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fix: correct 200K vs 1M context section after source verification

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- Fix beta header: interleaved-thinking → context-1m-2025-08-07
- Add Sonnet 4.6 long-context premium ($3→$6 / $15→$22.50 above 200K)
- Correct cost estimates: Sonnet 1M ~$4.13 (was $2.25), Opus 1M ~$6.88 (was $8.75)
- Remove unverified 93% @ 256K MRCR figure
- Add usage tier 4 requirement
- Clarify "all tokens" billed at premium when input >200K

Sources: Anthropic pricing docs + context-windows docs (verified Feb 18 2026)

Co-Authored-By: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
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Florian BRUNIAUX 2026-02-18 10:06:21 +01:00
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@ -1753,39 +1753,42 @@ Claude Code uses **Claude Sonnet 4.6** by default (as of Feb 2026):
#### 200K vs 1M Context: Performance, Cost & Use Cases
The 1M context window (beta, API only) is a significant capability jump — but it's not always the right choice.
The 1M context window (beta, API + usage tier 4 required) is a significant capability jump — but it's not always the right choice.
**Retrieval accuracy at scale (MRCR v2 8-needle benchmark)**
**Retrieval accuracy at scale (MRCR v2 8-needle 1M variant)**
| Model | 256K accuracy | 1M accuracy | Source |
|-------|--------------|-------------|--------|
| Opus 4.6 | 93% | 76% | Anthropic blog (Feb 2026) |
| Sonnet 4.5 | — | 18.5% | Anthropic blog |
| Sonnet 4.6 | Not yet published | Not yet published | — |
| Model | 1M accuracy | Source |
|-------|-------------|--------|
| Opus 4.6 | 76% | Anthropic blog (Feb 2026) |
| Sonnet 4.5 | 18.5% | Anthropic blog (Feb 2026) |
| Sonnet 4.6 | Not yet published | — |
Note: Opus 4.6 retains strong accuracy at 1M (76%), while Sonnet 4.5 degrades sharply. Sonnet 4.6 MRCR scores have not yet been published by Anthropic.
Note: Opus 4.6 retains strong accuracy at 1M (76%), Sonnet 4.5 degrades sharply. The benchmark is specifically the "8-needle 1M variant" measuring retrieval in a 1M-token document. Sonnet 4.6 MRCR scores have not yet been published by Anthropic.
**Cost per session (approximate)**
Important: above 200K input tokens, **all** tokens in the request are charged at premium rates (not just the excess). Applies to both Sonnet 4.6 and Opus 4.6.
| Session type | ~Tokens in | ~Tokens out | Sonnet 4.6 | Opus 4.6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bug fix / PR review | 50K | 5K | ~$0.23 | ~$0.38 |
| Module refactoring | 150K | 20K | ~$0.75 | ~$1.25 |
| Full service analysis (1M beta) | 500K | 50K | ~$2.25 | ~$8.75 |
| Bug fix / PR review (≤200K) | 50K | 5K | ~$0.23 | ~$0.38 |
| Module refactoring (≤200K) | 150K | 20K | ~$0.75 | ~$1.25 |
| Full service analysis (>200K, 1M beta) | 500K | 50K | ~$4.13 | ~$6.88 |
**When to use which**
| Scenario | Recommendation |
|----------|---------------|
| Bug fix, PR review, daily coding | Sonnet 4.6 @ 200K — fast and cheap |
| Cross-module refactoring, large codebase | Sonnet 4.6 @ 1M beta — volume without premium |
| Architecture analysis, Agent Teams, complex reasoning | Opus 4.6 @ 1M beta — accuracy matters |
| Cross-module refactoring, large codebase | Sonnet 4.6 @ 1M — but premium pricing kicks in above 200K |
| Architecture analysis, Agent Teams, complex reasoning | Opus 4.6 @ 1M — stronger retrieval accuracy |
**Key facts**
- Opus 4.6 max output: **128K tokens**; Sonnet 4.6 max output: **64K tokens**
- 1M context ≈ 30,000 lines of code / 750,000 words
- 1M context is **beta** (API only, requires `anthropic-beta: interleaved-thinking-2025-05-14` header)
- Opus 4.6 pricing doubles above 200K; no premium tier announced yet for Sonnet 4.6
- 1M context is **beta** — requires `anthropic-beta: context-1m-2025-08-07` header, usage tier 4 or custom rate limits
- Above 200K input tokens: Sonnet 4.6 doubles to $6/$22.50/MTok; Opus 4.6 doubles to $10/$37.50/MTok
- If input stays ≤200K, standard pricing applies even with the beta flag enabled
#### What Costs the Most?