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MAI-Image-2.5vs.GPT Image 1 Mini

Which one is better?

In our own test, MAI-Image-2.5 leads. GPT Image 1 Mini has no arena rating yet. GPT Image 1 Mini has no API price.

Same prompt, two images

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

MAI-Image-2.5: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
MAI-Image-2.557 out of 100
GPT Image 1 Mini: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
GPT Image 1 Mini8 out of 100

Result for “Character and detail”:MAI-Image-2.5 ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

What the rating looks at: Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency.

“Ahead”: better in all three rating rounds. “Slightly ahead”: a higher value, but not in every round.

Test protocol of the images

Both models receive the same archived prompt in 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. The images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

MAI-Image-2.5: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048508, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 PM. Source

GPT Image 1 Mini: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, quality low, Fal rounds per-request image plus text-token cost up to $0.01 for the fixed prompts, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:52 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: ca1c58688ae4601975d7e1f7b58bb43a0a999e736f610d9f51cd11e06284bced

GPT Image 1 Mini image SHA 256: c0e2174457ec7197947f10d76d4c5a8fa49aec091b31652f0247cf7e11e903ba

Infographic

MAI-Image-2.5: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048538, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 PM. Source

GPT Image 1 Mini: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, quality low, Fal rounds per-request image plus text-token cost up to $0.01 for the fixed prompts, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:52 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: eaf00a906231e8859f98ef5dc2cce7e8017797819aea453305a4ef0e970d4dbf

GPT Image 1 Mini image SHA 256: 08bac6b96a08de0ca51bedd1b6f0648e65d24461446b15231e80f668aaf6d603

Product photography

MAI-Image-2.5: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048513, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:25 PM. Source

GPT Image 1 Mini: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, quality low, Fal rounds per-request image plus text-token cost up to $0.01 for the fixed prompts, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:51 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: 67d4930b711fac61482231c4bc270cfcdb41c1b0daf653045781fb2126e237dd

GPT Image 1 Mini image SHA 256: a5e15f006cd5c689b9588fa55b37ea0d610cd9edb4bd167fabefda5d72f21480

Typography and layout

MAI-Image-2.5: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048473, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:03 PM. Source

GPT Image 1 Mini: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, quality low, Fal rounds per-request image plus text-token cost up to $0.01 for the fixed prompts, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:51 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: 4c8a60555b57b8c3b5ebaa131371d1bba9d31bfafe7aaa772554969f7c28cb08

GPT Image 1 Mini image SHA 256: 16fcb3be0f7ea7a48eabaacb5052ebccc221c00dd9ed3ff9d8e2f38f91b66c15

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,253

MAI-Image-2.5

Rank 9 of 22

n/a

GPT Image 1 Mini

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
62

MAI-Image-2.5

Rank 22 of 74

26

GPT Image 1 Mini

Rank 60 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.048

MAI-Image-2.5

fairly cheap

n/a

GPT Image 1 Mini

no API price

Ranks among the 22 image models with an arena rating and the 74 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.

MAI-Image-2.5

Subscription
No Microsoft AI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €19.04 a month (Magnific Premium, with limited credits). 6 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.048 per image, 100 images $4.81.

GPT Image 1 Mini

Subscription
No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €6.83 a month (Poe Basic, with limited points). 14 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: API.
Weights
unknown.

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 1, 2026 · API prices from Oct 28, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (34 days old)

All data side by side

The better value is bold. For ratings only when the gap is clear.

KennzahlMAI-Image-2.5GPT Image 1 Mini
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,253n/a
Arena rankRank 9 of 22n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating61,286n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1006226
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition8447
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details5943
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency578
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization508
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.048n/a
100 images$4.81n/a
Profile
ReleasedJune 2026n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryunknown
LifecyclePreview in Microsoft FoundryDeprecated; API shutdown announced for December 1, 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI
Parameters20 billionnot published
Largest output1,048,576 pixelsnot consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model614

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

Sources: MAI-Image-2.5 model source, status source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · GPT Image 1 Mini model source, status source (verified Nov 1, 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 MAI-Image-2.5 and GPT Image 1 Mini from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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