Conservative reading frame
Claude model choice often comes down to whether you need maximum reasoning depth, balanced coding performance, or low-latency high-volume handling.
Compare with the same token assumptions
Do not treat unknown prices as zero
Verify the official source before production
Opus for hard work
Opus-class models are usually candidates for complex reasoning, long-running agentic work, and difficult coding tasks where quality matters more than the lowest token price.
Sonnet for balance
Sonnet-class models are common defaults for coding, analysis, and production assistants because they balance capability and cost.
Haiku for fast paths
Haiku-class models can fit routing, extraction, short responses, and high-volume tasks where speed and cost matter most.
