Claude Opus 4.8 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
GPT-4.1 Nano leads on speed and cost with 171.89 t/s output and $0.4/1M tokens while offering a marginally larger 1,047,576-token context; Claude Opus 4.8 leads on intelligence with a 61.4 index versus 13 and provides stronger nuanced multimodal reasoning. Both handle million-token multimodal inputs of text, images, and files, but Nano trades depth for efficiency while Opus trades speed and price for careful reasoning and safety alignment.
Claude Opus 4.8 vs GPT-4.1 Nano: side by side
| Spec | Claude Opus 4.8 | GPT-4.1 Nano | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence | 61.4 | 13 | Claude Opus 4.8 |
| Output speed | 62 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 4.8
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
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 4.8 scores higher on intelligence (61.4 vs 13) while GPT-4.1 Nano is faster and cheaper; neither dominates both dimensions.