Head-to-head comparison

Grok Imagine Image Quality vs. FLUX.2 Flex

Compare shared capability tests, arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Research benchmarks, preference arenas, and our n = 1 samples remain separate.

shared result series: 14
shared sample prompts: 4
latest arena retrieval: 2026-08-26

First image modelSecond image model

Specifications and cost

General specifications and task-specific pricing

A model can have one price for generating new images and another for editing. Prices therefore remain tied to the corresponding arena configuration.

Specifications and pricing for Grok Imagine Image Quality and FLUX.2 Flex
Attribute	Grok Imagine Image Quality	FLUX.2 Flex
Provider	xAI	Black Forest Labs
Released	April 2026	November 2025
Access	API, Web app	API, Web app
Lifecycle	No separate lifecycle notice	No separate lifecycle notice
Weights	Proprietary	Proprietary
Parameters	Not published	Not published
Maximum output	2K	4 Megapixel
Arena configuration	Quality	Flex
Text-to-image price	$50 per 1,000 images	$60 per 1,000 images
Editing price	$50 per 1,000 images	$120 per 1,000 images
Technical source	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15

Grok Imagine Image QualityFLUX.2 Flex

Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels

Grok Imagine Image Quality$50

FLUX.2 Flex$60

Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels

Grok Imagine Image Quality$50

FLUX.2 Flex$120

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Prompt adherence and specialist tests

Shared capability benchmarks

Every matchup includes the same four Gradually sample tasks. For each task, one archived first output from every model is ranked in three differently ordered, model-blind passes. The published 0-100 value normalizes the mean rank. It must still be read as an n = 1 sample per model. No exact shared result from the integrated research benchmarks is available for this pair.

Grok Imagine Image QualityFLUX.2 Flex

Gradually sample test: Typography and layoutMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

Grok Imagine Image Quality65.4 / 100

FLUX.2 Flex76.6 / 100

Gradually sample test: Product photographyMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

Grok Imagine Image Quality4.9 / 100

FLUX.2 Flex46.9 / 100

Gradually sample test: Character and detailMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

Grok Imagine Image Quality59.3 / 100

FLUX.2 Flex39.5 / 100

Gradually sample test: InfographicMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

Grok Imagine Image Quality21 / 100

FLUX.2 Flex25.9 / 100

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Capability benchmark scores for Grok Imagine Image Quality and FLUX.2 Flex
Benchmark	Grok Imagine Image Quality	FLUX.2 Flex
Gradually sample test: Typography and layout	65.4 / 100 Mean rank: 10.33 (7 / 9 / 15) Five rubric scores Headline: 1.67 / 2 Subline: 1.67 / 2 Text control: 1.67 / 2 Visual brief: 1.33 / 2 Layout: 1 / 2	Higher blind-rank score76.6 / 100 Mean rank: 7.33 (6 / 10 / 6) Five rubric scores Headline: 1.67 / 2 Subline: 1.67 / 2 Text control: 1.67 / 2 Visual brief: 1.33 / 2 Layout: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Product photography	4.9 / 100 Mean rank: 26.67 (27 / 25 / 28) Five rubric scores Subject: 1 / 2 Time: 0.67 / 2 Watch details: 1 / 2 Photography: 1.33 / 2 Exclusions: 1 / 2	Higher blind-rank score46.9 / 100 Mean rank: 15.33 (12 / 19 / 15) Five rubric scores Subject: 1.33 / 2 Time: 1.33 / 2 Watch details: 1.33 / 2 Photography: 1.33 / 2 Exclusions: 1.33 / 2
Gradually sample test: Character and detail	Higher blind-rank score59.3 / 100 Mean rank: 12 (18 / 10 / 8) Five rubric scores Scene: 1.33 / 2 Wardrobe: 1.33 / 2 Anatomy: 1.33 / 2 Props: 1.33 / 2 Environment: 1 / 2	39.5 / 100 Mean rank: 17.33 (27 / 7 / 18) Five rubric scores Scene: 1.33 / 2 Wardrobe: 1.33 / 2 Anatomy: 1.33 / 2 Props: 1 / 2 Environment: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Infographic	21 / 100 Mean rank: 22.33 (23 / 22 / 22) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1.67 / 2 Labels: 0.67 / 2 Diagram: 1.67 / 2 Clarity: 0.33 / 2	Higher blind-rank score25.9 / 100 Mean rank: 21 (21 / 19 / 23) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1 / 2 Labels: 1 / 2 Diagram: 1 / 2 Clarity: 1 / 2
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Independent preference tests

Shared arena benchmarks

Artificial Analysis and Arena derive scores from blind comparisons. Raters see outputs for the same prompt and choose the image they prefer. Separate series cover text rendering, photorealism, portraits, art, commercial design, and image editing. Confidence intervals indicate how certain a measured lead is.

10 shared result series

Grok Imagine Image QualityFLUX.2 Flex

Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,235 Elo

FLUX.2 Flex1,224 Elo

Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,225 Elo

FLUX.2 Flex1,162 Elo

LMArena Text to Image: 3D modelingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,207.187

FLUX.2 Flex1,171.967

LMArena Text to Image: ArtBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,210.217

FLUX.2 Flex1,155.954

LMArena Text to Image: CartoonBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,227.232

FLUX.2 Flex1,162.335

LMArena Text to Image: Commercial designBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,224.523

FLUX.2 Flex1,173.137

LMArena Text to Image: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,228.14

FLUX.2 Flex1,156.466

LMArena Text to Image: PhotorealismBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,242.93

FLUX.2 Flex1,146.683

LMArena Text to Image: PortraitsBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,271.787

FLUX.2 Flex1,144.533

LMArena Text to Image: Text renderingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,249.616

FLUX.2 Flex1,172.004

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Arena benchmark scores for Grok Imagine Image Quality and FLUX.2 Flex
Benchmark	Grok Imagine Image Quality	FLUX.2 Flex	Source
Text to Image Arena	No clear lead1,235 Elo Rank 14, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 15,970 ratings	1,224 Elo Rank 19, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 5,047 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-26
Image Editing Arena	Higher score1,225 Elo Rank 12, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 10,235 ratings	1,162 Elo Rank 37, 95% confidence interval: ±7, 7,847 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: 3D modeling	Higher score1,207.187 Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±9.22, 4,538 ratings	1,171.967 Rank 19, 95% confidence interval: ±7.03, 15,066 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Art	Higher score1,210.217 Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±7.93, 6,779 ratings	1,155.954 Rank 28, 95% confidence interval: ±6.38, 21,779 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Cartoon	Higher score1,227.232 Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6.12, 18,027 ratings	1,162.335 Rank 26, 95% confidence interval: ±5.15, 55,850 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Commercial design	Higher score1,224.523 Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6, 18,674 ratings	1,173.137 Rank 21, 95% confidence interval: ±4.95, 55,246 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Overall	Higher score1,228.14 Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±4.23, 48,786 ratings	1,156.466 Rank 25, 95% confidence interval: ±3.42, 149,402 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Photorealism	Higher score1,242.93 Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6.04, 20,413 ratings	1,146.683 Rank 33, 95% confidence interval: ±4.87, 63,801 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Portraits	Higher score1,271.787 Rank 6, 95% confidence interval: ±7.36, 10,165 ratings	1,144.533 Rank 34, 95% confidence interval: ±5.82, 33,696 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Text rendering	Higher score1,249.616 Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6.31, 16,688 ratings	1,172.004 Rank 22, 95% confidence interval: ±5.14, 49,969 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Visual comparison

Sample images

Our images complement preference data, but do not replace it. The prompt, request count, and selection rule match. Provider resolution, quality tier, randomness, and prompt processing remain visible limitations, so this is not a fully controlled laboratory test.

Largely standardized comparison protocol. Both models receive the same archived prompt, exactly one request, and the first result counts. Files are normalized to 1,024 × 1,024 pixels without cropping. Provider resolution, randomness, quality tier, and prompt processing can still differ. These images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Character and detail

Prompt and settings

Create 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.

Grok Imagine Image Quality. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.050000, model ID x-ai/grok-imagine-image-quality, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:34 PM. Source
FLUX.2 Flex. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-flex, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Grok Imagine Image Quality, image SHA 256: b6cccae7af9a70af45a46b9e3264fa6971101e04979f7a0539e889ba6521250a

Grok Imagine Image Quality, request SHA 256: 5eb607f5dab8f6ef684eb315d3cae08e7d962bb6df6b77aaf88a64e0dc5665eb

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 43b43d5782192d7284de2b824dd1caaaa6b25032d22fc3f8565d438b137089f3

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: fe5b22589e6505017dc44f4729b1bb60b15820ba3673354d03a69c8b82831953

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Prompt and settings

Create 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.

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

Grok Imagine Image Quality, image SHA 256: 03fbeae7859be72584048dfc23fba0651220ab44c707da66c386b77d90cc86f7

Grok Imagine Image Quality, request SHA 256: f576589c9e48139779b3876e26e751fa6282caa2363332dff24d10409696b3d7

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 105f60cdeb71a27021ffff1ad3c0ad919df4e5c74ad83b4628fbd64a8d795a09

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: 11d4ec056332340dc822c82021ef10c6a6aa92de6e44dc931a90b7cbb6f14146

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Product photography

Prompt and settings

Create a square premium product photograph of a brushed titanium wristwatch standing upright on dark green marble. The watch has a cream dial, thin black hands set to 10:10, twelve distinct hour markers, a realistic crown, and a dark brown leather strap. Soft window light from the left, controlled reflections, shallow depth of field, no text, no logo, no extra objects.

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Grok Imagine Image Quality, image SHA 256: 0ea1e48f20bf61ff10414398b5248b0496c9040b3868c915580efd11d0dbaf11

Grok Imagine Image Quality, request SHA 256: 9320d8ca97077311b8f57251645ad46aa9fe084e77bbdfb99f5543d8db898855

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 9fef39b1500635ddbf78bcb8d3d9a68463ce952aa1fab89d12f6efe023907de7

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: 1c864c5e5d7f1e7008f15466fd0786f801ae94b17939b4f10de9a61c27766a59

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Typography and layout

Prompt and settings

Create a square editorial poster for an imaginary night train called MONDFALTER. Show the exact German headline MONDFALTER and the exact subline BERLIN NACH LISSABON. Use a restrained midnight-blue and warm-cream palette, one stylized moth, strong Swiss-grid typography, generous negative space, and no additional words or logos.

Grok Imagine Image Quality. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.050000, model ID x-ai/grok-imagine-image-quality, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:05 PM. Source
FLUX.2 Flex. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-flex, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

Grok Imagine Image Quality, image SHA 256: 84d88fb03bdbba672fc91268f4c120b17a19e4c9d637425aeca8ed44b2397d9f

Grok Imagine Image Quality, request SHA 256: 46fe1175225b4b1ddc97b59b3735541cd5b214e0226e1ef1f2c3cf02beaf8485

FLUX.2 Flex, image SHA 256: 324f87bf898593446a400abb43bd00eee015fa0a1dc160db0f864402fc0b38af

FLUX.2 Flex, request SHA 256: a0aa716f2a302bdfa59820d2e2c27cc56f730e8e2e4d5b64223d29a6979e1475

How to read this comparison

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

A higher arena score means this specific configuration was preferred more often in blind comparisons.

Typography, character consistency, local execution, licensing, and price may matter more to your workload than overall visual appeal.

Prices cover 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels using settings documented by Artificial Analysis. Subscriptions and special rates are excluded.

More matchups

Compare Grok Imagine Image Quality and FLUX.2 Flex with other important image models using the same benchmark and sample methodology.

View the complete image model comparison

Grok Imagine Image Quality vs. FLUX.2 Flex

Change image model selection

General specifications and task-specific pricing

Shared capability benchmarks

Shared arena benchmarks

Sample images

Character and detail

Infographic

Product photography

Typography and layout

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

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