Pairwise benchmark snapshot · Aug 1, 2026
In this head-to-head showdown, GLM-5.2 delivers higher overall intelligence and human-preferred responses (Elo 1,492 vs 1,455), while GLM-5.2 leads in SWE-bench software engineering benchmarks (69.3%), while GLM-5.2 is more budget-friendly at $1.8/1M per 1M output tokens, while Claude Sonnet 4 provides faster response streaming (92 tok/s). Review the complete breakdown below to determine which model best fits your performance and budget requirements.
9 direct benchmark disciplines evaluated across capability, speed, and cost
First Sonnet 4 generation. Bridge between 3.5/3.7 and Sonnet 5.
Zhipu flagship. Strong Chinese/English coding and agents.
Δ 37 Arena Elo pts
92 tok/s
$1.8 / 1M output
Relative percentile scores computed across all active models in the benchmark catalog.
Comparing top Western standard models with China's leading frontier rival across 6 skill dimensions. Tap any spoke or dot to inspect.
Category wins across reasoning intelligence, generation speed, and token cost.
Preference Elo, Coding proficiency, SWE-bench & LiveBench accuracy
Generation throughput and time to first token responsiveness
Cost per million tokens and max context window length
| Benchmark | Claude Sonnet 4 | GLM-5.2 | Advantage Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preference Elo | +37 | ||
| Coding Elo | +36 | ||
| LiveBench | +2% | ||
| SWE-bench | +6.5% | ||
| GPQA Diamond | +3.1% | ||
| Time to first token | +50 ms | ||
| Output speed | 92 tok/s | 84 tok/s | +8 tok/s |
| Input price | $0.5/1M | +$2.5/1M | |
| Output price | $1.8/1M | +$13.2/1M | |
| Context window | — |
Simulate monthly production API costs in USD (US Dollar).
GLM-5.2 is estimated to save $285.50/month ($3,426/year).
Higher SWE-bench (69.3%).
Lower output list price ($1.8/1M).
Lower TTFT (220 ms).
Larger window (200k).
Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GLM-5.2).
| Target Workload | Recommended Pick | Evaluation Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Repo / coding agents | GLM-5.2 | Higher SWE-bench (69.3%). |
| High-volume chat | GLM-5.2 | Lower output list price ($1.8/1M). |
| Voice / low-latency UI | Claude Sonnet 4 | Lower TTFT (220 ms). |
| Long-document RAG | Claude Sonnet 4 | Larger window (200k). |
| Screenshots / vision | GLM-5.2 | Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GLM-5.2). |
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