Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) vs Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite
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.
Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) vs Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) | Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 61.4 | 33.5 | Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) |
| Output speed | 62 t/s | 310 t/s | Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite |
| Output price | $50.00/1M | $1.50/1M | Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite |
| Context | 1000K | 1049K | Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Type | Proprietary | Proprietary | Tie |
| Provider | Anthropic | Tie |
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
Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite
Pros
- +High speed and low latency
- +Handles very large context windows
- +Broad modality support in a lightweight package
- +Resource-efficient inference
Cons
- –Reduced depth on highly complex reasoning tasks
- –Lite design trades peak capability for speed
- –May require more guidance on nuanced or creative outputs
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your needs. Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) and Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite are both multimodal models; the comparison table above shows where each one leads on the metrics that matter. See the verdict for a recommendation.