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GPT Image 1.5vs.GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Is the extra cost worth it?

Probably not. In our own test both are on par. In the arena, GPT Image 2.5 Flare leads. GPT Image 2.5 Flare costs 1.6 times as much per image.

Test images

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

GPT Image 1.5: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
GPT Image 1.589 out of 100
GPT Image 2.5 Flare: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
GPT Image 2.5 Flare63 out of 100

Result for “Character and detail”:GPT Image 1.5 slightly 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

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

GPT Image 1.5: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:17 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 0dff52ccd39400ac66ac8870c9ea937512ff1474688e70118688f420c38c2296

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 85b17c41b19389cae3ea073ef582e6065a321d741978e772987d22e3ea3e3b08

Infographic

GPT Image 1.5: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:17 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 1c9ff59c32621c8b48b002dacb0ae66487262280c7c0a5b3d6456c81b248ebe9

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: bc752abfce1c0d27b73e4084c3e7d82c4c0f71e0e5af97a80f4b24326cc4686e

Product photography

GPT Image 1.5: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:16 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 67cfa2f324447027ceb5f82e9446d40a1395b46ce425890a74606b4d97731cf6

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 69fedb7d635d1329c461ff1ee9e5cf8384119e218e3b3bdb93b9e11f728335d8

Typography and layout

GPT Image 1.5: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:59 PM. Source

GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:52 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 6a4cec86850fd371b65274198e2bf630b3cf36a096f9fb953d4bfe17c3222ebe

GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: cc90d54a99e1bad9e0cc8e4196746fb1d56a2fdd2a9ee101dbbf270ef5e4b6a8

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,236

GPT Image 1.5

Rank 13 of 21

1,401

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Rank 2 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
68

GPT Image 1.5

Rank 29 of 108

72

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Rank 18 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.13

GPT Image 1.5

expensive

$0.21

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

expensive

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.

GPT Image 1.5

Subscription
No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.34 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 42 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.13 per image, 100 images $13.30.

GPT Image 2.5 Flare

Subscription
No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.34 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 61 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.21 per image, 100 images $21.07.

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.

KennzahlGPT Image 1.5GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,2361,401
Arena rankRank 13 of 21Rank 2 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating174,01239,218
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1006872
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition6064
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details5269
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency8963
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization7291
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.13$0.21
100 images$13.30$21.07
Profile
ReleasedDecember 2025Sep 8, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryproprietary
LifecycleMarked as deprecated by OpenAI; removed from the API on December 1, 2026no notice
AccessAPI, Web appAPI
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output1,536 × 1,024 pixelsnot consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model4261

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

Sources: GPT Image 1.5 model source, status source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · GPT Image 2.5 Flare model 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 betterGPT Image 1.5GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Text to Image ArenaGPT Image 1.5: 1,123GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,207GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Image Editing ArenaGPT Image 1.5: 1,119GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,183GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: 3D modelingGPT Image 1.5: 1,218GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,378GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: Agentic image generationGPT Image 1.5: 1,237GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,358GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: ArtGPT Image 1.5: 1,225GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,387GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: CartoonGPT Image 1.5: 1,244GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,431GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: Commercial designGPT Image 1.5: 1,238GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,387GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: OverallGPT Image 1.5: 1,236GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,401GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: PhotorealismGPT Image 1.5: 1,247GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,415GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: PortraitsGPT Image 1.5: 1,259GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,439GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Text to Image: Text renderingGPT Image 1.5: 1,251GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,435GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Image Editing: Agentic image generationGPT Image 1.5: 1,358GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,495GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Image Editing: Multi-image editingGPT Image 1.5: 1,342GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,477GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Image Editing: Agentic multi-image editingGPT Image 1.5: 1,359GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,478GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead
Image Editing: OverallGPT Image 1.5: 1,368GPT Image 2.5 Flare: 1,482GPT Image 2.5 Flare ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 3, 2026 · LMArena from Oct 28, 2026

All individual values with sources
RatingGPT Image 1.5GPT Image 2.5 FlareSource
Text to Image Arena1,1231,207Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena1,1191,183Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling1,2181,378LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,2371,358LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art1,2251,387LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon1,2441,431LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design1,2381,387LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall1,2361,401LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism1,2471,415LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits1,2591,439LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering1,2511,435LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,3581,495LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Multi-image editing1,3421,477LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic multi-image editing1,3591,478LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall1,3681,482LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

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