GPT Image 2.5 Flarevs.Qwen Image 3.0
Which one is better?
In our own test both are on par. Qwen Image 3.0 has no arena rating yet. Qwen Image 3.0 has no API price.
Same prompt, two images
Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.
Result for “Product photography”:Qwen Image 3.0 ahead
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
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
GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source
Qwen Image 3.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.030000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:34 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6
GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 85b17c41b19389cae3ea073ef582e6065a321d741978e772987d22e3ea3e3b08
Qwen Image 3.0 image SHA 256: 8c9db12ce993a7d600aebd4cbe10d368117fe4495d6ee7155e111e76e47d525a
Infographic
GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source
Qwen Image 3.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.030000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:35 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f
GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: bc752abfce1c0d27b73e4084c3e7d82c4c0f71e0e5af97a80f4b24326cc4686e
Qwen Image 3.0 image SHA 256: 4853b8bffa4d6e219e2c3f6b5d070b1d1eb57016a05bd8a5befd81e214018439
Product photography
GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:53 PM. Source
Qwen Image 3.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.030000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:33 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3
GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: 69fedb7d635d1329c461ff1ee9e5cf8384119e218e3b3bdb93b9e11f728335d8
Qwen Image 3.0 image SHA 256: 268ca5420bbc1efd428bdafd4da860106f9e2ccb17d3f96b8dbb208e360ed54f
Typography and layout
GPT Image 2.5 Flare: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:52 PM. Source
Qwen Image 3.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.030000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:32 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419
GPT Image 2.5 Flare image SHA 256: cc90d54a99e1bad9e0cc8e4196746fb1d56a2fdd2a9ee101dbbf270ef5e4b6a8
Qwen Image 3.0 image SHA 256: 09644f0a6d31fa5f78ae43e45544c8013b78e1a22f42c1b54c0142ea6c9cfa83
The numbers at a glance
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Rank 2 of 22
Qwen Image 3.0
not in the arena
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Rank 32 of 74
Qwen Image 3.0
Rank 15 of 74
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
expensive
Qwen Image 3.0
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.
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
- Subscription
- No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.39 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 61 plans in Germany.
- Via API
- $0.21 per image, 100 images $21.07.
Qwen Image 3.0
- Subscription
- No Alibaba subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €19.04 a month (Magnific Premium, with limited credits). 6 plans in Germany.
- Via API
- No API price known. Access: API, Web app.
- Weights
- unknown.
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 1, 2026 · API prices from Oct 28, 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 | GPT Image 2.5 Flare | Qwen Image 3.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better | 1,401 | n/a |
| Arena rank | Rank 2 of 22 | n/a |
| Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating | 39,218 | n/a |
| GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 | 59 | 65 |
| GraduallyBench by task | ||
| Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition | 48 | 23 |
| Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details | 38 | 86 |
| Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency | 82 | 59 |
| InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization | 66 | 91 |
| API price | ||
| Per imagelower is better | $0.21 | n/a |
| 100 images | $21.07 | n/a |
| Profile | ||
| Released | Sep 8, 2026 | n/a |
| Weightsopen means: runs locally | proprietary | unknown |
| Access | API | API, Web app |
| Parameters | not published | not published |
| Largest output | not consistently published | 2K |
| Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model | 61 | 6 |
API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.
Sources: GPT Image 2.5 Flare model source (verified Sep 22, 2026) · Qwen Image 3.0 model 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 GPT Image 2.5 Flare and Qwen Image 3.0 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.
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