Google Gemini 1.5 Pro is considered one of the best all-around AI models in the LLM market. However, when it comes to coding tasks or tasks that require advanced reasoning, it may fall behind a few models, including Anthropic’s Claude 3.5 Sonnet. Claude, for example, has better contextual awareness, improved hallucination management, and robust reasoning capabilities – that help generate more accurate and sophisticated code. But that’s not to say that Gemini 1.5 Pro doesn’t perform well, as it can perform just as well as Claude 3.5 Sonnet at specific tasks. So, a comparison should be interesting.
This blog compares Google Gemini 1.5 Pro with Claude 3.5 Sonnet to see which is best for coding. We’ll examine their architecture, features, performance results, pricing, and the developers’ thoughts about each model.
Gemini 1.5 Pro Overview
Gemini 1.5 Pro is Google’s most advanced AI model, released as part of the Gemini series. It is designed to handle complex tasks across various domains, including writing, image generation, and coding. Its architecture supports a vast context window of up to 1 million tokens, expandable to 2 million for select users, which helps it efficiently process large datasets and extensive inputs.
Features
- Context Window: Offers an impressive context window of 1 million tokens, scalable to 2 million tokens for certain users, allowing it to process extensive data inputs efficiently.
- Performance Enhancements: It boasts improved capabilities in translation, coding, and reasoning tasks, making it a versatile tool for developers.
- Multimodal Capabilities: Gemini 1.5 Pro can process text, images, audio, and video, enhancing its ability to handle diverse coding tasks that may require visual context or multimedia input.
- Function Calling: Enhanced ability to produce JSON objects from unstructured data inputs, facilitating integration with various applications.
- User Access: Available to Gemini Advanced, a ChatGPT alternative, subscribers in over 150 countries and across 35 languages, broadening its accessibility.
Claude 3.5 Sonnet Overview
(Image Credit: Insights IAS)
Claude 3.5 Sonnet is the latest and most advanced iteration in the Claude series, recognized for its advanced reasoning capabilities and speed. Released with a focus on coding and transcription tasks, its architecture includes a context window of 200,000 tokens, which allows for efficient processing but may limit its analysis of larger codebases. Claude 3.5 Sonnet has proven to be one of the best LLM models for coding and has stood the test of time. (check out the best Claude AI alternatives here)
Features
- Context Window: Features a smaller context window of 200,000 tokens (expandable up to 500,000 tokens with Claude for enterprise), which may limit its ability to analyze larger codebases or extensive documentation.
- Performance Enhancements: Known for industry-leading performance in graduate-level reasoning and speed, Claude excels in complex problem-solving scenarios.
- Advanced Coding Capabilities: It has shown remarkable proficiency in coding tasks, solving approximately 64% of coding problems, a significant improvement over its predecessor.
- Transcription Ability: Capable of transcribing text from imperfect images, which can be beneficial for developers working with visual documentation.
You can try Claude 3.5 Sonnet with Bind AI (free trial available).
Performance Comparison
Coding Capabilities
When it comes to coding tasks, both models have their strengths:
Gemini 1.5 Pro performs well in generating code snippets and debugging existing code due to its large context window and multimodal capabilities. Its ability to analyze video content can also assist in understanding complex coding tutorials or demonstrations.
Claude 3.5 Sonnet, on the other hand, has been specifically optimized for coding tasks. Its advanced reasoning abilities allow it to tackle intricate programming challenges effectively. Internal evaluations indicate that it can not only write but also edit and execute code independently.
Speed and Efficiency
Speed is crucial when selecting an AI model for coding:
- Claude 3.5 Sonnet operates at twice the speed of its predecessor, which translates into faster response times during coding sessions. This speed is particularly advantageous in real-time applications where quick iterations are necessary.
- Gemini 1.5 Pro also offers robust performance but may not match the instantaneous responses provided by Claude in high-pressure environments.
Usability and Integration
Both models provide intuitive interfaces but differ in their integration capabilities:
- Gemini 1.5 Pro can produce structured JSON outputs from unstructured data, improving its integration with various applications and enhancing data analysis capabilities.
- Claude 3.5 Sonnet offers API access through multiple platforms, making it versatile for developers looking to integrate AI capabilities into their own applications or workflows.
Pricing Comparison Gemini 1.5 Pro vs Claude 3.5 Sonnet
As for the pricing of Gemini 1.5 Pro and Claude 3.5 Sonnet, Gemini proves to be the more frugal choice. For a context window of up to 128K tokens, Gemini charges $1.25 per million tokens for input, while Claude costs $3 per million input tokens and $15 per million output tokens. This makes Gemini approximately 2x cheaper for text inputs, priced at $0.00125 per 1k characters. Additionally, Gemini’s audio input is significantly lower at $0.000125 per second, suggesting better value in multimodal capabilities compared to Claude.
Pricing for Google Gemini 1.5 Pro
| Feature | Price (<= 128K Context Window) | Price (> 128K Context Window) |
| Image Input | $0.001315 per image | $0.00263 per image |
| Text Input | $0.00125 per 1k characters | $0.0025 per 1k characters |
| Audio Input | $0.000125 per second | $0.00025 per second |
| Text Output | $0.00375 per 1k characters | $0.0075 per 1k characters |
Pricing for Claude 3.5 Sonnet
| Feature | Price |
| Input Tokens | $3 per million tokens |
| Output Tokens | $15 per million tokens |
| Context Window | 200,000 tokens |
Multimodal Functionality
One of the standout features of Gemini 1.5 Pro is its enhanced multimodal capabilities:
- It can process not just text but also images and videos, allowing developers to interact with various forms of content directly related to their coding tasks.
- Claude 3.5 Sonnet has made strides in visual reasoning but needs Gemini’s comprehensive multimodal processing.
What Do Developers Think?
It’s always great to consider what developers have to say about an LLM’s coding capabilities, as they are the ones who use them the most. Take this Redditor’s views as an example. They believe the new Gemini updates have made 1.5 Pro perform better than GPT and Claude’s models.
Meanwhile, the poster below believes Claude 3.5 Sonnet is still ahead of Gemini Pro at coding/programming tasks despite Gemini having some improvements in its recent updates.
So, it’s best to try both before deciding which to use.
Gemini 1.5 Pro and Claude 3.5 Sonnet Examples to Try
You can try the following examples of coding prompts; enter them in the Google Gemini or Claude AI (alternatively, you can also try using them with Bind AI Copilot) interface to see what they generate:
- Python: “Write a Python function that takes a list of integers and returns a new list containing only the prime numbers from the original list.”
- Java: “Create a Java class that represents a bank account, including methods to deposit, withdraw, and check the balance. Implement basic error handling for insufficient funds.”
- PHP: “Write a PHP function that takes a string and returns the string in reverse order, without using any built-in reverse functions.”
- SQL: “Write an SQL query to find the average salary of employees in each department from an ‘employees’ table, grouped by department, and ordered by average salary in descending order.”
The Bottom Line
Choosing between Google Gemini 1.5 Pro and Claude 3.5 Sonnet ultimately depends on specific user needs:
If your work involves handling large codebases or requires extensive data processing with multimedia elements, Gemini 1.5 Pro is likely the better choice due to its larger context window and superior multimodal capabilities.
However, if speed and advanced reasoning in coding tasks is paramount—especially in environments requiring rapid iterations—then Claude 3.5 Sonnet may be more suitable due to its faster processing times and robust coding functionalities. You can also try Claude 3.5 Sonnet with Bind AI Copilot. Besides, you will also get benefits like GitHub and Google Drive integration, built-in IDE, and no daily limitations for advanced queries. (900/month) Start your free 7-day premium trial today.