Updated March 26, 2026· Based on independent benchmark data
Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) leads in intelligence with a score of 53.0 vs 49.7.
| Metric | Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) | Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Score | 49.7 | 53.0 |
| Coding Score | 47.8 | 48.1 |
| Math Score | 91.3 | N/A |
| Speed (tok/s) | 57 tok/s | 51 tok/s |
| Latency (TTFT) | 10.41s | 12.63s |
| Input Price / 1M tokens | $5.00 | $5.00 |
| Output Price / 1M tokens | $25 | $25 |
| Context Window |
Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) outperforms Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) on the intelligence index with a score of 53.0 compared to 49.7. Their coding capabilities are closely matched (47.8 vs 48.1).
Both models deliver similar output speeds: Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) at 57 tok/s and Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) at 51 tok/s. Time to first token is 10.41s for Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs 12.63s for Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort), which affects perceived responsiveness in interactive applications.
Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) is more affordable at $5.00/1M input tokens ($25/1M output), while Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) costs $5.00/1M input ($25/1M output). For a typical workload of 100 requests per day at 2,000 tokens each, Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) would cost approximately $30.00/month vs $30.00/month for Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) in input costs alone.
Choose Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) when you need higher intelligence (53.0).
Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) scores higher on coding benchmarks (48.1 vs 47.8), making it the better choice for programming tasks.
Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) is cheaper at $5.00/1M input tokens vs $5.00/1M for Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning).
Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) is faster, producing output at 57 tok/s compared to Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort)'s 51 tok/s.
No, Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) does not support image input. Neither model supports image input.
Data last synced: March 26, 2026
| N/A |
| N/A |
| Max Output Tokens | N/A | N/A |
| Input Modalities | Text | Text |
| Output Modalities | Text | Text |
| Free Tier | No | No |
It depends on your priorities. Claude Opus 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) scores higher on intelligence (53.0), but Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) may be better for specific use cases like budget-conscious projects or speed-critical applications.