Head-to-head comparison

FLUX.2 Flex vs. HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

Compare shared capability tests, arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Research benchmarks, preference arenas, and our n = 1 samples remain separate.

shared result series: 7
shared sample prompts: 4
latest arena retrieval: 2026-09-22

First image modelSecond image model

Specifications and cost

General specifications and task-specific pricing

A model can have one price for generating new images and another for editing. Prices therefore remain tied to the corresponding arena configuration.

Specifications and pricing for FLUX.2 Flex and HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
Attribute	FLUX.2 Flex	HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
Provider	Black Forest Labs	Tencent
Released	November 2025	January 2026
Access	API, Web app	API, local
Lifecycle	No separate lifecycle notice	No separate lifecycle notice
Weights	Proprietary	Open weights
Parameters	Not published	80 billion, 13 billion active
Maximum output	4 Megapixel	Not consistently published
Arena configuration	Flex	Fal
Text-to-image price	$60 per 1,000 images	$90 per 1,000 images
Editing price	$120 per 1,000 images	$90 per 1,000 images
Technical source	Model sourceVerified 2026-09-24	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15

FLUX.2 FlexHunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels

FLUX.2 Flex$60

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct$90

Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels

FLUX.2 Flex$120

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct$90

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Prompt adherence and specialist tests

Shared capability benchmarks

Both checkpoints completed the same four Gradually sample tasks. For each task, 30 archived first outputs are ranked in three differently ordered, model-blind passes. The published 0-100 value normalizes the mean rank. It must still be read as an n = 1 sample per model. No exact shared result from the integrated research benchmarks is available for this pair.

FLUX.2 FlexHunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

Gradually sample test: Typography and layoutMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

FLUX.2 Flex66.7 / 100

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct69 / 100

Gradually sample test: Product photographyMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

FLUX.2 Flex52.9 / 100

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct55.2 / 100

Gradually sample test: Character and detailMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

FLUX.2 Flex54 / 100

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct69 / 100

Gradually sample test: InfographicMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each

FLUX.2 Flex24.1 / 100

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct29.9 / 100

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Capability benchmark scores for FLUX.2 Flex and HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
Benchmark	FLUX.2 Flex	HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
Gradually sample test: Typography and layout	66.7 / 100 Mean rank: 10.67 (17 / 12 / 3) Five rubric scores Headline: 1.67 / 2 Subline: 1.67 / 2 Text control: 1.67 / 2 Visual brief: 1.67 / 2 Layout: 1.33 / 2	Higher blind-rank score69 / 100 Mean rank: 10 (8 / 10 / 12) Five rubric scores Headline: 1.67 / 2 Subline: 1.67 / 2 Text control: 1.67 / 2 Visual brief: 1.67 / 2 Layout: 1.33 / 2
Gradually sample test: Product photography	52.9 / 100 Mean rank: 14.67 (14 / 16 / 14) Five rubric scores Subject: 1.67 / 2 Time: 1.67 / 2 Watch details: 1.67 / 2 Photography: 1.67 / 2 Exclusions: 1.67 / 2	Higher blind-rank score55.2 / 100 Mean rank: 14 (7 / 18 / 17) Five rubric scores Subject: 1.67 / 2 Time: 1.67 / 2 Watch details: 1.33 / 2 Photography: 1.67 / 2 Exclusions: 1.67 / 2
Gradually sample test: Character and detail	54 / 100 Mean rank: 14.33 (16 / 20 / 7) Five rubric scores Scene: 1 / 2 Wardrobe: 1 / 2 Anatomy: 1 / 2 Props: 1 / 2 Environment: 1 / 2	Higher blind-rank score69 / 100 Mean rank: 10 (20 / 4 / 6) Five rubric scores Scene: 1 / 2 Wardrobe: 1 / 2 Anatomy: 1 / 2 Props: 1 / 2 Environment: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Infographic	24.1 / 100 Mean rank: 23 (22 / 24 / 23) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1.33 / 2 Labels: 0.67 / 2 Diagram: 1 / 2 Clarity: 0.67 / 2	Higher blind-rank score29.9 / 100 Mean rank: 21.33 (17 / 23 / 24) Five rubric scores Title: 1 / 2 Sequence: 1.67 / 2 Labels: 1.67 / 2 Diagram: 0.67 / 2 Clarity: 0.67 / 2
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Independent preference tests

Shared arena benchmarks

Artificial Analysis and Arena derive scores from blind comparisons. Raters see outputs for the same prompt and choose the image they prefer. Separate series cover text rendering, photorealism, portraits, art, commercial design, and image editing. Confidence intervals indicate how certain a measured lead is.

3 shared result series

FLUX.2 FlexHunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

FLUX.2 Flex1,026 Elo

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct964 Elo

Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

FLUX.2 Flex1,006 Elo

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct1,027 Elo

LMArena Image Editing: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

FLUX.2 Flex1,225.241

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct1,302.412

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Arena benchmark scores for FLUX.2 Flex and HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
Benchmark	FLUX.2 Flex	HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct	Source
Text to Image Arena	Higher score1,026 Elo Rank 21, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 5,931 ratings	964 Elo Rank 65, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 5,207 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22
Image Editing Arena	1,006 Elo Rank 38, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 5,601 ratings	Higher score1,027 Elo Rank 29, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 4,273 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22
LMArena Image Editing: Overall	1,225.241 Rank 38, 95% confidence interval: ±3.18, 415,750 ratings	Higher score1,302.412 Rank 22, 95% confidence interval: ±3.39, 307,730 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-09-19
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Visual comparison

Sample images

Our images complement preference data, but do not replace it. The prompt, request count, and selection rule match. Provider resolution, quality tier, randomness, and prompt processing remain visible limitations, so this is not a fully controlled laboratory test.

Largely standardized comparison protocol. Both models receive the same archived prompt, 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. These images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency

Prompt and settings

Create 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.

FLUX.2 Flex. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-flex, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=480451513, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, model ID fal-ai/hunyuan-image/v3/instruct/text-to-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:51 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 43b43d5782192d7284de2b824dd1caaaa6b25032d22fc3f8565d438b137089f3

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: fe5b22589e6505017dc44f4729b1bb60b15820ba3673354d03a69c8b82831953

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, image SHA 256: 7c813735994e5781c420b23e15898e1d4c8b9a83b24dae9c72e9d7b08fe7ceb4

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, request SHA 256: 7db014c7ede1aa8032b454dd7d23feb8f0b110808d7a8995275bd91a1e6f926c

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Prompt and settings

Create 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.

FLUX.2 Flex. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-flex, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1316714523, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, model ID fal-ai/hunyuan-image/v3/instruct/text-to-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:52 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 105f60cdeb71a27021ffff1ad3c0ad919df4e5c74ad83b4628fbd64a8d795a09

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: 11d4ec056332340dc822c82021ef10c6a6aa92de6e44dc931a90b7cbb6f14146

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, image SHA 256: a9c50516fcbe8008d3d67c0651882f7c712aff66ee244b7f8aa7b83c0a67aaab

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, request SHA 256: 7b664cdf0c6f4165d17100e80067cb9d1c950d20b262cf78d2e5c0703da84c5c

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Prompt and settings

Create a square premium product photograph of a brushed titanium wristwatch standing upright on dark green marble. The watch has a cream dial, thin black hands set to 10:10, twelve distinct hour markers, a realistic crown, and a dark brown leather strap. Soft window light from the left, controlled reflections, shallow depth of field, no text, no logo, no extra objects.

FLUX.2 Flex. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-flex, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1892985637, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, model ID fal-ai/hunyuan-image/v3/instruct/text-to-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:51 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 9fef39b1500635ddbf78bcb8d3d9a68463ce952aa1fab89d12f6efe023907de7

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: 1c864c5e5d7f1e7008f15466fd0786f801ae94b17939b4f10de9a61c27766a59

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, image SHA 256: 89ed8da585fcce3df9f76584dfc426a5142fe3b950c79a306a7ce3b79746ed99

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, request SHA 256: 23b9a3151ee407a3387ae153fd37ebf415ce89861e8ad212ca150c4f1fcd386e

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Prompt and settings

Create a square editorial poster for an imaginary night train called MONDFALTER. Show the exact German headline MONDFALTER and the exact subline BERLIN NACH LISSABON. Use a restrained midnight-blue and warm-cream palette, one stylized moth, strong Swiss-grid typography, generous negative space, and no additional words or logos.

FLUX.2 Flex. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-flex, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1326433162, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, model ID fal-ai/hunyuan-image/v3/instruct/text-to-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:41 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 324f87bf898593446a400abb43bd00eee015fa0a1dc160db0f864402fc0b38af

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: a0aa716f2a302bdfa59820d2e2c27cc56f730e8e2e4d5b64223d29a6979e1475

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, image SHA 256: 4563cdd9bb047b4df3316484fcc4fe369ba6635f0360e434f45577d013468b6c

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, request SHA 256: efd3bc5cb7cf1e1511bde27609704b11aa672e608c34b4ecd16fb998f45385f3

How to read this comparison

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

A higher arena score means this specific configuration was preferred more often in blind comparisons.

Typography, character consistency, local execution, licensing, and price may matter more to your workload than overall visual appeal.

Prices cover 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels using settings documented by Artificial Analysis. Subscriptions and special rates are excluded.

More matchups

Compare FLUX.2 Flex and HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct with other important image models under the same evidence rules. Each page shows only exact shared measurements and samples.

View the complete image model comparison

FLUX.2 Flex vs. HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

Change image model selection

General specifications and task-specific pricing

Shared capability benchmarks

Shared arena benchmarks

Sample images

Character and detail

Infographic

Product photography

Typography and layout

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

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