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GPT Image 2.5 Sunburstvs.Qwen-Image-2.1

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst leads. Qwen-Image-2.1 has no API price.

Test images

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst64 out of 100
Qwen-Image-2.1: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
Qwen-Image-2.134 out of 100

Result for “Character and detail”:GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst slightly ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate a square cinematic full-body portrait of a fictional bicycle courier waiting under a transparent umbrella at a rainy tram stop in Hamburg at blue hour. She wears a mustard raincoat, navy trousers, red sneakers, a silver helmet, and carries a teal messenger bag. Keep both hands visible, render the bicycle correctly, use realistic wet-street reflections, and include no readable brand names.

What the rating looks at: Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency.

“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

Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=1591420783, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: 2bcd5e2358dbf9e2f11336ebf6c4a4a15e0a9a10261dd74378d40985ac68ec6d

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: b29bb7e207ad464957ee060bbf0655104bcbece703360254e48daa3ec35a62d7

Infographic

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

Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=1283422012, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, prior anonymous attempt refused before inference (ZeroGPU quota), completed through authenticated browser, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: 7dab94e5588be73aefe08f23f9d56ced4e2ddb2b29f754db41b057025cf34847

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 316e38ed63ff401f86a7ceee9cc65c74413e0e9c7c899a6e6bf453acc2940dac

Product photography

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

Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=196359631, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: c648276704e06f7925f2325e8ffff0d9d0a9bd6c5bb4866785abac92ce97ff9a

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 041f559d4261865b327fcae4f8bb0bd3b176c55a3b1255a042ab3e0fc4f9bc4b

Typography and layout

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

Qwen-Image-2.1: manual, 1:1, requested and received 1024x1024, one request, first output, Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.1 base, 40 steps, true CFG 1.0, prompt enhancement disabled, no negative prompt, no reference images, seed=158818011, official Space commit 5694809f4c56a4e8c40787b5392cecac36493c5d, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:49 AM. Source

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

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: fd6a3767ba8253869cb94d5346f025541dac924c2190df2c37b366b182986cf8

Qwen-Image-2.1 image SHA 256: 4670269190f492154c05e3f18c4eb9e3938910ca1aca32503b6a1ceb16d39b38

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,427

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

Rank 1 of 21

1,225

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 14 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
75

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

Rank 8 of 108

65

Qwen-Image-2.1

Rank 40 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.21

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

expensive

n/a

Qwen-Image-2.1

no API price

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.

Qwen-Image-2.1

Subscription
No Alibaba subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €9.51 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 5 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: local, Web app.
License
Open weights, Qwen Research License: non-commercial use only; commercial use requires a separate license.

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.

KennzahlGPT Image 2.5 SunburstQwen-Image-2.1
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,4271,225
Arena rankRank 1 of 21Rank 14 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating40,32319,604
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1007565
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition5454
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details8790
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency6434
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization9783
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.21n/a
100 images$21.07n/a
Profile
ReleasedSep 8, 2026Sep 20, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryopenQwen Research License: non-commercial use only; commercial use requires a separate license
AccessAPIlocal, Web app
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output3,840 × 2,160 pixels2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model625

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) · Qwen-Image-2.1 model source, status source (verified Sep 22, 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 SunburstQwen-Image-2.1
Text to Image ArenaGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,223Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,043GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Image Editing ArenaGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,199Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,081GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Text to Image: 3D modelingGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,416Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,213GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Text to Image: Agentic image generationGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,397Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,231GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Text to Image: ArtGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,409Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,234GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Text to Image: CartoonGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,456Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,234GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Text to Image: Commercial designGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,419Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,238GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Text to Image: OverallGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,427Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,225GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Text to Image: PhotorealismGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,433Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,227GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Text to Image: PortraitsGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,461Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,252GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Text to Image: Text renderingGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,466Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,250GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Image Editing: Agentic image generationGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,529Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,368GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead
Image Editing: OverallGPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: 1,517Qwen-Image-2.1: 1,362GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst ahead

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

All individual values with sources
RatingGPT Image 2.5 SunburstQwen-Image-2.1Source
Text to Image Arena1,2231,043Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena1,1991,081Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling1,4161,213LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,3971,231LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art1,4091,234LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon1,4561,234LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design1,4191,238LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall1,4271,225LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism1,4331,227LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits1,4611,252LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering1,4661,250LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,5291,368LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall1,5171,362LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

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