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HunyuanImage 3.0 Instructvs.MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Neither is in the arena. HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct has no API price.

Test images

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct79 out of 100
MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
MAI-Image-2.6 Flash54 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

What the rating looks at: Legible text, hierarchy, and composition.

“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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=480451513, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:51 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019587, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct image SHA 256: 7c813735994e5781c420b23e15898e1d4c8b9a83b24dae9c72e9d7b08fe7ceb4

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: d6f2280312404df55179b7cf7d03468df04541eae774cc8d2b35e40e0820f06f

Infographic

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1316714523, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:52 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019598, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct image SHA 256: a9c50516fcbe8008d3d67c0651882f7c712aff66ee244b7f8aa7b83c0a67aaab

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: 5c40f304b9dad1876a8d2223d22ca0e431ba9fe8a16e878a81743ac8296b6649

Product photography

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1892985637, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:51 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019589, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct image SHA 256: 89ed8da585fcce3df9f76584dfc426a5142fe3b950c79a306a7ce3b79746ed99

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: 64376f13e8626feb37db3c138dde381843866e7d58fb87e8076c2fa9003365e4

Typography and layout

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1326433162, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:41 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019575, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct image SHA 256: 4563cdd9bb047b4df3316484fcc4fe369ba6635f0360e434f45577d013468b6c

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: be8d86a467f73abfce15cdcce3073acc257baf1c87112c2b53a64b36efde0804

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
n/a

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

not in the arena

n/a

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
72

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

Rank 19 of 108

67

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

Rank 31 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
n/a

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

no API price

$0.019

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

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.

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

Subscription
n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API
No API price known. Access: API, local.
License
Open weights.

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

Subscription
n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API
$0.019 per image, 100 images $1.95.

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

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.

KennzahlHunyuanImage 3.0 InstructMAI-Image-2.6 Flash
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is bettern/an/a
Arena rankn/an/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer ratingn/an/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1007267
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition7954
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details8890
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency5852
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization6174
API price
Per imagelower is bettern/a$0.019
100 imagesn/a$1.95
Profile
ReleasedJanuary 2026Jul 31, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyopenproprietary
Lifecycleno noticePreview in Microsoft Foundry
AccessAPI, localAPI
Parameters80 billionnot published
Largest outputnot consistently published2,359,296 pixels
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this modeln/an/a

API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.

Sources: HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct model source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · MAI-Image-2.6 Flash 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 betterHunyuanImage 3.0 InstructMAI-Image-2.6 Flash
Text to Image ArenaHunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct: 988MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: 1,120MAI-Image-2.6 Flash ahead
Image Editing ArenaHunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct: 1,064MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: 1,145MAI-Image-2.6 Flash ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 3, 2026

All individual values with sources
RatingHunyuanImage 3.0 InstructMAI-Image-2.6 FlashSource
Text to Image Arena9881,120Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena1,0641,145Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026

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Predecessor and successor

  • HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct has no successor yet
  • No predecessor recorded for MAI-Image-2.6 Flash
  • MAI-Image-2.6 Flash has no successor yet