sendBtn = $("send");
 const loginUsernameInput = $("loginUsername"), loginPasswordInput = $("loginPassword");
 const registerUsernameInput = $("registerUsername"), registerPasswordInput = $("registerPassword");
@@ -32,6 +35,11 @@ const themes = {
     "confusity": {name: "Confusity", short: "CF"}
 };
 
+const defaultModelProfile = {
+    badge: "General",
+    summary: "General-purpose chat model. Start here if you are unsure which model to use."
+};
+
 async function request(url, data, method = "POST") {
     try {
         const res = await fetch(url, {method, headers: {"Content-Type": "application/json"}, body: data ? JSON.stringify(data) : undefined});
@@ -116,6 +124,67 @@ function updateContextRail() {
     return modelSelect?.selectedOptions[0]?.textContent || "";
 }
 
+function getModelProfile(modelId, modelName) {
+    const haystack = `${modelId || ""} ${modelName || ""}`.toLowerCase();
+    if (haystack.includes("codellama") || haystack.includes("code")) {
+        return {
+            badge: "Coding",
+            summary: "Best for code generation, debugging, and technical explanations. Usually stronger on programming tasks than on creative chat."
+        };
+    }
+    if (haystack.includes("gemma")) {
+        return {
+            badge: "Fast",
+            summary: "A lighter general chat model. Good for quick answers and lower-latency replies, with less depth than larger models."
+        };
+    }
+    if (haystack.includes("dolphin")) {
+        return {
+            badge: "Chatty",
+            summary: "Instruction-following conversational model. Good for open-ended chat, brainstorming, and longer natural responses."
+        };
+    }
+    if (haystack.includes("mistral")) {
+        return {
+            badge: "Balanced",
+            summary: "Strong default for everyday use. Usually a good balance between speed, clarity, and response quality."
+        };
+    }
+    if (haystack.includes("catgirl") || haystack.includes("femboy") || haystack.includes("buenzli")) {
+        return {
+            badge: "Persona",
+            summary: "Specialized character-style model. Best for roleplay or stylized voice, and less reliable for factual or neutral answers."
+        };
+    }
+    return defaultModelProfile;
+}
+
+function updateModelHelp() {
+    if (!modelSelect || !modelHelpTitle || !modelHelpBadge || !modelHelpSummary) return;
+    const selectedOption = modelSelect.selectedOptions[0];
+    if (!selectedOption || selectedOption.disabled) {
+        if (modelCount) modelCount.textContent = "No models";
+        if (modelBadgeName) modelBadgeName.textContent = "Unavailable";
+        modelHelpBadge.dataset.badge = "waiting";
+        modelHelpTitle.textContent = "Choose a model";
+        modelHelpBadge.textContent = "Waiting";
+        modelHelpSummary.textContent = "Pick a model to see what it is best suited for.";
+        return;
+    }
+    if (modelCount) {
+        const totalModels = Array.from(modelSelect.options).filter((option) => !option.disabled).length;
+        modelCount.textContent = `${totalModels} ${totalModels === 1 ? "model" : "models"}`;
+    }
+    const modelId = selectedOption.value;
+    const modelName = selectedOption.textContent || modelId;
+    const profile = getModelProfile(modelId, modelName);
+    if (modelBadgeName) modelBadgeName.textContent = modelName;
+    modelHelpTitle.textContent = modelName;
+    modelHelpBadge.textContent = profile.badge;
+    modelHelpBadge.dataset.badge = profile.badge.toLowerCase();
+    modelHelpSummary.textContent = profile.summary;
+}
+
 function applyTheme(themeKey, persist = true) {
     const nextTheme = themes[themeKey] ? themeKey : "fakegpt";
     const theme = themes[nextTheme];
@@ -191,6 +260,10 @@ function openPersonaForm(persona = null, personaType = "assistant") {
 
 function closePersonaForm() { personaModal.classList.add("hidden"); editingPersonaId = null; editingPersonaType = "assistant"; personaTypeSelect.disabled = false; setPersonaFormNotice(""); }
 function closePersonaPopover() { personaPopover.classList.add("hidden"); personaMenuButton.setAttribute("aria-expanded", "false"); }
+function closeModelPopover() {
+    modelPopover.classList.add("hidden");
+    modelMenuButton.setAttribute("aria-expanded", "false");
+}
 
 function renderPersonaList(items, activeId, listElement, personaType) {
     listElement.innerHTML = "";
@@ -354,6 +427,7 @@ async function displayModels() {
     const models = Array.isArray(res.models) ? res.models : null;
     if (res.error || !models) {
         modelSelect.innerHTML = "<option>Error loading models</option>";
+        updateModelHelp();
         updateContextRail();
         return setNotice("Models could not be loaded.", "error");
     }
@@ -362,6 +436,7 @@ async function displayModels() {
         const option = document.createElement("option");
         option.value = model.model; option.textContent = model.name; option.selected = index === 0; modelSelect.appendChild(option);
     });
+    updateModelHelp();
     updateContextRail();
 }
 
@@ -421,11 +496,20 @@ async function sendMessage() {
 
 function togglePersonaPopover(event) {
     event.stopPropagation();
+    closeModelPopover();
     const isHidden = personaPopover.classList.contains("hidden");
     personaPopover.classList.toggle("hidden", !isHidden);
     personaMenuButton.setAttribute("aria-expanded", String(isHidden));
 }
 
+function toggleModelPopover(event) {
+    event.stopPropagation();
+    closePersonaPopover();
+    const isHidden = modelPopover.classList.contains("hidden");
+    modelPopover.classList.toggle("hidden", !isHidden);
+    modelMenuButton.setAttribute("aria-expanded", String(isHidden));
+}
+
 toggleButtons.forEach((btn) => btn.addEventListener("click", () => showAuthScreen(btn.dataset.target)));
 loginForm.addEventListener("submit", (event) => { event.preventDefault(); void handleAuth("login", {username: loginUsernameInput.value.trim(), password: loginPasswordInput.value.trim()}); });
 registerForm.addEventListener("submit", (event) => { event.preventDefault(); void handleAuth("register", {username: registerUsernameInput.value.trim(), password: registerPasswordInput.value.trim()}); });
@@ -441,13 +525,15 @@ msgInput.addEventListener("input", function () { this.style.height = "auto"; thi
 newChatBtn.addEventListener("click", () => { void createNewChat(); });
 renameChatBtn.addEventListener("click", () => { if (activeChatId) void renameChat(activeChatId); });
 clearChatBtn.addEventListener("click", () => { if (activeChatId) void clearChat(activeChatId); }); exportChatBtn.addEventListener("click", exportCurrentChat);
-chatSearchInput.addEventListener("input", renderChatList); modelSelect.addEventListener("change", updateContextRail);
+chatSearchInput.addEventListener("input", renderChatList); modelSelect.addEventListener("change", () => { updateModelHelp(); updateContextRail(); });
 newPersonaBtn.addEventListener("click", () => openPersonaForm()); newUserPersonaBtn.addEventListener("click", () => openPersonaForm(null, "user"));
 clearPersonaBtn.addEventListener("click", () => { void clearPersona("assistant"); }); clearUserPersonaBtn.addEventListener("click", () => { void clearPersona("user"); });
 personaForm.addEventListener("submit", (event) => { event.preventDefault(); void savePersona(); }); personaCloseBtn.addEventListener("click", closePersonaForm);
 personaModal.addEventListener("click", (event) => { if (event.target === personaModal) closePersonaForm(); });
-personaMenuButton.addEventListener("click", togglePersonaPopover); personaPopover.addEventListener("click", (event) => event.stopPropagation()); document.addEventListener("click", closePersonaPopover);
-document.addEventListener("keydown", (event) => { if (event.key === "Escape") { closePersonaPopover(); closePersonaForm(); } });
+modelMenuButton.addEventListener("click", toggleModelPopover); modelPopover.addEventListener("click", (event) => event.stopPropagation());
+personaMenuButton.addEventListener("click", togglePersonaPopover); personaPopover.addEventListener("click", (event) => event.stopPropagation());
+document.addEventListener("click", () => { closeModelPopover(); closePersonaPopover(); });
+document.addEventListener("keydown", (event) => { if (event.key === "Escape") { closeModelPopover(); closePersonaPopover(); closePersonaForm(); } });
 window.addEventListener("load", async () => {
     applyTheme(localStorage.getItem("krishd-theme") || "fakegpt", false);
     setNotice("Ready."); updateChatActionState(); await checkSession();
diff --git a/public/style.css b/public/style.css
index 009ae2e..ed52b02 100644
--- a/public/style.css
+++ b/public/style.css
@@ -807,15 +807,74 @@ select:focus {
 
 .chat-header-actions {
     justify-content: flex-end;
-    align-items: end;
-    flex-wrap: nowrap;
+    align-items: stretch;
+    flex-wrap: wrap;
+}
+
+.model-menu,
+.persona-menu {
+    position: relative;
+}
+
+.model-badge-button {
+    display: inline-flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    gap: 8px;
+    min-height: 44px;
+    padding: 10px 14px;
+    border-radius: 999px;
+    background: rgba(164, 85, 45, 0.1);
+    color: var(--text);
+    border: 1px solid rgba(164, 85, 45, 0.18);
+    box-shadow: none;
+}
+
+.model-badge-label {
+    font-size: 0.74rem;
+    letter-spacing: 0.1em;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+}
+
+.model-badge-button strong {
+    font-family: "Space Grotesk", sans-serif;
+    font-size: 0.95rem;
+    color: var(--text);
+}
+
+.model-badge-button[aria-expanded="true"] {
+    background: rgba(164, 85, 45, 0.16);
+    border-color: rgba(164, 85, 45, 0.28);
+}
+
+.model-popover {
+    position: absolute;
+    top: calc(100% + 10px);
+    right: 0;
+    width: min(420px, 88vw);
+    border-radius: var(--radius-lg);
+    padding: 16px;
+    box-shadow: var(--shadow);
+    display: grid;
+    gap: 14px;
+    z-index: 20;
+    background: var(--surface-strong);
+    border: 1px solid rgba(24, 32, 31, 0.08);
 }
 
 .model-select {
     display: grid;
-    gap: 6px;
-    min-width: 180px;
-    align-self: end;
+    gap: 10px;
+    min-width: 0;
+    max-width: none;
+    align-self: stretch;
+}
+
+.model-select-header {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    gap: 10px;
 }
 
 .model-select label {
@@ -825,6 +884,119 @@ select:focus {
     color: var(--text-muted);
 }
 
+.model-count {
+    font-size: 0.72rem;
+    font-weight: 800;
+    letter-spacing: 0.1em;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    color: var(--brand-strong);
+}
+
+.model-select-control {
+    position: relative;
+}
+
+.model-select-control select {
+    padding-right: 48px;
+    border-radius: 14px;
+    appearance: none;
+    background: rgba(255, 253, 249, 0.96);
+    border-color: rgba(24, 32, 31, 0.12);
+    font-weight: 700;
+    box-shadow: inset 0 1px 0 rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);
+}
+
+.model-select-chevron {
+    position: absolute;
+    right: 16px;
+    top: 50%;
+    width: 10px;
+    height: 10px;
+    border-right: 2px solid var(--text-soft);
+    border-bottom: 2px solid var(--text-soft);
+    transform: translateY(-65%) rotate(45deg);
+    pointer-events: none;
+}
+
+.model-help {
+    display: grid;
+    gap: 8px;
+    padding: 14px;
+    border-radius: 14px;
+    border: 1px solid rgba(24, 32, 31, 0.08);
+    background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.74), rgba(255, 252, 246, 0.92));
+    min-height: 92px;
+}
+
+.model-help-header {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: space-between;
+    gap: 10px;
+}
+
+.model-help-header strong {
+    font-family: "Space Grotesk", sans-serif;
+    font-size: 0.98rem;
+    color: var(--text);
+}
+
+.model-help-badge {
+    padding: 5px 10px;
+    border-radius: 999px;
+    background: rgba(164, 85, 45, 0.1);
+    border: 1px solid rgba(164, 85, 45, 0.18);
+    color: var(--brand-strong);
+    font-size: 0.72rem;
+    font-weight: 800;
+    letter-spacing: 0.12em;
+    text-transform: uppercase;
+    white-space: nowrap;
+}
+
+.model-help-badge[data-badge="coding"] {
+    background: rgba(38, 101, 214, 0.12);
+    border-color: rgba(38, 101, 214, 0.18);
+    color: #214ea7;
+}
+
+.model-help-badge[data-badge="fast"] {
+    background: rgba(15, 138, 103, 0.12);
+    border-color: rgba(15, 138, 103, 0.18);
+    color: var(--success);
+}
+
+.model-help-badge[data-badge="chatty"] {
+    background: rgba(168, 85, 247, 0.12);
+    border-color: rgba(168, 85, 247, 0.2);
+    color: #7c3aed;
+}
+
+.model-help-badge[data-badge="balanced"] {
+    background: rgba(217, 119, 6, 0.12);
+    border-color: rgba(217, 119, 6, 0.18);
+    color: #b45309;
+}
+
+.model-help-badge[data-badge="persona"] {
+    background: rgba(190, 24, 93, 0.12);
+    border-color: rgba(190, 24, 93, 0.18);
+    color: #be185d;
+}
+
+.model-help-badge[data-badge="waiting"] {
+    background: rgba(24, 32, 31, 0.06);
+    border-color: rgba(24, 32, 31, 0.1);
+    color: var(--text-soft);
+}
+
+.model-help-summary {
+    margin: 0;
+    color: var(--text-soft);
+    font-size: 0.86rem;
+    line-height: 1.5;
+}
+
 .context-rail,
 .quick-prompts {
     display: flex;
@@ -1076,18 +1248,11 @@ select:focus {
     min-width: 88px;
 }
 
+.chat-header-actions .model-menu,
 .chat-header-actions .persona-menu {
     display: flex;
-    align-items: end;
-    align-self: end;
-}
-
-.chat-header-actions .model-select select {
-    min-width: 190px;
-}
-
-.persona-menu {
-    position: relative;
+    align-items: stretch;
+    align-self: stretch;
 }
 
 .persona-popover {
@@ -1468,7 +1633,10 @@ body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .hero-stat,
 body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .summary-card,
 body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .context-pill,
 body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .prompt-chip,
-body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .status {
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .status,
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .model-popover,
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .model-select,
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .model-help {
     background: rgba(18, 24, 21, 0.9);
     color: #e8fff7;
     border-color: rgba(36, 255, 180, 0.12);
@@ -1515,12 +1683,32 @@ body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .persona-form .field {
 
 body[data-theme="fakegpt"] input,
 body[data-theme="fakegpt"] textarea,
-body[data-theme="fakegpt"] select {
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] select,
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .model-select-control select {
     background: rgba(10, 15, 13, 0.96);
     color: #e8fff7;
     border-color: rgba(36, 255, 180, 0.12);
 }
 
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .model-count,
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .model-help-badge[data-badge="waiting"] {
+    color: #87aea3;
+}
+
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .model-badge-button {
+    background: rgba(18, 24, 21, 0.96);
+    color: #d7fff3;
+    border-color: rgba(36, 255, 180, 0.16);
+}
+
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .model-badge-label {
+    color: #87aea3;
+}
+
+body[data-theme="fakegpt"] .model-select-chevron {
+    border-color: #b7d8ce;
+}
+
 body[data-theme="fakegpt"] option {
     background: #101513;
     color: #e8fff7;
@@ -1590,6 +1778,9 @@ body[data-theme="fraud"] .toggle.active {
 body[data-theme="fraud"] input,
 body[data-theme="fraud"] textarea,
 body[data-theme="fraud"] select,
+body[data-theme="fraud"] .model-popover,
+body[data-theme="fraud"] .model-select,
+body[data-theme="fraud"] .model-help,
 body[data-theme="fraud"] .secondary-action,
 body[data-theme="fraud"] .icon-button,
 body[data-theme="fraud"] .session-chip,
@@ -1622,6 +1813,9 @@ body[data-theme="germini"] .market-shell,
 body[data-theme="germini"] .settings-panel,
 body[data-theme="germini"] .modal-card,
 body[data-theme="germini"] .persona-popover,
+body[data-theme="germini"] .model-popover,
+body[data-theme="germini"] .model-select,
+body[data-theme="germini"] .model-help,
 body[data-theme="germini"] .hero-panel {
     background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.32);
     backdrop-filter: blur(22px);
@@ -1654,7 +1848,8 @@ body[data-theme="germini"] .settings-shell {
 
 body[data-theme="germini"] input,
 body[data-theme="germini"] textarea,
-body[data-theme="germini"] select {
+body[data-theme="germini"] select,
+body[data-theme="germini"] .model-select-control select {
     background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.4);
     border-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.42);
 }
@@ -1712,6 +1907,9 @@ body[data-theme="slopilot"] .settings-nav,
 body[data-theme="slopilot"] .settings-nav-item:not(.active),
 body[data-theme="slopilot"] .settings-theme-note,
 body[data-theme="slopilot"] .persona-form-intro,
+body[data-theme="slopilot"] .model-popover,
+body[data-theme="slopilot"] .model-select,
+body[data-theme="slopilot"] .model-help,
 body[data-theme="slopilot"] .persona-form .field {
     background: #ffffff;
     border-color: rgba(13, 104, 255, 0.12);
@@ -1732,6 +1930,9 @@ body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .chat-sidebar,
 body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .messages-panel,
 body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .input-shell,
 body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .settings-panel,
+body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .model-popover,
+body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .model-select,
+body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .model-help,
 body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .market-shell {
     background: linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.86), rgba(243, 238, 255, 0.92));
 }
@@ -1761,6 +1962,9 @@ body[data-theme="confusity"] .messages-panel,
 body[data-theme="confusity"] .input-shell,
 body[data-theme="confusity"] .chat-sidebar,
 body[data-theme="confusity"] .settings-panel,
+body[data-theme="confusity"] .model-popover,
+body[data-theme="confusity"] .model-select,
+body[data-theme="confusity"] .model-help,
 body[data-theme="confusity"] .market-shell {
     background: #ffffff;
 }
@@ -1970,6 +2174,12 @@ body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .persona-form .field {
     .settings-theme-row {
         grid-template-columns: 1fr;
     }
+
+    .model-select {
+        width: 100%;
+        min-width: 0;
+        max-width: none;
+    }
 }
 
 @media (max-width: 820px) {
@@ -2037,6 +2247,11 @@ body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .persona-form .field {
     .settings-shell .market-header-actions .secondary-action {
         width: 100%;
     }
+
+    .chat-header-actions {
+        display: grid;
+        grid-template-columns: 1fr;
+    }
 }
 
 @media (max-width: 560px) {
@@ -2069,11 +2284,23 @@ body[data-theme="beta-ai"] .persona-form .field {
 
     .chat-toolbar .icon-button,
     .chat-header-actions .secondary-action,
+    .chat-header-actions .model-badge-button,
     .chat-header-actions .model-select select {
         width: 100%;
         min-width: 0;
     }
 
+    .model-popover {
+        left: 0;
+        right: auto;
+        width: min(92vw, 420px);
+    }
+
+    .model-help-header {
+        align-items: flex-start;
+        flex-direction: column;
+    }
+
     .context-pill {
         min-width: 0;
         width: 100%;