FLUX.2 Klein 9Bvs.MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

Which one is better?

In our own test, MAI-Image-2.6 Flash leads. MAI-Image-2.6 Flash has no arena rating yet. MAI-Image-2.6 Flash costs 1.3 times as much per image.

Test images

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

FLUX.2 Klein 9B: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — FLUX.2 Klein 9B42 out of 100

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.6 Flash74 out of 100

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

FLUX.2 Klein 9B: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1587849924, estimated cost $0.006291, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:52 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019587, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Klein 9B image SHA 256: 84eceab680e59de6b9d4e68b3c21f6515ce093ff7d110992049e847570dd565f

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: d6f2280312404df55179b7cf7d03468df04541eae774cc8d2b35e40e0820f06f

Infographic

FLUX.2 Klein 9B: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1082231541, estimated cost $0.006291, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:52 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019598, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Klein 9B image SHA 256: 1d2eb263ca5a25794a88df7bb04f5c13e10ed9a289371d1dcc7ed6d6e0a297e2

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: 5c40f304b9dad1876a8d2223d22ca0e431ba9fe8a16e878a81743ac8296b6649

Product photography

FLUX.2 Klein 9B: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1388538280, estimated cost $0.006291, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:39 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019589, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Klein 9B image SHA 256: e7208f19ccfb9b810b9648cb1861797b7155ad91933d1660059236cef413ebe0

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: 64376f13e8626feb37db3c138dde381843866e7d58fb87e8076c2fa9003365e4

Typography and layout

FLUX.2 Klein 9B: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1340991019, estimated cost $0.006291, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:41 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019575, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Klein 9B image SHA 256: c5f23870e70f2245d24a3689f2579ceb770e5edf8c3c89b7d6ed7ae138f262f6

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: be8d86a467f73abfce15cdcce3073acc257baf1c87112c2b53a64b36efde0804

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,070

FLUX.2 Klein 9B

Rank 20 of 21

n/a

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

FLUX.2 Klein 9B

Rank 62 of 108

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

Rank 31 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.015

FLUX.2 Klein 9B

cheap

$0.019

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

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.

FLUX.2 Klein 9B

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.015 per image, 100 images $1.50.
License: Open weights, Weights released under the FLUX Non-Commercial License.

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.019 per image, 100 images $1.95.

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.

Kennzahl	FLUX.2 Klein 9B	MAI-Image-2.6 Flash
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,070	n/a
Arena rank	Rank 20 of 21	n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	150,695	n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	50	67
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	32	54
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	87	90
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	39	52
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	42	74
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.015	$0.019
100 images	$1.50	$1.95
Profile
Released	January 2026	Jul 31, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	openWeights released under the FLUX Non-Commercial License	proprietary
Lifecycle	no notice	Preview in Microsoft Foundry
Access	API, local	API
Parameters	9 billion	not published
Largest output	4 Megapixel	2,359,296 pixels
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	n/a	n/a

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

Sources: FLUX.2 Klein 9B model source, status source (verified Sep 24, 2026) · MAI-Image-2.6 Flash model source, status source (verified Sep 24, 2026)

Arena ratings by category

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

Arena rating per categoryfrom votes by users · higher is betterFLUX.2 Klein 9BMAI-Image-2.6 Flash

Text to Image Arena9301,120ahead

Image Editing Arena1,0161,145ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 3, 2026

All individual values with sources

Rating	FLUX.2 Klein 9B	MAI-Image-2.6 Flash	Source
Text to Image Arena	930	1,120	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena	1,016	1,145	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026

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FLUX.2 Klein 9Bvs.MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

Test images

The numbers at a glance

FLUX.2 Klein 9B

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

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