Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite: The Ultimate Performance & Pricing Comparison

Deep dive into reasoning, benchmarks, and latency insights.

The Final Verdict in the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite Showdown

After a comprehensive analysis, Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) emerges as the superior choice for users prioritizing raw intelligence and reasoning. However, Nova Lite remains a highly competitive option, especially for scenarios demanding faster response times and cost-efficiency. This detailed Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite comparison will break down every critical metric to help you make the best decision.

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Model Snapshot

Key decision metrics at a glance.

Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning)

Anthropic

Reasoning: 9
Coding: 5
Multimodal: 4
Long Context: 6
Blended Price / 1M tokens: $0.010
P95 Latency: 1000ms
Tokens per second: 85.463tokens/sec

Nova Lite

Other

Reasoning: 1
Coding: 1
Multimodal: 1
Long Context: 2
Blended Price / 1M tokens: $0.000
P95 Latency: 1000ms
Tokens per second: 221.477tokens/sec

Overall Capabilities

The capability radar provides a holistic view of the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite matchup. This chart illustrates each model's strengths and weaknesses at a glance, forming a cornerstone of our Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite analysis.

This radar chart visually maps the core capabilities (reasoning, coding, math proxy, multimodal, long context) of `Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning)` vs `Nova Lite`.

Benchmark Breakdown

For a granular look, this chart directly compares scores across standardized benchmarks. In the critical MMLU Pro test, a key part of the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite debate, Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) scores 90 against Nova Lite's 10. This data-driven approach is essential for any serious Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite comparison.

This grouped bar chart provides a side-by-side comparison for each benchmark metric.

Speed & Latency

Speed is a crucial factor in the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite decision for interactive applications. The metrics below highlight the trade-offs you should weigh before shipping to production.

Time to First Token

Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning)300ms

Nova Lite300ms

Tokens per Second

Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning)85.463

Nova Lite221.477

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The Economics of Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite

Power is only one part of the equation. This Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite pricing analysis gives you a true sense of value.

Pricing Breakdown

Compare input and output pricing at a glance.

Real-World Cost Scenario

To process 1M input tokens and generate 250k output tokens, Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) would cost $0.011, whereas Nova Lite would cost $0.000. This practical calculation is vital for any developer considering the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite choice.

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Which Model Wins the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite Battle for You?

Choose Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) if...

Your top priority is raw performance and capability.

You are working in a technical or scientific field requiring the highest accuracy.

Cost is a secondary concern to power in your Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite decision.

Choose Nova Lite if...

You need a highly responsive model for user-facing applications.

Your budget is a primary consideration in the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite choice.

You are developing at scale where operational costs are critical.

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Your Questions about the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Nova Lite Comparison

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Data source: https://artificialanalysis.ai/