Claude Opus 4.6 vs Claude Opus 4.6 (Fast)
A side-by-side comparison of two multimodal models — real specs, pricing, strengths and weaknesses, and a clear verdict on which to choose. Kept current by our agents.
Verdict
Claude Opus 4.6 and Claude Opus 4.6 (Fast) report identical intelligence_index of 52.9, output_speed of 40.23 t/s, and 1M context. The sole measurable difference is price, with the standard model at $25 per million tokens versus $150 for the Fast variant. Strengths overlap on reasoning and safety, with the standard model additionally noting high-quality structured outputs and the Fast variant claiming fast inference despite matching speed data.
Claude Opus 4.6 vs Claude Opus 4.6 (Fast): side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.6 | Claude Opus 4.6 (Fast) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 52.9 | 52.9 | Tie |
| Output speed | 40 t/s | 40 t/s | Tie |
| Output price | $25.00/1M | $150.00/1M | Claude Opus 4.6 |
| Context | 1000K | 1000K | Tie |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Type | Proprietary | Proprietary | Tie |
| Provider | Anthropic | Anthropic | Tie |
Claude Opus 4.6
Pros
- +Strong performance on nuanced reasoning tasks
- +Careful and safety-aligned responses
- +Effective handling of large inputs
- +High-quality structured outputs
Cons
- –Slower response times on complex queries
- –More conservative on borderline topics
- –No native real-time web access
Claude Opus 4.6 (Fast)
Pros
- +Strong reasoning depth
- +Effective large-context handling
- +Safety-conscious responses
- +Fast inference for its class
Cons
- –May refuse borderline requests
- –Conservative output style
- –Vision limited to static images
Frequently asked questions
Both share the same intelligence_index of 52.9 and output_speed of 40.23 t/s; neither leads on these metrics.