Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) vs Claude Sonnet 4.6
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 4.7 (Fast) if you need
- ✓Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 if you need lower cost at $15 per million tokens for high-volume multimodal work.
- ✓Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 if you need strong logical coherence and high-quality multimodal integration.
- ✓Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 if you need effective large-context handling without paying premium rates.
- ✓Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 if you need careful safety alignment at accessible pricing.
Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 if you need
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) if you need higher intelligence (53.5 index) for complex multimodal tasks.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) if you need faster output at 51.48 tokens per second.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) if you need nuanced and careful reasoning in a reduced-latency variant.
- ✓Choose Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) if you need strong safety alignment with the highest intelligence score.
Verdict
Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) leads in raw intelligence (53.5 vs 34.3) and output speed (51.48 t/s vs 44 t/s) while matching the 1M context window, but Claude Sonnet 4.6 is dramatically cheaper at $15/1M versus $150/1M. Sonnet emphasizes high-quality multimodal integration and logical coherence, whereas Opus prioritizes nuanced reasoning in its fast variant. The choice hinges on whether intelligence and speed justify the 10x price premium.
Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) vs Claude Sonnet 4.6: side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) | Claude Sonnet 4.6 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 53.5 | 34.3 | Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) |
| Output speed | 51 t/s | 44 t/s | Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) |
| Output price | $150.00/1M | $15.00/1M | Claude Sonnet 4.6 |
| Context | 1000K | 1000K | Tie |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Provider | Anthropic | Anthropic | Tie |
Detailed analysis
Intelligence
Winner: Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast)Opus 4.7 (Fast) scores 53.5 on the intelligence index compared to Sonnet 4.6's 34.3. This gap favors Opus for tasks requiring nuanced reasoning. Both models share the same provider and context size.
Speed
Winner: Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast)Opus 4.7 (Fast) delivers 51.48 tokens per second versus Sonnet 4.6's 44 t/s. The fast variant is positioned to reduce latency. Multimodal inputs can still increase response times for both.
Pricing
Winner: Claude Sonnet 4.6Sonnet 4.6 costs $15 per million output tokens while Opus 4.7 (Fast) costs $150 per million. This creates a 10x price difference. Both are proprietary Anthropic models with identical 1M context windows.
Context & Multimodal Handling
Winner: TieBoth models support a 1M token context and are described as effective for large-context multimodal inputs. Sonnet highlights high-quality multimodal integration while Opus notes resource-heavy large context usage.
Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast)
Pros
- +Strong safety alignment
- +Nuanced and careful reasoning
- +Effective large-context handling
Cons
- –May decline edge-case or risky requests
- –Multimodal tasks can increase response time
- –Large context usage remains resource-heavy
Claude Sonnet 4.6
Pros
- +Strong logical coherence
- +Careful safety alignment
- +Effective handling of large contexts
Cons
- –Conservative refusal patterns on edge cases
- –Slower response times on complex inputs
- –Knowledge limited to training cutoff
Summary: Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) vs Claude Sonnet 4.6
Select Claude Sonnet 4.6 when budget and cost-efficiency matter most for multimodal analysis. Choose Claude Opus 4.7 (Fast) when maximum intelligence and speed justify the higher price. Both deliver strong safety alignment and large-context capability from the same provider.
Frequently asked questions
Opus 4.7 (Fast) is stronger on intelligence and speed metrics while Sonnet 4.6 offers better value; the better choice depends on whether performance or cost is prioritized.