Claude Opus 4.6 vs GPT-4.1 Nano
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 leads on intelligence_index (52.9 vs 13) and lists strengths in nuanced reasoning, safety-aligned responses, and high-quality structured outputs, while GPT-4.1 Nano leads on output speed (171.89 t/s vs 40.23) and price ($0.4 vs $25 per 1M tokens). Context windows are nearly identical (1M vs 1.047M tokens). Claude has no listed native real-time web access and is more conservative; GPT-4.1 Nano notes potential depth trade-offs from its nano size.
Claude Opus 4.6 vs GPT-4.1 Nano: side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.6 | GPT-4.1 Nano | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 52.9 | 13 | Claude Opus 4.6 |
| Output speed | 40 t/s | 172 t/s | GPT-4.1 Nano |
| Output price | $25.00/1M | $0.40/1M | GPT-4.1 Nano |
| Context | 1000K | 1048K | GPT-4.1 Nano |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Type | Proprietary | Proprietary | Tie |
| Provider | Anthropic | OpenAI | 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
GPT-4.1 Nano
Pros
- +Extremely large context window
- +Native support for images, text, and files
- +OpenAI multimodal architecture
Cons
- –Nano size may reduce depth on complex tasks
- –Performance trade-offs for efficiency
Frequently asked questions
Claude Opus 4.6 scores higher on intelligence_index while GPT-4.1 Nano is faster and cheaper; neither is universally better.