Luma Uni-1.1 Maxvs.MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Neither is in the arena. Luma Uni-1.1 Max has no API price.

Test images

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

Luma Uni-1.1 Max: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Luma Uni-1.1 Max75 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”:Luma Uni-1.1 Max 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

Luma Uni-1.1 Max: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:47 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

Luma Uni-1.1 Max image SHA 256: 8034ca5627e1a256cdf1d06fc87b583d91d971d02edc9af7df52cd6721d3ea9c

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: d6f2280312404df55179b7cf7d03468df04541eae774cc8d2b35e40e0820f06f

Infographic

Luma Uni-1.1 Max: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:49 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

Luma Uni-1.1 Max image SHA 256: 36dea214eb680804d4fea089eec3d4f10a4bf7b7a71c7a80f92313a37e8c2f73

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

Product photography

Luma Uni-1.1 Max: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:43 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

Luma Uni-1.1 Max image SHA 256: 4890cdf8b858c5740124e3b2ba038b73f6a35decc7e3e3d920890462b6e89c2b

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

Typography and layout

Luma Uni-1.1 Max: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:40 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

Luma Uni-1.1 Max image SHA 256: d2a6162d544def0a283ed62f939b33252636d296a21142111851ecdedd2989d3

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: be8d86a467f73abfce15cdcce3073acc257baf1c87112c2b53a64b36efde0804

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

n/a

Luma Uni-1.1 Max

not in the arena

n/a

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Luma Uni-1.1 Max

Rank 20 of 108

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

Rank 31 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

n/a

Luma Uni-1.1 Max

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.

Luma Uni-1.1 Max

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API, Web app.

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 6, 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	Luma Uni-1.1 Max	MAI-Image-2.6 Flash
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	n/a	n/a
Arena rank	n/a	n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	n/a	n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	71	67
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	75	54
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	71	90
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	60	52
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	79	74
API price
Per imagelower is better	n/a	$0.019
100 images	n/a	$1.95
Profile
Released	May 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	2K	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: Luma Uni-1.1 Max 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.

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

The stored benchmark database contains no measurement for Luma Uni-1.1 Max and MAI-Image-2.6 Flash from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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