HiDream-O1-Image-1.5vs.MAI-Image-2.6

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. HiDream-O1-Image-1.5 has no arena rating yet. HiDream-O1-Image-1.5 costs 2.1 times as much per image.

Test images

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

HiDream-O1-Image-1.5: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run — HiDream-O1-Image-1.551 out of 100

MAI-Image-2.6: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.688 out of 100

Result for “Product photography”:MAI-Image-2.6 ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

What the rating looks at: Materials, reflections, and fine details.

“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

HiDream-O1-Image-1.5: manual, one request, first output, HiDream O1 Image 1.5, 1:1, 2K, n=1, no reference image, no negative prompt, Vivago web, 2 free credits, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Aug 16, 2026, 1:07 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039287, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

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

HiDream-O1-Image-1.5 image SHA 256: 99db95d2f6f00dc7f8872b5562b7577a49065a120d15fc54f687ba624fe4cf6e

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

Infographic

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039317, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

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

HiDream-O1-Image-1.5 image SHA 256: 073d00d82d82a05c20f9117a18e71e21fe0300fd9f4985608be09726b1ee70a8

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

Product photography

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039292, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

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

HiDream-O1-Image-1.5 image SHA 256: 98de28b81a3551441936ce2ebcc0b418e69e9d5cf6ce8b1dc281bc90b05731dc

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

Typography and layout

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039252, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

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

HiDream-O1-Image-1.5 image SHA 256: db5acbc9b443ea381bf6294997720fa246cf8a199f91d451aa1d7242fc4a348a

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

n/a

HiDream-O1-Image-1.5

not in the arena

1,329

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 4 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

HiDream-O1-Image-1.5

Rank 38 of 108

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 28 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.08

HiDream-O1-Image-1.5

fairly expensive

$0.039

MAI-Image-2.6

fairly cheap

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.

HiDream-O1-Image-1.5

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.08 per image, 100 images $8.

MAI-Image-2.6

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.039 per image, 100 images $3.89.

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

Arena rating (LMArena) from Oct 28, 2026 · GraduallyBench from Nov 3, 2026 · API prices 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	HiDream-O1-Image-1.5	MAI-Image-2.6
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	n/a	1,329
Arena rank	n/a	Rank 4 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	n/a	34,596
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	65	68
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	76	62
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	51	88
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	58	63
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	76	61
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.08	$0.039
100 images	$8	$3.89
Profile
Released	June 2026	Jul 31, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Lifecycle	no notice	Preview in Microsoft Foundry
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	2,048 × 2,048 pixels	2,359,296 pixels
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: HiDream-O1-Image-1.5 model source (verified Sep 22, 2026) · MAI-Image-2.6 model source, status source (verified Sep 24, 2026)

Arena ratings by category

From blind votes on LMArena. “Ahead” means the lead is clear.

Arena rating per categoryfrom votes by users · higher is betterHiDream-O1-Image-1.5MAI-Image-2.6

Text to Image Arena1,0171,167ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 3, 2026

All individual values with sources

Rating	HiDream-O1-Image-1.5	MAI-Image-2.6	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,017	1,167	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026

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HiDream-O1-Image-1.5vs.MAI-Image-2.6

Test images

The numbers at a glance

HiDream-O1-Image-1.5

MAI-Image-2.6

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

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