Claude Opus 4.6 vs Claude Sonnet 4.5
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.
Quick verdict: which should you choose?
Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need the documented intelligence index of 52.9 on nuanced reasoning tasks.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need the measured output speed of 40.23 t/s and high-quality structured outputs.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need effective handling of large inputs with careful safety-aligned responses.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.6 if you need performance on borderline topics without excessive refusals.
Choose Claude Sonnet 4.5 if you need
- ✓Choose Claude Sonnet 4.5 if you need the lower output price of $15 per 1M tokens.
- ✓Choose Claude Sonnet 4.5 if you need strong safety alignment and effective multimodal file support.
- ✓Choose Claude Sonnet 4.5 if you need reliable handling of large contexts with detailed reasoning.
- ✓Choose Claude Sonnet 4.5 if you need a more affordable option for similar 1M context workloads.
Verdict
Claude Opus 4.6 leads on documented intelligence (52.9) and output speed (40.23 t/s) with strengths in nuanced reasoning and structured outputs, while Claude Sonnet 4.5 undercuts it on price ($15 vs $25 per 1M tokens) and emphasizes reliable large-context multimodal file handling. Both share identical 1M context windows and Anthropic's safety focus, but Opus 4.6's known metrics give it an edge on complex tasks where data is available. Sonnet 4.5 remains attractive for cost-sensitive users prioritizing caution and file support.
Claude Opus 4.6 vs Claude Sonnet 4.5: side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.6 | Claude Sonnet 4.5 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 52.9 | — | Tie |
| Output speed | 40 t/s | — | Tie |
| Output price | $25.00/1M | $15.00/1M | Claude Sonnet 4.5 |
| Context | 1000K | 1000K | Tie |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Type | Proprietary | Proprietary | Tie |
| Provider | Anthropic | Anthropic | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence & Reasoning
Winner: Claude Opus 4.6Claude Opus 4.6 provides a documented intelligence index of 52.9 and lists strong performance on nuanced reasoning tasks plus high-quality structured outputs. Claude Sonnet 4.5 lists careful and detailed reasoning but lacks any intelligence index value. The available data therefore favors Opus 4.6 on measurable reasoning capability.
Pricing
Winner: Claude Sonnet 4.5Claude Sonnet 4.5 is priced at $15 per 1M tokens while Claude Opus 4.6 costs $25 per 1M tokens. Both models are proprietary and share the same provider and context size. Sonnet 4.5 therefore delivers a clear cost advantage on identical context capacity.
Speed & Context
Winner: Claude Opus 4.6Claude Opus 4.6 reports an output speed of 40.23 t/s and a 1M-token context window. Claude Sonnet 4.5 lists the same 1M context but provides no speed figure. Opus 4.6 holds the only concrete speed data point while both handle large inputs effectively.
Safety & Multimodal
Winner: TieBoth models emphasize safety alignment and careful responses from Anthropic. Opus 4.6 adds effective large-input handling while Sonnet 4.5 highlights reliable multimodal file support. Limitations for each include conservative refusals or variable vision performance, resulting in a balanced profile.
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 Sonnet 4.5
Pros
- +Strong safety alignment
- +Reliable handling of large contexts
- +Careful and detailed reasoning
- +Effective multimodal file support
Cons
- –Can be overly cautious with refusals
- –Vision performance varies by image complexity
- –May produce verbose responses
Summary: Claude Opus 4.6 vs Claude Sonnet 4.5
Select Claude Opus 4.6 when documented intelligence, speed, and nuanced reasoning matter most despite the higher price. Choose Claude Sonnet 4.5 when lower cost and multimodal file support are priorities within the shared 1M context and safety framework. The choice hinges on whether known performance metrics or pricing drives the decision.
Frequently asked questions
Claude Opus 4.6 shows higher documented intelligence and speed while Claude Sonnet 4.5 offers lower price and comparable safety; the better choice depends on whether metrics or cost is prioritized.