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Head-to-head comparison

Grok Imagine Image Quality vs. HiDream-O1-Image

Compare arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Text-to-image generation and image editing are never blended into an artificial overall score.

10

shared result series

4

shared sample prompts

2026-08-16

latest arena retrieval

Change image model selection

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 HiDream-O1-Image
AttributeGrok Imagine Image QualityHiDream-O1-Image
ProviderxAIHiDream
ReleasedApril 2026May 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, local
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticeNo separate lifecycle notice
WeightsProprietaryOpen weights
ParametersNot published8 billion
Maximum output2K2,048 × 2,048 pixels
Arena configurationQualityNo separate configuration named
Text-to-image price$50 per 1,000 imagesNo comparable API price
Editing price$50 per 1,000 images$10 per 1,000 images
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
Grok Imagine Image QualityHiDream-O1-Image
Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Grok Imagine Image Quality$50
HiDream-O1-Image$10Lower price

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 QualityHiDream-O1-Image
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,237 EloHigher arena score
HiDream-O1-Image1,178 Elo
Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,228 EloHigher arena score
HiDream-O1-Image1,195 Elo
Arena Text to Image: 3D modelingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,207.187 arena pointsHigher arena score
HiDream-O1-Image1,122.629 arena points
Arena Text to Image: ArtBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,210.217 arena pointsHigher arena score
HiDream-O1-Image1,122.865 arena points
Arena Text to Image: CartoonBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,227.232 arena pointsHigher arena score
HiDream-O1-Image1,122.842 arena points
Arena Text to Image: Commercial designBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,224.523 arena pointsHigher arena score
HiDream-O1-Image1,128.773 arena points
Arena Text to Image: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,228.14 arena pointsHigher arena score
HiDream-O1-Image1,118.314 arena points
Arena Text to Image: PhotorealismBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,242.93 arena pointsHigher arena score
HiDream-O1-Image1,111.024 arena points
Arena Text to Image: PortraitsBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,271.787 arena pointsHigher arena score
HiDream-O1-Image1,107.311 arena points
Arena Text to Image: Text renderingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,249.616 arena pointsHigher arena score
HiDream-O1-Image1,135.627 arena points
Arena benchmark scores for Grok Imagine Image Quality and HiDream-O1-Image
BenchmarkGrok Imagine Image QualityHiDream-O1-ImageSource
Text to Image Arena
1,237 EloHigher arena score
Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 16,074 ratings
1,178 Elo
Rank 49, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 4,032 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Image Editing Arena
1,228 EloHigher arena score
Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 10,088 ratings
1,195 Elo
Rank 21, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 6,392 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Arena Text to Image: 3D modeling
1,207.187 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±9.22, 4,538 ratings
1,122.629 arena points
Rank 41, 95% confidence interval: ±10.3, 3,159 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Art
1,210.217 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±7.93, 6,779 ratings
1,122.865 arena points
Rank 41, 95% confidence interval: ±8.57, 4,910 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Cartoon
1,227.232 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6.12, 18,027 ratings
1,122.842 arena points
Rank 38, 95% confidence interval: ±6.4, 13,113 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Commercial design
1,224.523 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6, 18,674 ratings
1,128.773 arena points
Rank 39, 95% confidence interval: ±6.2, 12,596 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Overall
1,228.14 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±4.23, 48,786 ratings
1,118.314 arena points
Rank 40, 95% confidence interval: ±4.3, 34,179 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Photorealism
1,242.93 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6.04, 20,413 ratings
1,111.024 arena points
Rank 50, 95% confidence interval: ±6.31, 13,889 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Portraits
1,271.787 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 6, 95% confidence interval: ±7.36, 10,165 ratings
1,107.311 arena points
Rank 50, 95% confidence interval: ±7.76, 7,047 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Text rendering
1,249.616 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6.31, 16,688 ratings
1,135.627 arena points
Rank 37, 95% confidence interval: ±6.45, 11,302 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16

Visual comparison

Sample images from documented runs

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
Grok Imagine Image Quality
HiDream-O1-Image, Character and detail
HiDream-O1-Image
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
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1735022440, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 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

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 9ac2cbe23ee6a63b0daacd665a40c3471c52c52fd6ad23e46d3027bb95f8c880

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 5d005ee24926d68b7d2299b8ecbe4e14919f652761f6de2568a043f2a6258da0

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Infographic
Grok Imagine Image Quality
HiDream-O1-Image, Infographic
HiDream-O1-Image
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.

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
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1456348218, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 PM. Source

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

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 258eece8b53e4df0c990b78dee2e02ec57569b1c823c3feff2ab54671240d66f

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 8b8014fc63f520d73ff57d3d8df5eae880097383167d44918b963f2830d09940

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Product photography
Grok Imagine Image Quality
HiDream-O1-Image, Product photography
HiDream-O1-Image
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.

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
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=124666889, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:53 PM. Source

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

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 5a9cd3c59556412e4de93a3ef5c4121ec12b6cc02730cad527619c2d8a889783

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 21e2c14d1b6315c30134e1390f531349608855d4ef1a87527e6d0ba57b2974ca

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Typography and layout
Grok Imagine Image Quality
HiDream-O1-Image, Typography and layout
HiDream-O1-Image
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
HiDream-O1-Image. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=2131088503, estimated cost $0.010486, model ID fal-ai/hidream-o1-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:41 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

HiDream-O1-Image, image SHA 256: 418a9b974b87b751ad2e4e98cdf6b8d7e2f8f352aed63d25be84c02377f310d1

HiDream-O1-Image, request SHA 256: 530872e813e988ba95025956a3743c6111120af963d90b8970a8bf3eced5547b

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.