diff --git a/src/openrouter/model-sync/synccheck.ts b/src/openrouter/model-sync/synccheck.ts
index 0f7b45282..ec17a1135 100644
--- a/src/openrouter/model-sync/synccheck.ts
+++ b/src/openrouter/model-sync/synccheck.ts
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
  * 3. Pricing changes for curated models
  */
 
-import { MODELS } from '../models';
-import type { ModelInfo } from '../models';
+import { MODELS, getAutoSyncedByModelId } from '../models';
 import type { OpenRouterApiModel } from './types';
 import { fetchOpenRouterModels } from './sync';
 import { formatCostString } from './capabilities';
@@ -150,8 +149,12 @@ export async function runSyncCheck(apiKey: string): Promise<SyncCheckResult> {
   }
 }
 
+/** Max models to show in detail per family before collapsing to summary. */
+const MAX_PER_FAMILY = 4;
+
 /**
  * Format sync check results for Telegram display.
+ * Concise output: highlights actionable items, collapses older models.
  */
 export function formatSyncCheckMessage(result: SyncCheckResult): string {
   if (!result.success) {
@@ -183,28 +186,62 @@ export function formatSyncCheckMessage(result: SyncCheckResult): string {
 
   lines.push(`✅ ${ok.length} curated models OK`);
 
-  // New family models
+  // Family models — grouped, with auto-sync status and collapse for older ones
   if (result.newFamilyModels.length > 0) {
     lines.push('');
-    lines.push('━━━ New models from tracked families ━━━');
+    lines.push('━━━ Not yet curated (tracked families) ━━━');
+    lines.push('Models below are usable via /use <alias> after /syncall.\n');
 
-    let currentFamily = '';
+    // Group by family
+    const byFamily = new Map<string, typeof result.newFamilyModels>();
     for (const m of result.newFamilyModels) {
-      if (m.family !== currentFamily) {
-        currentFamily = m.family;
-        lines.push(`\n📦 ${currentFamily}:`);
+      if (!byFamily.has(m.family)) byFamily.set(m.family, []);
+      byFamily.get(m.family)!.push(m);
+    }
+
+    for (const [family, models] of byFamily) {
+      // Sort by cost descending (flagship first)
+      models.sort((a, b) => {
+        const costA = parseSyncCost(a.cost);
+        const costB = parseSyncCost(b.cost);
+        return costB - costA;
+      });
+
+      lines.push(`📦 ${family} (${models.length}):`);
+
+      // Show top models in detail
+      const shown = models.slice(0, MAX_PER_FAMILY);
+      const collapsed = models.length - shown.length;
+
+      for (const m of shown) {
+        const ctx = m.contextLength >= 1048576
+          ? `${Math.round(m.contextLength / 1048576)}M`
+          : `${Math.round(m.contextLength / 1024)}K`;
+        const synced = getAutoSyncedByModelId(m.id);
+        const aliasHint = synced ? ` → /${synced.alias}` : '';
+        lines.push(`  ${m.name} — ${m.cost} (${ctx} ctx)${aliasHint}`);
       }
-      const ctx = m.contextLength >= 1048576
-        ? `${Math.round(m.contextLength / 1048576)}M`
-        : `${Math.round(m.contextLength / 1024)}K`;
-      lines.push(`  ${m.name} — ${m.cost} (${ctx} ctx)`);
-      lines.push(`    id: ${m.id}`);
+
+      if (collapsed > 0) {
+        lines.push(`  +${collapsed} older/variant models`);
+      }
+      lines.push('');
     }
   } else {
     lines.push('\n📦 No new models from tracked families');
   }
 
-  lines.push(`\n⚡ ${result.durationMs}ms — ${result.totalLiveModels} live models checked`);
+  lines.push(`⚡ ${result.durationMs}ms — ${result.totalLiveModels} live models checked`);
 
   return lines.join('\n');
 }
+
+/**
+ * Parse cost string for sorting (higher cost = more flagship).
+ */
+function parseSyncCost(cost: string): number {
+  if (cost === 'FREE' || cost.includes('FREE')) return 0;
+  const match = cost.match(/\$([0-9.]+)\/\$([0-9.]+)/);
+  if (match) return (parseFloat(match[1]) + parseFloat(match[2])) / 2;
+  return 0;
+}
diff --git a/src/openrouter/models.ts b/src/openrouter/models.ts
index 3dc72adb7..d9c3634cb 100644
--- a/src/openrouter/models.ts
+++ b/src/openrouter/models.ts
@@ -679,6 +679,39 @@ export function getAutoSyncedModelCount(): number {
   return Object.keys(AUTO_SYNCED_MODELS).length;
 }
 
+/** Major providers whose auto-synced models are highlighted in /models and /synccheck. */
+const NOTABLE_PROVIDERS = ['anthropic', 'google', 'openai', 'deepseek', 'x-ai', 'meta-llama', 'mistralai'];
+
+/**
+ * Get notable auto-synced models for display in /models.
+ * Picks top 2 per major provider (highest cost = flagship), capped at 15.
+ */
+export function getNotableAutoSynced(): ModelInfo[] {
+  const byProvider = new Map<string, ModelInfo[]>();
+  for (const m of Object.values(AUTO_SYNCED_MODELS)) {
+    const provider = m.id.split('/')[0];
+    if (!NOTABLE_PROVIDERS.includes(provider)) continue;
+    if (!byProvider.has(provider)) byProvider.set(provider, []);
+    byProvider.get(provider)!.push(m);
+  }
+
+  const notable: ModelInfo[] = [];
+  for (const models of byProvider.values()) {
+    models.sort((a, b) => parseCostForSort(b.cost) - parseCostForSort(a.cost));
+    notable.push(...models.slice(0, 2));
+  }
+
+  notable.sort((a, b) => parseCostForSort(b.cost) - parseCostForSort(a.cost));
+  return notable.slice(0, 15);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Get auto-synced model by OpenRouter model ID (for synccheck cross-referencing).
+ */
+export function getAutoSyncedByModelId(modelId: string): ModelInfo | undefined {
+  return Object.values(AUTO_SYNCED_MODELS).find(m => m.id === modelId);
+}
+
 /**
  * Get all models merged: curated < auto-synced < dynamic (dynamic wins on conflict).
  * Excludes blocked models.
@@ -920,13 +953,17 @@ export function formatModelsList(): string {
   const lines: string[] = ['📋 Model Catalog — sorted by value\n'];
 
   const all = Object.values(getAllModels());
-  const free = all.filter(m => m.isFree && !m.isImageGen && !m.provider);
-  const imageGen = all.filter(m => m.isImageGen);
-  const paid = all.filter(m => !m.isFree && !m.isImageGen && !m.provider);
-  const direct = all.filter(m => m.provider && m.provider !== 'openrouter');
-
-  const freeCurated = free.filter(m => isCuratedModel(m.alias));
-  const freeSynced = free.filter(m => !isCuratedModel(m.alias));
+  // Tier sections show curated + dynamic only (auto-synced get their own section below)
+  const curated = all.filter(m => isCuratedModel(m.alias));
+  const free = curated.filter(m => m.isFree && !m.isImageGen && !m.provider);
+  const imageGen = curated.filter(m => m.isImageGen);
+  const paid = curated.filter(m => !m.isFree && !m.isImageGen && !m.provider);
+  const direct = curated.filter(m => m.provider && m.provider !== 'openrouter');
+
+  // Dynamic (from /syncmodels) free models shown separately
+  const dynamicFree = all.filter(m => m.isFree && !m.isImageGen && !m.provider && !isCuratedModel(m.alias) && !isAutoSyncedModel(m.alias));
+  const freeCurated = free;
+  const freeSynced = dynamicFree;
 
   const sortByCost = (a: ModelInfo, b: ModelInfo) => parseCostForSort(a.cost) - parseCostForSort(b.cost);
   paid.sort(sortByCost);
@@ -991,11 +1028,21 @@ export function formatModelsList(): string {
     }
   }
 
-  // Auto-synced models summary (not listed individually — too many)
+  // Auto-synced models — show notable highlights + summary count
   const autoSyncedCount = getAutoSyncedModelCount();
   if (autoSyncedCount > 0) {
-    lines.push(`\n🌐 +${autoSyncedCount} more models auto-synced from OpenRouter`);
-    lines.push('  Use /use <model-alias> to switch — /syncall to refresh');
+    const notable = getNotableAutoSynced();
+    if (notable.length > 0) {
+      lines.push('\n🌐 AUTO-SYNCED HIGHLIGHTS:');
+      for (const m of notable) {
+        const features = [m.supportsVision && '👁️', m.supportsTools && '🔧'].filter(Boolean).join('');
+        lines.push(`  /${m.alias} — ${m.name} ${features}\n    ${m.cost}`);
+      }
+    }
+    const remaining = autoSyncedCount - notable.length;
+    if (remaining > 0) {
+      lines.push(`\n  +${remaining} more auto-synced — /use <alias> to switch`);
+    }
   }
 
   lines.push('\n━━━ Legend ━━━');