Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 vs MiniMax: MiniMax M2: Which AI Model Is Better?
Updated March 24, 2026· Based on independent benchmark data
Quick Verdict
MiniMax: MiniMax M2 leads in intelligence with a score of 49.6 vs 46.5. MiniMax: MiniMax M2 is 58.8x cheaper at $0.26/1M tokens vs $15/1M.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 | MiniMax: MiniMax M2 |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Score | 46.5 | 49.6 |
| Coding Score | 47.6 | 41.9 |
| Math Score | N/A | N/A |
| Speed (tok/s) | 44 tok/s | 44 tok/s |
| Latency (TTFT) | 1.94s | 2.03s |
| Input Price / 1M tokens | $15 | $0.26 |
| Output Price / 1M tokens | $75 | $1.00 |
| Context Window | 200K | 197K |
| Max Output Tokens | 32K | 197K |
| Input Modalities | Image + Text + File | Text |
| Output Modalities | Text | Text |
| Free Tier | No | No |
Detailed Analysis
Intelligence & Quality
MiniMax: MiniMax M2 outperforms Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 on the Artificial Analysis intelligence index with a score of 49.6 compared to 46.5. For coding tasks, Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 has the edge with a coding score of 47.6 vs 41.9.
Speed & Latency
Both models deliver similar output speeds: Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 at 44 tok/s and MiniMax: MiniMax M2 at 44 tok/s. Time to first token is 1.94s for Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 vs 2.03s for MiniMax: MiniMax M2, which affects perceived responsiveness in interactive applications.
Pricing
MiniMax: MiniMax M2 is more affordable at $0.26/1M input tokens ($1.00/1M output), while Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 costs $15/1M input ($75/1M output). That makes Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 58.8x more expensive per token, which can add up significantly at scale. For a typical workload of 100 requests per day at 2,000 tokens each, Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 would cost approximately $90.00/month vs $1.53/month for MiniMax: MiniMax M2 in input costs alone.
Context Window
Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 offers a larger context window at 200K tokens compared to MiniMax: MiniMax M2's 197K. For output length, MiniMax: MiniMax M2 can generate up to 197K tokens per response vs 32K for Anthropic: Claude Opus 4.
Best Use Cases
Choose Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 when you need stronger coding performance (47.6). Choose MiniMax: MiniMax M2 when you need higher intelligence (49.6), lower cost.
Choose Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 if:
- ✓You prioritize coding performance (score: 47.6 vs 41.9)
- ✓You need image understanding (Supports image input)
Choose MiniMax: MiniMax M2 if:
- ✓You need higher intelligence (score: 49.6 vs 46.5)
- ✓Budget is a concern ($0.26/1M vs $15/1M)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 better than MiniMax: MiniMax M2 for coding?
Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 scores higher on coding benchmarks (47.6 vs 41.9), making it the better choice for programming tasks.
Which is cheaper, Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 or MiniMax: MiniMax M2?
MiniMax: MiniMax M2 is cheaper at $0.26/1M input tokens vs $15/1M for Anthropic: Claude Opus 4.
Is Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 faster than MiniMax: MiniMax M2?
Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 is faster, producing output at 44 tok/s compared to MiniMax: MiniMax M2's 44 tok/s.
Can Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 process images?
Yes, Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 supports image input. MiniMax: MiniMax M2 does not support image input.
Which has a larger context window, Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 or MiniMax: MiniMax M2?
Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 has a larger context window at 200K compared to MiniMax: MiniMax M2's 197K.
Should I use Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 or MiniMax: MiniMax M2?
It depends on your priorities. MiniMax: MiniMax M2 scores higher on intelligence (49.6), but Anthropic: Claude Opus 4 may be better for specific use cases like budget-conscious projects or speed-critical applications.
Related Comparisons
Benchmark data by Artificial Analysis
Data last synced: March 24, 2026