GPT Image 1.5vs.MAI-Image-2.6

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, MAI-Image-2.6 leads. GPT Image 1.5 costs 3.4 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: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run — GPT Image 1.552 out of 100

MAI-Image-2.6: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.688 out of 100

Result for “Product photography”:MAI-Image-2.6 ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

What the rating looks at: Materials, reflections, and fine details.

“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

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039287, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

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

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 0dff52ccd39400ac66ac8870c9ea937512ff1474688e70118688f420c38c2296

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

Infographic

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

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039317, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

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

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 1c9ff59c32621c8b48b002dacb0ae66487262280c7c0a5b3d6456c81b248ebe9

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

Product photography

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

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039292, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

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

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 67cfa2f324447027ceb5f82e9446d40a1395b46ce425890a74606b4d97731cf6

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

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

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039252, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

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

GPT Image 1.5 image SHA 256: 6a4cec86850fd371b65274198e2bf630b3cf36a096f9fb953d4bfe17c3222ebe

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,236

GPT Image 1.5

Rank 13 of 21

1,329

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 4 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

GPT Image 1.5

Rank 29 of 108

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 28 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.13

GPT Image 1.5

expensive

$0.039

MAI-Image-2.6

fairly 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.

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.

MAI-Image-2.6

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.039 per image, 100 images $3.89.

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	GPT Image 1.5	MAI-Image-2.6
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,236	1,329
Arena rank	Rank 13 of 21	Rank 4 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	174,012	34,596
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	68	68
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	60	62
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	52	88
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	89	63
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	72	61
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.13	$0.039
100 images	$13.30	$3.89
Profile
Released	December 2025	Jul 31, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Lifecycle	Marked as deprecated by OpenAI; removed from the API on December 1, 2026	Preview in Microsoft Foundry
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	1,536 × 1,024 pixels	2,359,296 pixels
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	42	n/a

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) · MAI-Image-2.6 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 betterGPT Image 1.5MAI-Image-2.6

Text to Image Arena1,1231,167ahead

Image Editing Arena1,1191,151ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,2181,325ahead

Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,2371,314ahead

Text to Image: Art1,2251,337ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,2441,348ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,2381,332ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,2361,329ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,2471,330ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,2591,339ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,2511,365ahead

Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,3581,416ahead

Image Editing: Overall1,3681,427ahead

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

All individual values with sources

Rating	GPT Image 1.5	MAI-Image-2.6	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,123	1,167	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena	1,119	1,151	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,218	1,325	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation	1,237	1,314	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,225	1,337	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,244	1,348	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,238	1,332	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,236	1,329	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,247	1,330	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,259	1,339	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,251	1,365	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation	1,358	1,416	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall	1,368	1,427	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

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GPT Image 1.5vs.MAI-Image-2.6

Test images

The numbers at a glance

GPT Image 1.5

MAI-Image-2.6

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

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