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Head-to-head comparison

MAI-Image-2.5 vs. HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct

Compare arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Text-to-image generation and image editing are never blended into an artificial overall score.

3

shared result series

4

shared sample prompts

2026-08-16

latest arena retrieval

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 and HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
AttributeMAI-Image-2.5HunyuanImage 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 configurationNo separate configuration namedFal
Text-to-image price$48.1 per 1,000 images$90 per 1,000 images
Editing price$48.1 per 1,000 images$90 per 1,000 images
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
MAI-Image-2.5HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
MAI-Image-2.5$48.1Lower price
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct$90
Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
MAI-Image-2.5$48.1Lower price
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct$90

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.

3 shared result series
MAI-Image-2.5HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
MAI-Image-2.51,310 EloHigher arena score
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct1,154 Elo
Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
MAI-Image-2.51,257 EloHigher arena score
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct1,224 Elo
Arena Image Editing: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
MAI-Image-2.51,401.879 arena pointsHigher arena score
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct1,302.284 arena points
Arena benchmark scores for MAI-Image-2.5 and HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct
BenchmarkMAI-Image-2.5HunyuanImage 3.0 InstructSource
Text to Image Arena
1,310 EloHigher arena score
Rank 5, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 14,529 ratings
1,154 Elo
Rank 57, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 3,845 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Image Editing Arena
1,257 EloHigher arena score
Rank 3, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 11,229 ratings
1,224 Elo
Rank 10, 95% confidence interval: ±7, 8,889 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Arena Image Editing: Overall
1,401.879 arena pointsHigher arena score
Rank 3, 95% confidence interval: ±3.85, 155,115 ratings
1,302.284 arena points
Rank 19, 95% confidence interval: ±3.38, 307,840 ratings
ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16

Visual comparison

Sample images from documented runs

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

MAI-Image-2.5, Character and detail
MAI-Image-2.5
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, Character and detail
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. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048508, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 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, image SHA 256: ca1c58688ae4601975d7e1f7b58bb43a0a999e736f610d9f51cd11e06284bced

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: 40fc54cbcee64f9045c44e702e013b649a0d8bbd7f8e2390d839bc38ee183b90

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, image SHA 256: 7c813735994e5781c420b23e15898e1d4c8b9a83b24dae9c72e9d7b08fe7ceb4

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, request SHA 256: 7db014c7ede1aa8032b454dd7d23feb8f0b110808d7a8995275bd91a1e6f926c

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

MAI-Image-2.5, Infographic
MAI-Image-2.5
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, Infographic
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. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048538, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 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, image SHA 256: eaf00a906231e8859f98ef5dc2cce7e8017797819aea453305a4ef0e970d4dbf

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: bbedc701e9933a8d6ed0fbb2a6fbb7214214fad9d32d9ae80a114a7254a0bcf1

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, image SHA 256: a9c50516fcbe8008d3d67c0651882f7c712aff66ee244b7f8aa7b83c0a67aaab

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, request SHA 256: 7b664cdf0c6f4165d17100e80067cb9d1c950d20b262cf78d2e5c0703da84c5c

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

MAI-Image-2.5, Product photography
MAI-Image-2.5
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, Product photography
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. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048513, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:25 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, image SHA 256: 67d4930b711fac61482231c4bc270cfcdb41c1b0daf653045781fb2126e237dd

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: 071e156eeb3e65e6744b7c6b675ffcb32b551dcfc1033a55e30e9561c0bd78a9

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, image SHA 256: 89ed8da585fcce3df9f76584dfc426a5142fe3b950c79a306a7ce3b79746ed99

HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, request SHA 256: 23b9a3151ee407a3387ae153fd37ebf415ce89861e8ad212ca150c4f1fcd386e

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

MAI-Image-2.5, Typography and layout
MAI-Image-2.5
HunyuanImage 3.0 Instruct, Typography and layout
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. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048473, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:03 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, image SHA 256: 4c8a60555b57b8c3b5ebaa131371d1bba9d31bfafe7aaa772554969f7c28cb08

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: f14577273bd6b0980f49e13988b01555bb55dc824317b201b5fab3d2ef72e666

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.

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