GPT Image 2.5 Sunburstvs.GPT Image 2

Is the extra cost worth it?

Probably not. In our own test both are on par. In the arena, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst leads. Both cost about the same 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

GPT Image 2: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — GPT Image 266 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

GPT Image 2: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:13 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: 2bcd5e2358dbf9e2f11336ebf6c4a4a15e0a9a10261dd74378d40985ac68ec6d

GPT Image 2 image SHA 256: 82f6e2369ab4fb6efb0ef48feeff0d14f1d6087c64c35113a983456f0f0879ac

Infographic

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

GPT Image 2: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:14 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: 7dab94e5588be73aefe08f23f9d56ced4e2ddb2b29f754db41b057025cf34847

GPT Image 2 image SHA 256: 6c15466e258e2b14a8e862959cb6a67b4f7a23896ea5d42c5a5618d848847711

Product photography

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

GPT Image 2: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:13 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: c648276704e06f7925f2325e8ffff0d9d0a9bd6c5bb4866785abac92ce97ff9a

GPT Image 2 image SHA 256: 471c71b30618afb1a8a67ab8363308d67f99c65ef6740ca72417806d06d3c346

Typography and layout

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

GPT Image 2: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:59 PM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: fd6a3767ba8253869cb94d5346f025541dac924c2190df2c37b366b182986cf8

GPT Image 2 image SHA 256: 434cf9939b9be2a2c2711e13d027c9438c47038bb32229ceeaf405d2e89d2afc

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,427

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

Rank 1 of 21

1,381

GPT Image 2

Rank 3 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

Rank 8 of 108

GPT Image 2

Rank 15 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.21

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

expensive

$0.21

GPT Image 2

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.

GPT Image 2

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 $21.10.

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	GPT Image 2
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,427	1,381
Arena rank	Rank 1 of 21	Rank 3 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	40,323	103,385
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	75	73
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	54	75
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	87	89
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	64	60
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	97	66
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.21	$0.21
100 images	$21.07	$21.10
Profile
Released	Sep 8, 2026	April 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Access	API	API, Web app
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	3,840 × 2,160 pixels	4K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	62	61

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) · GPT Image 2 model source (verified Aug 15, 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 SunburstGPT Image 2

Text to Image Arena1,2231,189ahead

Image Editing Arena1,1991,137ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,4161,363ahead

Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,3971,339ahead

Text to Image: Art1,4091,370ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,4561,402ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,4191,385ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,4271,381ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,4331,378ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,4611,426ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,4661,423ahead

Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,5291,459ahead

Image Editing: Multi-image editing1,5211,454ahead

Image Editing: Agentic multi-image editing1,5411,484ahead

Image Editing: Overall1,5171,460ahead

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

All individual values with sources

Rating	GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst	GPT Image 2	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,223	1,189	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena	1,199	1,137	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,416	1,363	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation	1,397	1,339	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,409	1,370	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,456	1,402	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,419	1,385	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,427	1,381	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,433	1,378	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,461	1,426	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,466	1,423	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation	1,529	1,459	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Multi-image editing	1,521	1,454	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic multi-image editing	1,541	1,484	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall	1,517	1,460	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

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Predecessor and successor

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