Claude Opus 4.8 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.
Claude Opus 4.8 vs Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast): side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.8 | Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 61.4 | 61.4 | Tie |
| Output speed | 60 t/s | 60 t/s | Tie |
| Output price | $25.00/1M | $50.00/1M | Claude Opus 4.8 |
| Context | 1000K | 1000K | Tie |
| Params | — | — | Tie |
| Type | Proprietary | Proprietary | Tie |
| Provider | Anthropic | Anthropic | Tie |
Claude Opus 4.8
Pros
- +Handles extremely long inputs effectively
- +Strong multimodal integration of text, images, and files
- +Careful and nuanced reasoning
- +Robust safety alignment
Cons
- –Higher latency on large contexts
- –Conservative response style due to safety tuning
- –May require explicit guidance for creative tasks
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
It depends on your needs. Claude Opus 4.8 and Claude Opus 4.8 (Fast) are both multimodal models; the comparison table above shows where each one leads on the metrics that matter. See the verdict for a recommendation.