Skip to main content

Head-to-head comparison

Grok Imagine Image Quality vs. Wan 2.6 Text to 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.

9

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 Wan 2.6 Text to Image
AttributeGrok Imagine Image QualityWan 2.6 Text to Image
ProviderxAIAlibaba
ReleasedApril 2026January 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticeNo separate lifecycle notice
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
ParametersNot publishedNot published
Maximum output2K2K
Arena configurationQualityText to Image
Text-to-image price$50 per 1,000 images$30 per 1,000 images
Editing price$50 per 1,000 imagesNo arena entry
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
Grok Imagine Image QualityWan 2.6 Text to Image
Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Grok Imagine Image Quality$50
Wan 2.6 Text to Image$30Lower 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.

9 shared result series
Grok Imagine Image QualityWan 2.6 Text to Image
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,237 EloHigher arena score
Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,212 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,145.884 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,156.609 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,145.336 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,148.092 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,135.885 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,128.051 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,122.435 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image1,148.761 arena points
Arena benchmark scores for Grok Imagine Image Quality and Wan 2.6 Text to Image
BenchmarkGrok Imagine Image QualityWan 2.6 Text to ImageSource
Text to Image Arena
1,237 EloHigher arena score
Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 16,074 ratings
1,212 Elo
Rank 25, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 3,702 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
1,145.884 arena points
Rank 31, 95% confidence interval: ±6.43, 17,534 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
1,156.609 arena points
Rank 27, 95% confidence interval: ±5.91, 23,269 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
1,145.336 arena points
Rank 32, 95% confidence interval: ±4.52, 73,425 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
1,148.092 arena points
Rank 31, 95% confidence interval: ±4.37, 69,457 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
1,135.885 arena points
Rank 35, 95% confidence interval: ±3.05, 182,381 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
1,128.051 arena points
Rank 39, 95% confidence interval: ±4.4, 74,727 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
1,122.435 arena points
Rank 44, 95% confidence interval: ±5.31, 40,808 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
1,148.761 arena points
Rank 31, 95% confidence interval: ±4.55, 66,011 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image, Character and detail
Wan 2.6 Text to 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image. Provider Together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Wan-AI/Wan2.6-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:30 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

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, image SHA 256: cf49d7136a442f4f1c1ae29af99e917aa83bcbf501fdacfe3a13a3b3e74d7f9a

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, request SHA 256: 10c9f29d46b749448e574d11b560a2c20065d9026f1f52a99f09b23b6299c9c5

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Infographic
Grok Imagine Image Quality
Wan 2.6 Text to Image, Infographic
Wan 2.6 Text to 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image. Provider Together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Wan-AI/Wan2.6-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:30 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

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, image SHA 256: 28eecbf460194ec047237c35415d934929baee9de9938bdff435cd21a4416435

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, request SHA 256: d9e00f8c778897df69e719c5bf9fa73115d87abeb23d63eec50dc2280f0e29a9

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Product photography
Grok Imagine Image Quality
Wan 2.6 Text to Image, Product photography
Wan 2.6 Text to 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image. Provider Together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Wan-AI/Wan2.6-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:29 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

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, image SHA 256: e8dbcfd0ce965814d72d676eddf74f723d476c1f78c5928c7b6efbc4eca4765e

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, request SHA 256: d1539f1db265e5a110b20b8585984ef534d0b89f51e83fd0fc51551832b669d1

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Typography and layout
Grok Imagine Image Quality
Wan 2.6 Text to Image, Typography and layout
Wan 2.6 Text to 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
Wan 2.6 Text to Image. Provider Together, requested 1280x1280, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Wan-AI/Wan2.6-image, 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

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, image SHA 256: 7e9557478ee297369d7680b31ab3b23a13c984981c0e0c922ef07372999122a7

Wan 2.6 Text to Image, request SHA 256: 2018571c876690a189c5076c520f09d03dd75a18ad6c52550cd51f854c30aa9d

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.