MAI-Image-2.6vs.FLUX.1 [dev]

Which one is better?

In our own test, MAI-Image-2.6 leads. FLUX.1 [dev] has no arena rating yet. FLUX.1 [dev] has no API price.

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

MAI-Image-2.6: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.684 out of 100

FLUX.1 [dev]: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run — FLUX.1 [dev]40 out of 100

Result for “Product photography”:MAI-Image-2.6 ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

What the rating looks at: Materials, reflections, and fine details.

“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-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039287, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

FLUX.1 [dev]: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1386633789, estimated cost $0.025000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:00 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

FLUX.1 [dev] image SHA 256: 8cc425497844ab30bdb5f4b32b613219d01f1f21289d68fc198bb5980a3c6465

Infographic

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039317, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

FLUX.1 [dev]: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1094286267, estimated cost $0.025000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:00 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

FLUX.1 [dev] image SHA 256: 3d5c50031e545a82fe0617e724937b960d6e77c8371795f99fdf8037a2de8e9c

Product photography

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039292, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

FLUX.1 [dev]: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1029917942, estimated cost $0.025000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:59 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

FLUX.1 [dev] image SHA 256: 2932ee8c5af8a92655a9a9c4ad9ff782d366a51b9dad5553d84fe241d084d5c0

Typography and layout

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039252, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

FLUX.1 [dev]: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=1184329997, estimated cost $0.025000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:59 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

FLUX.1 [dev] image SHA 256: 5a33abcfb19aa0d6d544ad7beb0ce59f51382a9418b5420edcc7aa553d578382

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,329

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 4 of 22

n/a

FLUX.1 [dev]

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 46 of 74

FLUX.1 [dev]

Rank 59 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.039

MAI-Image-2.6

fairly cheap

n/a

FLUX.1 [dev]

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-2.6

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.039 per image, 100 images $3.89.

FLUX.1 [dev]

Subscription: No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €9.59 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 6 plans in Germany.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API, local.
License: Open weights, Older T2I checkpoint under a non-commercial license; hosted BFL API remains documented.

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.

Kennzahl	MAI-Image-2.6	FLUX.1 [dev]
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,329	n/a
Arena rank	Rank 4 of 22	n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	34,596	n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	52	29
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	39	7
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	84	40
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	44	40
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	40	27
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.039	n/a
100 images	$3.89	n/a
Profile
Released	Jul 31, 2026	n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	openOlder T2I checkpoint under a non-commercial license; hosted BFL API remains documented
Lifecycle	Preview in Microsoft Foundry	no notice
Access	API	API, local
Parameters	not published	12 billion
Largest output	2,359,296 pixels	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	n/a	6

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

Sources: MAI-Image-2.6 model source, status source (verified Sep 24, 2026) · FLUX.1 [dev] 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-2.6 and FLUX.1 [dev] from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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More matchups

Compare MAI-Image-2.6 and FLUX.1 [dev] with other important image models.

View the complete image model comparison

Same prompt, two images

The numbers at a glance

MAI-Image-2.6

FLUX.1 [dev]

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

Compare another matchup

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