ℹ️ Quick Answer: Claude Sonnet 4.6 is Anthropic’s newest AI model, launched February 17, 2026. It delivers performance that previously required the flagship Opus model but at one fifth the cost ($3/$15 per million tokens). It features a 1 million token context window, improved coding and computer use, and is now the default model for all free and Pro plan users on claude.ai.
Anthropic just dropped Claude Sonnet 4.6. That makes two major model launches in 12 days, right on the heels of Opus 4.6 on February 5.
The pace is getting ridiculous, and I mean that as a compliment.
What Claude Sonnet 4.6 Actually Does Better
The headline number is the OSWorld benchmark. Sonnet 4.6 scored 72.5% on OSWorld Verified, which tests how well AI agents navigate real desktop and web apps. The previous Sonnet scored 61.4%. Opus 4.5 scored 66.3%. So the mid tier model is now outperforming what was the flagship model three months ago.
In plain English, that means Claude is getting significantly better at actually using your computer. Filling out multi step web forms, navigating spreadsheets across browser tabs, handling the kind of repetitive screen work that eats your afternoon.
The 1 Million Token Context Window
Sonnet 4.6 ships with a 1 million token context window in beta. That is enough to hold entire codebases, long legal contracts, or dozens of research papers in a single conversation. Previously, that kind of capacity required Opus pricing.
What This Costs
Same price as the old Sonnet. $3 per million input tokens, $15 per million output tokens. VentureBeat called it flagship performance at one fifth the cost. That math checks out.
If you are on a free or Pro plan, Sonnet 4.6 is already your default model. You do not need to do anything. Anthropic also upgraded the free tier to include file creation, skills, and code compaction for long conversations.
Why This Matters for You
The AI pricing race is working in your favor. What cost premium prices six months ago is now available on the free tier. Sonnet 4.6 handles coding, writing, analysis, and computer use at a level that would have been best in class in late 2025.
If you already use Claude, your experience just got better for free. If you have been waiting to try it, the barrier just dropped again. Developers who were paying Opus rates for complex tasks can now get comparable results with Sonnet and pocket the difference.
Two flagship grade model launches in 12 days. The pace is not slowing down.
Anthropic is making it very hard to justify paying premium prices for anything less than bleeding edge performance. And that is exactly how competition should work.
Related reading: Claude Opus 4.6 release and what it means | Claude Code fast mode for Opus 4.6 | New to AI? Start here
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