GPT Image 2.5 Sunburstvs.MAI-Image-2.6

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst leads. GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst costs 5.4 times as much per image.

Test images

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

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

MAI-Image-2.6: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.661 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

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 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: 2bcd5e2358dbf9e2f11336ebf6c4a4a15e0a9a10261dd74378d40985ac68ec6d

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

Infographic

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:52 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 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: 7dab94e5588be73aefe08f23f9d56ced4e2ddb2b29f754db41b057025cf34847

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

Product photography

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:51 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 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: c648276704e06f7925f2325e8ffff0d9d0a9bd6c5bb4866785abac92ce97ff9a

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

Typography and layout

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:50 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 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: fd6a3767ba8253869cb94d5346f025541dac924c2190df2c37b366b182986cf8

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,427

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

Rank 1 of 21

1,329

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 4 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

Rank 8 of 108

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 28 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.21

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

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 2.5 Sunburst

Subscription: No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.34 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 62 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.21 per image, 100 images $21.07.

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 2.5 Sunburst	MAI-Image-2.6
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,427	1,329
Arena rank	Rank 1 of 21	Rank 4 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	40,323	34,596
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	75	68
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	54	62
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	87	88
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	64	63
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	97	61
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.21	$0.039
100 images	$21.07	$3.89
Profile
Released	Sep 8, 2026	Jul 31, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Lifecycle	no notice	Preview in Microsoft Foundry
Access	API	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	3,840 × 2,160 pixels	2,359,296 pixels
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	62	n/a

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) · 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 2.5 SunburstMAI-Image-2.6

Text to Image Arena1,2231,167ahead

Image Editing Arena1,1991,151ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,4161,325ahead

Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,3971,314ahead

Text to Image: Art1,4091,337ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,4561,348ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,4191,332ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,4271,329ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,4331,330ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,4611,339ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,4661,365ahead

Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,5291,416ahead

Image Editing: Overall1,5171,427ahead

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

All individual values with sources

Rating	GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst	MAI-Image-2.6	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,223	1,167	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena	1,199	1,151	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,416	1,325	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation	1,397	1,314	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,409	1,337	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,456	1,348	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,419	1,332	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,427	1,329	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,433	1,330	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,461	1,339	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,466	1,365	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation	1,529	1,416	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall	1,517	1,427	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 MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 has no successor yet

Test images

The numbers at a glance

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

MAI-Image-2.6

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

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