FLUX.2 Maxvs.MAI-Image-2.5 Flash

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. MAI-Image-2.5 Flash has no arena rating yet. FLUX.2 Max costs 3.5 times as much per image.

Test images

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

FLUX.2 Max: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — FLUX.2 Max54 out of 100

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.5 Flash81 out of 100

Result for “Infographic”:MAI-Image-2.5 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 Max: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, steps=50, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:23 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash: manual, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: a0a2cef301582c47a8dca69ccd1c52212c37ca6c058d7185a880a7856713cd9e

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: a2637943faf5ae5210c69f645f96c70ea0a1d267c38a64705810947d2ba78dc8

Infographic

FLUX.2 Max: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, steps=50, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:24 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: 9321457355d5a9630073632fb6441bf388da1c4ee8e5d58e58cd0603ce756a09

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: 6af00e502934a24a9e535b3f72d9b1ca545a984fc463e785ffe796a700e015b3

Product photography

FLUX.2 Max: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, steps=50, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:23 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: dd6ad8d1ec45154727d9ddf573ef10da5225899820055318d23bcd4e5a1e930c

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: 9cb652604f7c64d8ebaa4303e924155a1f45581a940045be12775419e635bd8f

Typography and layout

FLUX.2 Max: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, steps=50, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 PM. Source

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

FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: 3eb2daf01c749ee25d86c2e4f55d6d3d81cfb4590eb0343f9a4bb3d0a70d19bc

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: 185a852b71d68ea37a41091b57f3ec02829b2d1e87fd1045939ffa0f8e4c3cf8

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,161

FLUX.2 Max

Rank 15 of 21

n/a

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

FLUX.2 Max

Rank 27 of 108

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash

Rank 24 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.07

FLUX.2 Max

fairly expensive

$0.02

MAI-Image-2.5 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 Max

Subscription: No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €6.83 a month (Poe Basic, with limited points). 28 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.07 per image, 100 images $7.

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.02 per image, 100 images $2.

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

Arena rating (LMArena) from Nov 6, 2026 · GraduallyBench from Nov 3, 2026 · API prices from Nov 6, 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 Max	MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,161	n/a
Arena rank	Rank 15 of 21	n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	123,131	n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	69	69
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	92	70
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	59	58
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	70	68
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	54	81
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.07	$0.02
100 images	$7	$2
Profile
Released	December 2025	June 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Lifecycle	no notice	Preview in Microsoft Foundry
Access	API, Web app	API, Web app
Parameters	not published	20 billion
Largest output	4 Megapixel	1,048,576 pixels
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	28	n/a

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

Sources: FLUX.2 Max model source (verified Sep 24, 2026) · MAI-Image-2.5 Flash model source, status source (verified Sep 22, 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 MaxMAI-Image-2.5 Flash

Text to Image Arena1,0211,032level

Image Editing Arena9991,089ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 6, 2026

All individual values with sources

Rating	FLUX.2 Max	MAI-Image-2.5 Flash	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,021	1,032	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing Arena	999	1,089	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026

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Test images

The numbers at a glance

FLUX.2 Max

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

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