FLUX 3 Imagevs.FLUX.1 Kontext [max]

Which one is better?

In our own test, FLUX 3 Image leads. Neither is in the arena. Neither has an API price.

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

FLUX 3 Image: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run — FLUX 3 Image73 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 3 Image 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 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:38 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 3 Image image SHA 256: 496cb58121a97575ae471aaed88c0570d0e24cd434d5f54f28535dbd7ce53f6d

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

Infographic

FLUX 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:39 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 3 Image image SHA 256: 3a4bc8305d15194d5c2a3d8af72d0e032b46e665443b65f4d43604eb3bd19c7e

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

Product photography

FLUX 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:38 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 3 Image image SHA 256: 270abe3dfe41073daff4fa3c83c62d8a957f9d6d960c195050c709eb831699c6

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

Typography and layout

FLUX 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:38 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 3 Image image SHA 256: 67a219cf5a25c37ee31b05ca918a6b05df5d0675b61aace5fe1ba1244c24cde4

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

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

n/a

FLUX 3 Image

not in the arena

n/a

FLUX.1 Kontext [max]

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

FLUX 3 Image

Rank 23 of 74

FLUX.1 Kontext [max]

Rank 65 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

n/a

FLUX 3 Image

no API price

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 3 Image

Subscription: No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €9.59 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 20 plans in Germany.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API, Web app.
Weights: unknown.

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.

GraduallyBench from Nov 1, 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.

Kennzahl	FLUX 3 Image	FLUX.1 Kontext [max]
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	n/a	n/a
Arena rank	n/a	n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	n/a	n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	62	22
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	74	25
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	43	9
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	73	9
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	59	44
API price
Per imagelower is better	n/a	n/a
100 images	n/a	n/a
Profile
Released	n/a	n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locally	unknown	unknown
Lifecycle	no notice	Edit-first model line; API also supports image creation from text, but the main GraduallyBench tasks are not edit-based
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	not consistently published	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	20	15

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

Sources: FLUX 3 Image model source (verified Nov 1, 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 3 Image and FLUX.1 Kontext [max] from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

Compare another matchup

First image modelSecond image model

More matchups

Compare FLUX 3 Image and FLUX.1 Kontext [max] with other important image models.

View the complete image model comparison

Same prompt, two images

The numbers at a glance

FLUX 3 Image

FLUX.1 Kontext [max]

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

Compare another matchup

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