Pairwise benchmark snapshot · Aug 1, 2026
In this head-to-head showdown, GPT-4.5 Orion delivers higher overall intelligence and human-preferred responses (Elo 1,540 vs 1,455), while GPT-4.5 Orion leads in SWE-bench software engineering benchmarks (71%), while Claude Sonnet 4 is more budget-friendly at $15/1M per 1M output tokens. Review the complete breakdown below to determine which model best fits your performance and budget requirements.
10 direct benchmark disciplines evaluated across capability, speed, and cost
First Sonnet 4 generation. Bridge between 3.5/3.7 and Sonnet 5.
OpenAI largest dense non-reasoning model with expansive world knowledge and reduced hallucinations.
Δ 85 Arena Elo pts
92 tok/s
$15 / 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 | GPT-4.5 Orion | Advantage Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preference Elo | +85 | ||
| Coding Elo | +52 | ||
| LiveBench | +5.3% | ||
| SWE-bench | +8.2% | ||
| GPQA Diamond | +7.6% | ||
| Time to first token | +130 ms | ||
| Output speed | 92 tok/s | 60 tok/s | +32 tok/s |
| Input price | +$72/1M | ||
| Output price | $150/1M | +$135/1M | |
| Context window | +72k |
Simulate monthly production API costs in USD (US Dollar).
Claude Sonnet 4 is estimated to save $4,545.00/month ($54,540/year).
Higher SWE-bench (71%).
Lower output list price ($15/1M).
Lower TTFT (220 ms).
Larger window (200k).
Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GPT-4.5 Orion).
| Target Workload | Recommended Pick | Evaluation Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Repo / coding agents | GPT-4.5 Orion | Higher SWE-bench (71%). |
| High-volume chat | Claude Sonnet 4 | Lower output list price ($15/1M). |
| Voice / low-latency UI | Claude Sonnet 4 | Lower TTFT (220 ms). |
| Long-document RAG | Claude Sonnet 4 | Larger window (200k). |
| Screenshots / vision | GPT-4.5 Orion | Both accept images. Defaulting to the higher-Elo side (GPT-4.5 Orion). |
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Verified Head-to-Head Telemetry
