GPT Image 2.5 Sunburstvs.FLUX.2 Max

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst leads. FLUX.2 Max costs only a third per image.

Test images

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst97 out of 100

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

Result for “Infographic”:GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst 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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:51 PM. Source

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: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: 2bcd5e2358dbf9e2f11336ebf6c4a4a15e0a9a10261dd74378d40985ac68ec6d

FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: a0a2cef301582c47a8dca69ccd1c52212c37ca6c058d7185a880a7856713cd9e

Infographic

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

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: 7dab94e5588be73aefe08f23f9d56ced4e2ddb2b29f754db41b057025cf34847

FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: 9321457355d5a9630073632fb6441bf388da1c4ee8e5d58e58cd0603ce756a09

Product photography

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:51 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: c648276704e06f7925f2325e8ffff0d9d0a9bd6c5bb4866785abac92ce97ff9a

FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: dd6ad8d1ec45154727d9ddf573ef10da5225899820055318d23bcd4e5a1e930c

Typography and layout

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:50 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: fd6a3767ba8253869cb94d5346f025541dac924c2190df2c37b366b182986cf8

FLUX.2 Max image SHA 256: 3eb2daf01c749ee25d86c2e4f55d6d3d81cfb4590eb0343f9a4bb3d0a70d19bc

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,427

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

Rank 1 of 21

1,161

FLUX.2 Max

Rank 15 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

Rank 8 of 108

FLUX.2 Max

Rank 27 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.21

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

expensive

$0.07

FLUX.2 Max

fairly 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 2.5 Sunburst

Subscription: No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.39 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 62 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.21 per image, 100 images $21.07.

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.

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 (35 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 Sunburst	FLUX.2 Max
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,427	1,161
Arena rank	Rank 1 of 21	Rank 15 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	40,323	123,144
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	75	69
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	54	92
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	87	59
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	64	70
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	97	54
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.21	$0.07
100 images	$21.07	$7
Profile
Released	Sep 8, 2026	December 2025
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Access	API	API, Web app
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	3,840 × 2,160 pixels	4 Megapixel
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	62	28

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

Sources: GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst model source (verified Sep 24, 2026) · FLUX.2 Max model 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 2.5 SunburstFLUX.2 Max

Text to Image Arena1,2231,021ahead

Image Editing Arena1,199999ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,4161,160ahead

Text to Image: Art1,4091,169ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,4561,167ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,4191,164ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,4271,161ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,4331,161ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,4611,157ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,4661,165ahead

Image Editing: Multi-image editing1,5211,249ahead

Image Editing: Overall1,5171,261ahead

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

All individual values with sources

Rating	GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst	FLUX.2 Max	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,223	1,021	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena	1,199	999	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,416	1,160	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,409	1,169	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,456	1,167	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,419	1,164	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,427	1,161	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,433	1,161	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,461	1,157	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,466	1,165	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Multi-image editing	1,521	1,249	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall	1,517	1,261	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

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Predecessor and successor

PredecessorGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst vs. GPT Image 2Predecessor of GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst has no successor yet
No predecessor recorded for FLUX.2 Max
FLUX.2 Max has no successor yet

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