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FLUX.2 Flexvs.FLUX.1 Kontext [max]

Which one is better?

In our own test, FLUX.2 Flex leads. FLUX.1 Kontext [max] has no arena rating yet. FLUX.1 Kontext [max] has no API price.

Same prompt, two images

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

FLUX.2 Flex: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
FLUX.2 Flex58 out of 100
FLUX.1 Kontext [max]: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
FLUX.1 Kontext [max]9 out of 100

Result for “Character and detail”:FLUX.2 Flex ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate a square cinematic full-body portrait of a fictional bicycle courier waiting under a transparent umbrella at a rainy tram stop in Hamburg at blue hour. She wears a mustard raincoat, navy trousers, red sneakers, a silver helmet, and carries a teal messenger bag. Keep both hands visible, render the bicycle correctly, use realistic wet-street reflections, and include no readable brand names.

What the rating looks at: Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency.

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

Test protocol of the images

Both models receive the same archived prompt in exactly one request, and the first result counts. 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

FLUX.2 Flex: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source

FLUX.1 Kontext [max]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=2413815648, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.080000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:03 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 43b43d5782192d7284de2b824dd1caaaa6b25032d22fc3f8565d438b137089f3

FLUX.1 Kontext [max] image SHA 256: 11ac5858ed56d1db44139faebd83b9aa3e13fb9e8cadd6748d4bfc9a20a7b85b

Infographic

FLUX.2 Flex: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source

FLUX.1 Kontext [max]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=372152929, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.080000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:03 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 105f60cdeb71a27021ffff1ad3c0ad919df4e5c74ad83b4628fbd64a8d795a09

FLUX.1 Kontext [max] image SHA 256: cf1d34943829e1361560aee05277bb096e19399f7d231ee114ba1e6d3a865787

Product photography

FLUX.2 Flex: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source

FLUX.1 Kontext [max]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=314349008, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.080000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:03 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 9fef39b1500635ddbf78bcb8d3d9a68463ce952aa1fab89d12f6efe023907de7

FLUX.1 Kontext [max] image SHA 256: 85f361575b24f97fc43e88b3fdc8e6c12fb1077d95f11d1704447222bac13f59

Typography and layout

FLUX.2 Flex: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source

FLUX.1 Kontext [max]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=4136483547, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.080000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Flex image SHA 256: 324f87bf898593446a400abb43bd00eee015fa0a1dc160db0f864402fc0b38af

FLUX.1 Kontext [max] image SHA 256: f0591cb9970c7608e7bf3a52c32c88301b622673e3c250fd9dd41d32e1673f1c

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,156

FLUX.2 Flex

Rank 17 of 22

n/a

FLUX.1 Kontext [max]

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
57

FLUX.2 Flex

Rank 35 of 74

22

FLUX.1 Kontext [max]

Rank 65 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.06

FLUX.2 Flex

fairly cheap

n/a

FLUX.1 Kontext [max]

no API price

Ranks among the 22 image models with an arena rating and the 74 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.

FLUX.2 Flex

Subscription
No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €6.83 a month (Poe Basic, with limited points). 26 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.06 per image, 100 images $6.

FLUX.1 Kontext [max]

Subscription
No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €12.78 a month (Leonardo.Ai Essential). 15 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: API.
Weights
unknown.

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 1, 2026 · API prices from Oct 28, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (34 days old)

All data side by side

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

KennzahlFLUX.2 FlexFLUX.1 Kontext [max]
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,156n/a
Arena rankRank 17 of 22n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating156,876n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1005722
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition7125
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details569
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency589
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization4144
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.06n/a
100 images$6n/a
Profile
ReleasedNovember 2025n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryunknown
Lifecycleno noticeEdit-first model line; API also supports image creation from text, but the main GraduallyBench tasks are not edit-based
AccessAPI, Web appAPI
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output4 Megapixelnot consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model2615

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

Sources: FLUX.2 Flex model source (verified Sep 24, 2026) · FLUX.1 Kontext [max] model source, status source (verified Nov 1, 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 FLUX.2 Flex and FLUX.1 Kontext [max] from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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