**Anthropic Introduces Claude Sonnet 4.6: A Major Enhancement in AI Abilities**
This month, Anthropic has released the second upgrade to its Claude model series, launching Claude Sonnet 4.6. This version signifies the first improvement to the medium-sized AI model since the release of version 4.5 in September 2025.
Claude Sonnet 4.6 features an impressive “1M token context window,” enabling a broader understanding and processing of information. According to Anthropic, this upgrade constitutes a significant enhancement of the model’s abilities across multiple areas, such as programming, computer interaction, long-context reasoning, agent planning, knowledge tasks, and design.
A key highlight of Sonnet 4.6 is its enhanced programming capabilities. Developers who accessed the model early have expressed a strong preference for Sonnet 4.6 over its predecessor, noting improvements in reliability and adherence to instructions. Several users have even shown a preference for Sonnet 4.6 when compared to the more advanced Claude Opus 4.5 model released in November 2025. The performance of Sonnet 4.6 now aligns with the standards that once required an Opus-class model, especially for practical office tasks that provide economic benefits. Furthermore, there has been a noticeable enhancement in computer operation skills relative to earlier Sonnet versions.
For users on the free tier of Claude, Anthropic has set Sonnet 4.6 as the default model, incorporating functionalities such as file creation, connectors, capabilities, and compaction.
Earlier this month, Anthropic also rolled out Claude Opus 4.6, which features increased autonomy and concentration. In a related move, Apple has integrated support for agentic coding in Xcode via Claude Agent, highlighting the expanding partnership between Anthropic and major technology firms.
For further information regarding Anthropic’s latest hybrid model, you can check their official announcement [here](https://www.anthropic.com/news/claude-sonnet-4-6).