Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview): The Ultimate Performance & Pricing Comparison

Deep dive into reasoning, benchmarks, and latency insights.

The Final Verdict in the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) Showdown

After a comprehensive analysis, Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) emerges as the superior choice for users prioritizing raw intelligence and reasoning. However, Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) remains a highly competitive option, especially for scenarios demanding faster response times and cost-efficiency. This detailed Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) 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: 82.635tokens/sec

Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview)

Other

Reasoning: 8
Coding: 2
Multimodal: 3
Long Context: 4
Blended Price / 1M tokens: $0.002
P95 Latency: 1000ms
Tokens per second: 60.08tokens/sec

Overall Capabilities

The capability radar provides a holistic view of the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) matchup. This chart illustrates each model's strengths and weaknesses at a glance, forming a cornerstone of our Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) analysis.

This radar chart visually maps the core capabilities (reasoning, coding, math proxy, multimodal, long context) of `Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning)` vs `Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview)`.

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 Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) debate, Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) scores 90 against Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview)'s 80. This data-driven approach is essential for any serious Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) 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 Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) 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

Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview)300ms

Tokens per Second

Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning)82.635

Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview)60.08

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The Economics of Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview)

Power is only one part of the equation. This Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) 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 Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) would cost $0.003. This practical calculation is vital for any developer considering the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) choice.

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Which Model Wins the Claude Opus 4.5 (Reasoning) vs Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) 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 Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) decision.

Choose Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) 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 Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) 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 Qwen3 Max Thinking (Preview) Comparison

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Data source: https://artificialanalysis.ai/