Skip to main content

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instructvs.Midjourney V8.1

Which one is better?

In our own test, HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct leads. Neither is in the arena. Neither has an 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
Midjourney V8.1: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
Midjourney V8.114 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

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 PM. Source

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct image SHA 256: 7c813735994e5781c420b23e15898e1d4c8b9a83b24dae9c72e9d7b08fe7ceb4

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: cf522740817fefe58b263fa9a0d07d249c42211eca7d7c9b013f7145a7d2a8ea

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

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 PM. Source

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct image SHA 256: a9c50516fcbe8008d3d67c0651882f7c712aff66ee244b7f8aa7b83c0a67aaab

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: ac36188f88f37f23c2c405355d8dd12594085e1450d732fa419d8cec9a6c598f

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

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 PM. Source

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct image SHA 256: 89ed8da585fcce3df9f76584dfc426a5142fe3b950c79a306a7ce3b79746ed99

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: 992f2486be40bc361a638b4b266909d334883c05fe4763cf5e243358c688bfdd

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

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 PM. Source

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct image SHA 256: 4563cdd9bb047b4df3316484fcc4fe369ba6635f0360e434f45577d013468b6c

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: af3d2c5042b108a7fe2eb49bae072d30030e6b6cf814875ef9ce7074ceafc4ce

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

Midjourney V8.1

not in the arena

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

Rank 19 of 108

38

Midjourney V8.1

Rank 73 of 108

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

no API price

n/a

Midjourney V8.1

no API price

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.

Midjourney V8.1

Subscription
At Midjourney from ≈ €10.60 a month (Midjourney Basic). 4 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: Web app.

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

GraduallyBench 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 InstructMidjourney V8.1
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 1007238
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition7914
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details8850
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency5851
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization6135
API price
Per imagelower is bettern/an/a
100 imagesn/an/a
Profile
ReleasedJanuary 2026Apr 14, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyopenproprietary
AccessAPI, localWeb app
Parameters80 billionnot published
Largest outputnot consistently published2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this modeln/a4

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) · Midjourney V8.1 model source (verified Aug 15, 2026)

Arena ratings by category

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

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

The stored benchmark database contains no measurement for HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct and Midjourney V8.1 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

More comparisons

Compare HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct and Midjourney V8.1 with the models people compare them with most often.

Compare another matchup