Grok Imagine Image 2.0vs.Nucleus-Image
Which one is better?
In our own test, Grok Imagine Image 2.0 leads. Nucleus-Image has no arena rating yet. Nucleus-Image has no API price.
Test images
Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.
Result for “Infographic”:Grok Imagine Image 2.0 ahead
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 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:46 AM. 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 2.0 image SHA 256: 95148f93193910361a680d5cff305d51bb06d967cb8b35e7ec732bd8501beccc
Nucleus-Image image SHA 256: c931159b5d8670025e00457995bc1bf8aa51176bc54271267abbd67808689aae
Infographic
Grok Imagine Image 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:47 AM. 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 2.0 image SHA 256: 732d7d3978293b5acd7aba0ec8534056bfa9bd5f6d2024c5eb7275d5bf203ba6
Nucleus-Image image SHA 256: 826d0bab35098adaae1c5a663d88713b7a8faa277a3ded16c1047beda0f169bf
Product photography
Grok Imagine Image 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:45 AM. 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 2.0 image SHA 256: 57f2809d2dc95671f5207c2cfc25f629c05be17edfe9bf87ca42d3d33119200e
Nucleus-Image image SHA 256: f8ce2bbfd219cc3ee98d1579426cbae88d0f43880a445301396ab04b5bf2f458
Typography and layout
Grok Imagine Image 2.0: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, quality medium, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.060000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:44 AM. 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 2.0 image SHA 256: 4dae1c4c90d277eed2983780d71f40b4758238ea15a020047c1329fb220e5b51
Nucleus-Image image SHA 256: a92e94eadcf94b661a14dc4308c6f94ca177223fca9965006dc571f5d95bacda
The numbers at a glance
Grok Imagine Image 2.0
Rank 5 of 21
Nucleus-Image
not in the arena
Grok Imagine Image 2.0
Rank 16 of 108
Nucleus-Image
Rank 65 of 108
Grok Imagine Image 2.0
fairly cheap
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 2.0
- Subscription
- No xAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €15.90 a month (Runway Standard, with limited credits). 5 plans in Germany.
- Via API
- $0.06 per image, 100 images $6.
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.
Arena rating (LMArena) from Nov 6, 2026 · GraduallyBench from Nov 3, 2026 · API prices from Nov 6, 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 2.0 | Nucleus-Image |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better | 1,317 | n/a |
| Arena rank | Rank 5 of 21 | n/a |
| Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating | 10,830 | n/a |
| GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 | 73 | 48 |
| GraduallyBench by task | ||
| Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition | 71 | 38 |
| Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details | 68 | 62 |
| Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency | 75 | 66 |
| InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization | 77 | 23 |
| API price | ||
| Per imagelower is better | $0.06 | n/a |
| 100 images | $6 | n/a |
| Profile | ||
| Released | Aug 7, 2026 | n/a |
| Weightsopen means: runs locally | proprietary | open |
| Access | API, Web app | local |
| Parameters | not published | 17 billion |
| Largest output | 2K | not consistently published |
| Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model | 5 | n/a |
API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.
Sources: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 model source (verified Sep 28, 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 2.0 and Nucleus-Image from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.
More comparisons
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