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Head-to-head comparison

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash vs. HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

Compare shared capability tests, arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Research benchmarks, preference arenas, and our n = 1 samples remain separate.

shared result series
6
shared sample prompts
4
latest arena retrieval
2026-09-22

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 MAI-Image-2.5 Flash and HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
AttributeMAI-Image-2.5 FlashHunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
ProviderMicrosoft AITencent
ReleasedJune 2026January 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, local
LifecyclePreview in Microsoft Foundry Status sourceNo separate lifecycle notice
WeightsProprietaryOpen weights
Parameters20 billion80 billion, 13 billion active
Maximum output1,048,576 pixelsNot consistently published
Arena configurationFlashFal
Text-to-image price$20 per 1,000 images$90 per 1,000 images
Editing price$20 per 1,000 images$90 per 1,000 images
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-09-22Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashLower price$20
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct$90
Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashLower price$20
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct$90

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Prompt adherence and specialist tests

Shared capability benchmarks

Both checkpoints completed the same four Gradually sample tasks. For each task, 30 archived first outputs are ranked in three differently ordered, model-blind passes. The published 0-100 value normalizes the mean rank. It must still be read as an n = 1 sample per model. No exact shared result from the integrated research benchmarks is available for this pair.

MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
Gradually sample test: Typography and layoutMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash51.7 / 100
HunyuanImage 3.0 InstructHigher blind-rank score69 / 100
Gradually sample test: Product photographyMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher blind-rank score81.6 / 100
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct55.2 / 100
Gradually sample test: Character and detailMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher blind-rank score82.8 / 100
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct69 / 100
Gradually sample test: InfographicMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher blind-rank score75.9 / 100
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct29.9 / 100

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Capability benchmark scores for MAI-Image-2.5 Flash and HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
BenchmarkMAI-Image-2.5 FlashHunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
Gradually sample test: Typography and layout
51.7 / 100
Mean rank: 15 (13 / 14 / 18)
Five rubric scores
Headline: 1.67 / 2
Subline: 1.67 / 2
Text control: 1.67 / 2
Visual brief: 1.67 / 2
Layout: 1 / 2
Higher blind-rank score69 / 100
Mean rank: 10 (8 / 10 / 12)
Five rubric scores
Headline: 1.67 / 2
Subline: 1.67 / 2
Text control: 1.67 / 2
Visual brief: 1.67 / 2
Layout: 1.33 / 2
Gradually sample test: Product photography
Higher blind-rank score81.6 / 100
Mean rank: 6.33 (1 / 11 / 7)
Five rubric scores
Subject: 1.67 / 2
Time: 1.67 / 2
Watch details: 1.67 / 2
Photography: 1.67 / 2
Exclusions: 1.67 / 2
55.2 / 100
Mean rank: 14 (7 / 18 / 17)
Five rubric scores
Subject: 1.67 / 2
Time: 1.67 / 2
Watch details: 1.33 / 2
Photography: 1.67 / 2
Exclusions: 1.67 / 2
Gradually sample test: Character and detail
Higher blind-rank score82.8 / 100
Mean rank: 6 (14 / 3 / 1)
Five rubric scores
Scene: 1 / 2
Wardrobe: 1 / 2
Anatomy: 1 / 2
Props: 1 / 2
Environment: 1 / 2
69 / 100
Mean rank: 10 (20 / 4 / 6)
Five rubric scores
Scene: 1 / 2
Wardrobe: 1 / 2
Anatomy: 1 / 2
Props: 1 / 2
Environment: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Infographic
Higher blind-rank score75.9 / 100
Mean rank: 8 (10 / 6 / 8)
Five rubric scores
Title: 1.67 / 2
Sequence: 1.67 / 2
Labels: 1.67 / 2
Diagram: 1.33 / 2
Clarity: 1.33 / 2
29.9 / 100
Mean rank: 21.33 (17 / 23 / 24)
Five rubric scores
Title: 1 / 2
Sequence: 1.67 / 2
Labels: 1.67 / 2
Diagram: 0.67 / 2
Clarity: 0.67 / 2

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

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.

2 shared result series
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher score1,033 Elo
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct964 Elo
Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher score1,087 Elo
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct1,027 Elo

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Arena benchmark scores for MAI-Image-2.5 Flash and HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
BenchmarkMAI-Image-2.5 FlashHunyuanImage 3.0 InstructSource
Text to Image Arena
Higher score1,033 Elo
Rank 18, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 5,742 ratings
964 Elo
Rank 65, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 5,207 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22
Image Editing Arena
Higher score1,087 Elo
Rank 14, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 12,248 ratings
1,027 Elo
Rank 29, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 4,273 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Visual comparison

Sample images

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

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, Character and detail
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Character and detail
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
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.

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 PM. Source
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=480451513, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, model ID fal-ai/hunyuan-image/v3/instruct/text-to-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:51 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: a2637943faf5ae5210c69f645f96c70ea0a1d267c38a64705810947d2ba78dc8

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, image SHA 256: 7c813735994e5781c420b23e15898e1d4c8b9a83b24dae9c72e9d7b08fe7ceb4

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, request SHA 256: 7db014c7ede1aa8032b454dd7d23feb8f0b110808d7a8995275bd91a1e6f926c

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, Infographic
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Infographic
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
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.

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 PM. Source
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1316714523, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, model ID fal-ai/hunyuan-image/v3/instruct/text-to-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:52 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: 6af00e502934a24a9e535b3f72d9b1ca545a984fc463e785ffe796a700e015b3

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, image SHA 256: a9c50516fcbe8008d3d67c0651882f7c712aff66ee244b7f8aa7b83c0a67aaab

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, request SHA 256: 7b664cdf0c6f4165d17100e80067cb9d1c950d20b262cf78d2e5c0703da84c5c

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, Product photography
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Product photography
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
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.

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 PM. Source
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1892985637, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, model ID fal-ai/hunyuan-image/v3/instruct/text-to-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:51 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: 9cb652604f7c64d8ebaa4303e924155a1f45581a940045be12775419e635bd8f

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, image SHA 256: 89ed8da585fcce3df9f76584dfc426a5142fe3b950c79a306a7ce3b79746ed99

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, request SHA 256: 23b9a3151ee407a3387ae153fd37ebf415ce89861e8ad212ca150c4f1fcd386e

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, Typography and layout
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Typography and layout
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
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.

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:22 PM. Source
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct. Provider fal.ai, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1326433162, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.094372, model ID fal-ai/hunyuan-image/v3/instruct/text-to-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:41 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: 185a852b71d68ea37a41091b57f3ec02829b2d1e87fd1045939ffa0f8e4c3cf8

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, image SHA 256: 4563cdd9bb047b4df3316484fcc4fe369ba6635f0360e434f45577d013468b6c

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, request SHA 256: efd3bc5cb7cf1e1511bde27609704b11aa672e608c34b4ecd16fb998f45385f3

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.

More matchups

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Compare MAI-Image-2.5 Flash and HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct with other important image models under the same evidence rules. Each page shows only exact shared measurements and samples.

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