Key highlights:
- Claude Sonnet 4.5 performs better in agentic coding compared to GPT-5.
- It also brings lower latency making it suitable for testing prototypes.
- The model also reduced API costs by 66% compared to previous versions.
Shortly after releasing the world’s best coding model Sonnet 4.5, Amthropic has now launched Claude Haiku 4.5 small model. It offers similar coding performance as the Sonnet 4, while being faster and cost effective. The new model is rolling out to all users, including free accounts.
Claude Haiku 4.5: Everything You Should Know
The Claude Haiku 4.5 small model is a direct replacement for Haiku 3.5, and partly Sonnet 4. It is designed for both speed and accuracy, while consuming fewer tokens. It is twice as fast than Sonnet 4, which was previously the best coding model from the company.
As per benchmarks, Haiku 4.5 surpasses Sonnet 4, GPT-5, and Gemini 2.5 Pro in agentic coding. In simple words, this model performs way better in tasks where you deploy multiple codes simultaneously. Anthropic also mentions that it offers lower latency, making it suitable for rapid prototyping.
To compare, Anthropic’s small model is currently the second-best model in the world for all tasks related to coding, only second to its own Sonnet 4.5. It also matches the metrics of GPT-5, OpenAI’s flagship model, and manages to perform better in multi-agent tasks.
If you use the Claude for Chrome extension, then you will notice a signifcant improvement in response times after switching to Haiku 4.5. It can also break down a single complex task into smaller actions and use its multi-agent capabilities to complete the task faster.
Should OpenAI Worry?
Anthropic’s Claude models have been superior to OpenAI’s GPT for a while in the department of coding, logic, and reasoning. OpenAI on the other hand has focused on all-round progress as its GPT models generate much better responses in creative writing, image generation, analysing general information, and so on. If we look closely, the latter usage is more dominant in the world, and Claude is primarily used by the niche of software developers.
The release of Haiku 4.5 is not threatening for OpenAI, and not even Google. Both have a lot to catch up in coding, while they enjoy their lead with other applications. Unless OpenAI or Google releases a ground-breaking model with extraordinary reasoning skills, neither of them are going to compete directly.
If you are a developer, then the Haiku 4.5 is the most cost-effective model for testing your prototypes, and deploying codes faster than ever. But if you a normal user who uses chatbots to have simple conversations, then you are better with ChatGPT or Gemini, as Claude lacks the personal touch, also known as the “chatty personality”.
