Pairwise benchmark snapshot · Aug 16, 2026
This page compares Claude Sonnet 4.5 (Anthropic) and MiniMax M2.5 (MiniMax) using the latest snapshots we have as of Aug 16, 2026. On preference Elo, Claude Sonnet 4.5 is ahead by 46 points (1,524 vs 1,478; seed-bootstrap (Aug 1, 2026)). On SWE-bench coding, MiniMax M2.5 resolves 75.8% versus 70.1% (seed-bootstrap (Aug 1, 2026)). MiniMax M2.5 streams faster (90 tok/s) while MiniMax M2.5 is the cheaper output token ($0.9/1M). Claude Sonnet 4.5 has the larger context window (1M tokens). Every cell below is a dated snapshot from a named public source — we do not invent missing scores, and we do not run SWE-bench ourselves.
Anthropic
Claude Sonnet 4.5Workhorse Anthropic model: most of Opus coding quality at a mid-tier price.
MiniMax
MiniMax M2.5MiniMax coding model. Tied near the top of official SWE-bench bash-only in Feb 2026.
Instant pairwise benchmark recalculation across 400+ LLMs
Category wins across intelligence, speed, and pricing efficiency.
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
Each spoke is a skill. Farther from the center is better (0–100th percentile). Tap any dot to inspect details.
46 pts advantage
2 tok/s faster
$14.10/1M cheaper
Simulate monthly production API costs based on published $/1M tokens.
MiniMax M2.5 is estimated to save $308.80/month ($3,706/year).
Higher SWE-bench (75.8%).
Lower output list price ($0.9/1M).
Lower TTFT (240 ms).
Larger window (1M).
Claude Sonnet 4.5 is the side marked multimodal in the catalog.
| Target Workload | Recommended Pick | Evaluation Rationale |
|---|---|---|
| Repo / coding agents | MiniMax M2.5 | Higher SWE-bench (75.8%). |
| High-volume chat | MiniMax M2.5 | Lower output list price ($0.9/1M). |
| Voice / low-latency UI | Claude Sonnet 4.5 | Lower TTFT (240 ms). |
| Long-document RAG | Claude Sonnet 4.5 | Larger window (1M). |
| Screenshots / vision | Claude Sonnet 4.5 | Claude Sonnet 4.5 is the side marked multimodal in the catalog. |
Most of Opus 4.5 coding at a mid-tier price. Sonnet 5 replaced it as the buy; 4.5 remains a compare baseline.
Tied near the top of official SWE-bench bash-only in Feb 2026. Coding lists should still see it.
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The real PNG is generated at /compare/claude-sonnet-4-5-vs-minimax-m2-5/opengraph-image for crawlers.
Verified head-to-head card
