Updated March 26, 2026· Based on independent benchmark data
Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) leads in intelligence with a score of 51.7 vs 46.8. Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning) is 5.0x cheaper at $0.60/1M tokens vs $3.00/1M. For speed, Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) wins at 71 tok/s vs 34 tok/s.
| Metric | Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning) | Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Score | 46.8 | 51.7 |
| Coding Score | 39.5 | 50.9 |
| Math Score | N/A | N/A |
| Speed (tok/s) | 34 tok/s | 71 tok/s |
| Latency (TTFT) | 1.40s | 32.16s |
| Input Price / 1M tokens | $0.60 | $3.00 |
| Output Price / 1M tokens | $3.00 | $15 |
| Context Window |
Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) outperforms Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning) on the intelligence index with a score of 51.7 compared to 46.8. For coding tasks, Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) has the edge with a coding score of 50.9 vs 39.5.
Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) generates output significantly faster at 71 tok/s compared to Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning)'s 34 tok/s, making it 2.1x faster for streaming responses. Time to first token is 1.40s for Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning) vs 32.16s for Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort), which affects perceived responsiveness in interactive applications.
Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning) is more affordable at $0.60/1M input tokens ($3.00/1M output), while Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) costs $3.00/1M input ($15/1M output). That makes Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) 5.0x more expensive per token, which can add up significantly at scale. For a typical workload of 100 requests per day at 2,000 tokens each, Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning) would cost approximately $3.60/month vs $18.00/month for Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) in input costs alone.
Choose Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning) when you need lower cost. Choose Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) when you need higher intelligence (51.7), stronger coding performance (50.9), faster output (71 tok/s).
Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) scores higher on coding benchmarks (50.9 vs 39.5), making it the better choice for programming tasks.
Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning) is cheaper at $0.60/1M input tokens vs $3.00/1M for Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort).
Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) is faster, producing output at 71 tok/s compared to Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning)'s 34 tok/s.
No, Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning) does not support image input. Neither model supports image input.
Data last synced: March 26, 2026
| N/A |
| N/A |
| Max Output Tokens | N/A | N/A |
| Input Modalities | Text | Text |
| Output Modalities | Text | Text |
| Free Tier | No | No |
It depends on your priorities. Claude Sonnet 4.6 (Adaptive Reasoning, Max Effort) scores higher on intelligence (51.7), but Kimi K2.5 (Reasoning) may be better for specific use cases like budget-conscious projects or speed-critical applications.