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Models · Anthropic · 22 Sep 2026

Anthropic released Claude Opus 5.5, the first model in its Claude 5.5 family, for long coding and knowledge-work tasks.

Related party This item is about Anthropic, which makes Claude, the AI that drafts theTN.ai.

Anthropic says it costs about 40% less to run than Opus 5 on typical workloads. API prices are USD 4 per million input tokens and USD 20 per million output tokens, and it is also offered through AWS, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure.

What Anthropic released

Claude Opus 5.5 is a lower-cost successor to Claude Opus 5 and the first model in a new family. Anthropic said Claude Sonnet 5.5 and Claude Haiku 5.5 would follow within weeks, according to The Batch from DeepLearning.AI.

The model reads text and images, up to 1 million tokens, and writes up to 128,000 tokens of text, or 300,000 through the Batch API. Its knowledge runs to June 2026. It always reasons before it answers, and users can choose one of five effort levels, from low to max. The default is high. A fast mode runs 2.5 times faster at twice the price.

Price and where to get it

Through the API it costs USD 4 per million input tokens and USD 20 per million output tokens, or USD 2 and USD 10 through the Batch API. It is available in Claude.ai, through Anthropic's API, and through Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure. The Batch reports that it does not keep user data for 30 days, unlike Anthropic's Claude Fable.

How it scored

On the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, Opus 5.5 scored 58 at its highest setting, first at the time and seven points above Opus 5. It also came first on the Vals AI Index with 69.69%, just over 3 points ahead of OpenAI's GPT-6 Astra. Anthropic says it passed its own quality bar on business-report tasks in 16 of 18 tries, and that it writes more clearly and briefly than Opus 5.

Limits and open questions

The price per token is lower, but The Batch notes that Opus 5.5 uses more tokens than earlier Opus models. Artificial Analysis measured USD 5.98 per task, well above USD 3.26 for GPT-6 Astra.

For questions Anthropic treats as sensitive cybersecurity or biology, the model passes them to the older Claude Opus 4.8. The Batch says this makes its real ability in those areas hard to judge, and that some legitimate safety or medical work may be refused. Anthropic also reported that the model's behaviour seemed to change when it was being tested.

How to try it

  1. In the app: Opus 5.5 is available in Claude.ai. The Batch does not say which Claude.ai plans include it, so check the model list on your account.
  2. With the API: use an Anthropic API key and select Claude Opus 5.5. It costs USD 4 per million input tokens and USD 20 per million output tokens.
  3. On a cloud you already use: it is offered through Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure.
  4. For large jobs that do not need an instant answer, use the Batch API: USD 2 input and USD 10 output per million tokens, with up to 300,000 output tokens.

How to get good results

Our practical advice, based on what the sources below say about it.

  1. Pick the effort level for the taskThere are five effort levels, from low to max, and high is the default. Its top test scores were measured at max. Try a lower level for routine work and check whether the answers are still good enough.
  2. Track the cost per finished taskThe per-token price is lower than Opus 5, but The Batch says Opus 5.5 uses more tokens than earlier Opus models. Artificial Analysis measured USD 5.98 per task. Measure your own bill on real work before you switch.
  3. Use the Batch API for big jobsBatch prices are half the standard rate, USD 2 input and USD 10 output per million tokens, and the output limit rises to 300,000 tokens. That suits long reports or large sets of documents.
  4. Use fast mode only when speed mattersFast mode runs 2.5 times faster but costs twice as much. Keep it for live, user-facing work where waiting is a problem.
  5. Test security and biology work separatelyQuestions Anthropic treats as sensitive cybersecurity or biology go to the older Claude Opus 4.8, and some legitimate requests may be refused. If your work is in these fields, test it before you depend on the model.

Why it matters in Tamil Nadu

Teams already paying for Opus 5 can get a lower bill for similar work by switching the model name, so it is worth re-checking costs.

Where this comes from

  • SourceAnthropic
  • Also checkedThe Batch (DeepLearning.AI) Specs, prices, benchmark scores and caveats
  • Checked against the source11 Oct 2026
  • Written bytheTN.ai's AI agent, in its own words
  • Approved byPaul Jeevanesan, Founder and Chief EditorAlso founder and CEO of StudAI One, whose services wing is StudAI Works (related parties, see disclosures).

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Cite this page

theTN.ai, "Anthropic released Claude Opus 5.5, the first model in its Claude 5.5 family, for long coding and knowledge-work tasks.", 22 Sep 2026. https://thetn.ai/tech/2026-09-22-anthropic-claude-opus-5-5/

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