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Firefly Image Model 5vs.MAI-Image-2.6

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Firefly Image Model 5 has no arena rating yet. Firefly Image Model 5 has no API price.

Test images

Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.

Firefly Image Model 5: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run
Firefly Image Model 515 out of 100
MAI-Image-2.6: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run
MAI-Image-2.661 out of 100

Result for “Infographic”:MAI-Image-2.6 ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate a square German infographic titled SO FUNKTIONIERT PHOTOSYNTHESE. Show exactly four numbered steps in this order: 1 LICHT, 2 WASSER, 3 CO₂, 4 ZUCKER + SAUERSTOFF. Use a clean editorial science style with one plant cross-section, simple arrows, high contrast, legible labels, and no other text.

What the rating looks at: Numbers, labels, and visual organization.

“Ahead”: better in all three rating rounds. “Slightly ahead”: a higher value, but not in every round.

Test protocol of the images

Each test attempt uses the same archived prompt and one request. The first output of that attempt counts. Repeats after technical test failures are disclosed for the affected images. Files are normalized to 1,024 × 1,024 pixels without cropping. Provider resolution, randomness, quality tier and prompt processing can still differ. The images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Firefly Image Model 5: manual, one request, first output, Firefly Image 5, 1:1, 1K, no reference image, no negative prompt, 10 Adobe credits, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:14 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039287, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Firefly Image Model 5 image SHA 256: 6a8e97db33824727599cf62339ff714cfb836a96a5f078010bb7760d7372f3d4

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

Infographic

Firefly Image Model 5: manual, one request, first output, Firefly Image 5, 1:1, 1K, no reference image, no negative prompt, 10 Adobe credits, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:14 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039317, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

Firefly Image Model 5 image SHA 256: 8fa6d9b40c417847061ec33d789ad5bf91f1e85da586515c6226ce6db825d1ba

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

Product photography

Firefly Image Model 5: manual, one request, first output, Firefly Image 5, 1:1, 1K, no reference image, no negative prompt, 10 Adobe credits, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:14 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039292, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Firefly Image Model 5 image SHA 256: c36dab49ebe40473fa9e9a61b2b02fe36c4cd3536cbb6aac1d0ad0f8944d8bfc

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

Typography and layout

Firefly Image Model 5: manual, one request, first output, Firefly Image 5, 1:1, 1K, no reference image, no negative prompt, 10 Adobe credits, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:14 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039252, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

Firefly Image Model 5 image SHA 256: cf8a921a221de5e456df2311482fc999303f5438270fb1a77c1be2dd3d9afc0b

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
n/a

Firefly Image Model 5

not in the arena

1,329

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 4 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
55

Firefly Image Model 5

Rank 58 of 108

68

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 28 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
n/a

Firefly Image Model 5

no API price

$0.039

MAI-Image-2.6

fairly cheap

Ranks among the 21 image models with an arena rating and the 108 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.

Firefly Image Model 5

Subscription
n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API
No API price known. Access: API, Web app.

MAI-Image-2.6

Subscription
n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API
$0.039 per image, 100 images $3.89.

Subscriptions only count plans that name exactly this model. Subscription prices include VAT, API prices are in dollars.

Arena rating (LMArena) from Oct 28, 2026 · GraduallyBench from Nov 3, 2026 · API prices from Nov 3, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (38 days old)

All data side by side

The better value is bold. For ratings only when the gap is clear.

KennzahlFirefly Image Model 5MAI-Image-2.6
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is bettern/a1,329
Arena rankn/aRank 4 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer ratingn/a34,596
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1005568
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition8662
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details4688
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency7263
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization1561
API price
Per imagelower is bettern/a$0.039
100 imagesn/a$3.89
Profile
ReleasedOct 28, 2025Jul 31, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryproprietary
LifecycleGenerally available since March 19, 2026Preview in Microsoft Foundry
AccessAPI, Web appAPI
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output4 Megapixel2,359,296 pixels
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this modeln/an/a

API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.

Sources: Firefly Image Model 5 model source, status source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · MAI-Image-2.6 model source, status source (verified Sep 24, 2026)

Arena ratings by category

From blind votes on LMArena. “Ahead” means the lead is clear.

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

The stored benchmark database contains no measurement for Firefly Image Model 5 and MAI-Image-2.6 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

More comparisons with Firefly Image Model 5 and MAI-Image-2.6

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Predecessor and successor

  • Firefly Image Model 5 has no successor yet
  • No predecessor recorded for MAI-Image-2.6
  • MAI-Image-2.6 has no successor yet