Grok Imagine Image 1.0vs.Nucleus-Image

Which one is better?

In our own test, Grok Imagine Image 1.0 leads. Neither is in the arena. Neither has an API price.

Test images

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

Grok Imagine Image 1.0: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — Grok Imagine Image 1.077 out of 100

Nucleus-Image: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run — Nucleus-Image23 out of 100

Result for “Infographic”:Grok Imagine Image 1.0 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

Grok Imagine Image 1.0: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, resolution 1K, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:30 PM. Source

Nucleus-Image: fal, aspect ratio 1:1; Fal has no output-size input, n=1, seed=748477400, Upstream checkpoint documents 1024x1024; estimate reserves 2 MP at Fal's $0.01 per MP rate, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:03 PM. Source

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

Grok Imagine Image 1.0 image SHA 256: f0a1722dd70365a05d18f1872dcf5761f358e13dca81e6ceafca69d17f658412

Nucleus-Image image SHA 256: c931159b5d8670025e00457995bc1bf8aa51176bc54271267abbd67808689aae

Infographic

Grok Imagine Image 1.0: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, resolution 1K, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:31 PM. Source

Nucleus-Image: fal, aspect ratio 1:1; Fal has no output-size input, n=1, seed=956072606, Upstream checkpoint documents 1024x1024; estimate reserves 2 MP at Fal's $0.01 per MP rate, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:03 PM. Source

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

Grok Imagine Image 1.0 image SHA 256: 7dd25385835faf743c6e97b5a50ebcf5926cf94d862425177c25d8b27281ac8d

Nucleus-Image image SHA 256: 826d0bab35098adaae1c5a663d88713b7a8faa277a3ded16c1047beda0f169bf

Product photography

Grok Imagine Image 1.0: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, resolution 1K, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:30 PM. Source

Nucleus-Image: fal, aspect ratio 1:1; Fal has no output-size input, n=1, seed=1580273337, Upstream checkpoint documents 1024x1024; estimate reserves 2 MP at Fal's $0.01 per MP rate, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:03 PM. Source

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

Grok Imagine Image 1.0 image SHA 256: 95c5d4be59e6c115257f2414c513efd79bf7fd9ac69965ec04677eda2ec5a27a

Nucleus-Image image SHA 256: f8ce2bbfd219cc3ee98d1579426cbae88d0f43880a445301396ab04b5bf2f458

Typography and layout

Grok Imagine Image 1.0: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, resolution 1K, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:30 PM. Source

Nucleus-Image: fal, aspect ratio 1:1; Fal has no output-size input, n=1, seed=689548231, Upstream checkpoint documents 1024x1024; estimate reserves 2 MP at Fal's $0.01 per MP rate, estimated cost $0.020000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:03 PM. Source

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

Grok Imagine Image 1.0 image SHA 256: ab6dfd89aec95ebe7cfd2f3cacb4fbd66123306647c78d621d5c8c6325f3d7c5

Nucleus-Image image SHA 256: a92e94eadcf94b661a14dc4308c6f94ca177223fca9965006dc571f5d95bacda

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

n/a

Grok Imagine Image 1.0

not in the arena

n/a

Nucleus-Image

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Grok Imagine Image 1.0

Rank 12 of 108

Nucleus-Image

Rank 65 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

n/a

Grok Imagine Image 1.0

no API price

n/a

Nucleus-Image

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.

Grok Imagine Image 1.0

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API.
Weights: unknown.

Nucleus-Image

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: No API price known. Access: local.
License: Open weights.

Subscriptions only count plans that name exactly this model. Subscription prices include VAT, API prices are in dollars.

GraduallyBench 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	Grok Imagine Image 1.0	Nucleus-Image
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	n/a	n/a
Arena rank	n/a	n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	n/a	n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	73	48
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	74	38
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	81	62
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	61	66
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	77	23
API price
Per imagelower is better	n/a	n/a
100 images	n/a	n/a
Profile
Released	n/a	n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locally	unknown	open
Access	API	local
Parameters	not published	17 billion
Largest output	not consistently published	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	n/a	n/a

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

Sources: Grok Imagine Image 1.0 model source (verified Nov 1, 2026) · Nucleus-Image 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 Grok Imagine Image 1.0 and Nucleus-Image from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

More comparisons

Compare Grok Imagine Image 1.0 and Nucleus-Image with the models people compare them with most often.

Compare another matchup

First image modelSecond image model