Anthropic Unveils Claude Sonnet 4.6 with Major Upgrades

By Patricia Miller

Feb 17, 2026

2 min read

Claude Sonnet 4.6 introduces a 1 million token context window and major enhancements, becoming a valuable tool for coding and analysis.

#What are the Key Features of Claude Sonnet 4.6?

Claude Sonnet 4.6 has emerged as the most advanced model in the Sonnet lineup, featuring significant upgrades in several areas, including coding, long context reasoning, agent planning, computer interaction, and design capabilities. This model introduces a beta version that supports a context window of one million tokens, allowing users to manage extensive content, such as whole codebases, lengthy contracts, or large volumes of research documentation seamlessly in a single prompt.

#How Does Pricing Compare to Previous Models?

The pricing structure for Claude Sonnet 4.6 remains consistent with that of Sonnet 4.5, charged at $3 for input and $15 for output per million tokens. This model has become the standard choice across both Free and Pro tiers, making advanced features more accessible. Notably, functionality that previously necessitated an Opus class model is now available in the Sonnet tier, significantly enhancing its value proposition.

#Why Do Early Users Prefer Sonnet 4.6?

Early adopters have shown a strong preference for Sonnet 4.6, choosing it over Sonnet 4.5 approximately 70% of the time, even favoring it over Claude Opus 4.5 in 59% of comparative tests. Users highlight improvements in instruction adherence, a reduction in hallucinations, and lesser instances of overengineering, marking a noticeable enhancement in user experience.

#What Improvements Has Sonnet 4.6 Made in Computer Use?

Sonnet 4.6 has recorded substantial advancements in computer utilization. In the OSWorld benchmark, which evaluates real-world software interactions without relying on APIs, Sonnet 4.6 is approaching human-like performance in tasks like navigating spreadsheets and executing complex web tasks. Furthermore, Anthropic has enhanced the model's resistance to prompt injection attacks, strengthening its reliability.

#What is the Context of This Release?

The launch of Claude Sonnet 4.6 follows Anthropic’s announcement of Claude Opus 4.6 earlier in February. By positioning Sonnet 4.6 as a more cost-effective alternative, Anthropic aims to diminish the capabilities gap within its offerings, appealing to users seeking powerful performance at a lower price point.

Important Notice And Disclaimer

This article does not provide any financial advice and is not a recommendation to deal in any securities or product. Investments may fall in value and an investor may lose some or all of their investment. Past performance is not an indicator of future performance.