Claude Opus 4.6 vs Claude Opus 4.8 (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 4.8 (Fast) scores higher on intelligence_index (61.4 vs 52.9) and output_speed (62.18 t/s vs 40.23 t/s) but costs twice as much ($50 vs $25 per 1M tokens). Both models share the same 1M-token context, proprietary Anthropic backend, and core strengths in safety alignment and large-context handling. Claude Opus 4.6 lists explicit advantages in structured outputs while 4.8 notes possible depth trade-offs in fast mode.
Claude Opus 4.6 vs Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast): side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.6 | Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 52.9 | 61.4 | Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) |
| Output speed | 40 t/s | 62 t/s | Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) |
| Output price | $25.00/1M | $50.00/1M | 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 4.8 (Fast)
Pros
- +Strong safety alignment
- +Nuanced and careful reasoning
- +Effective large-context handling
- +High-quality writing and analysis
Cons
- –Can be overly cautious on edge cases
- –Multimodal performance varies with image clarity
- –Fast mode may trade some depth for speed
Frequently asked questions
Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) leads on intelligence and speed metrics while Claude Opus 4.6 leads on price; choice depends on whether performance or cost is prioritized.