Claude Opus 4.6 vs Claude Opus 4.8
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 4.8 leads with a higher intelligence_index (61.4 vs 52.9) and faster output speed (62.18 t/s vs 40.23 t/s) at identical $25/1M pricing and 1M context. Claude Opus 4.6 lists strengths in nuanced reasoning tasks and high-quality structured outputs while 4.8 lists stronger multimodal integration of text, images, and files. Both share proprietary Anthropic origin, conservative safety tuning, and limitations around latency on complex or large inputs.
Claude Opus 4.6 vs Claude Opus 4.8: side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.6 | Claude Opus 4.8 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 52.9 | 61.4 | Claude Opus 4.8 |
| Output speed | 40 t/s | 62 t/s | Claude Opus 4.8 |
| Output price | $25.00/1M | $25.00/1M | Tie |
| 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 4.8
Pros
- +Handles extremely long inputs effectively
- +Strong multimodal integration of text, images, and files
- +Careful and nuanced reasoning
- +Robust safety alignment
Cons
- –Higher latency on large contexts
- –Conservative response style due to safety tuning
- –May require explicit guidance for creative tasks
Frequently asked questions
Claude Opus 4.8 scores higher on intelligence_index (61.4 vs 52.9) and output speed (62.18 t/s vs 40.23 t/s).