MAI-Image-2.6vs.FLUX 3 Image

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. FLUX 3 Image has no arena rating yet. FLUX 3 Image 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 3 Image: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run — FLUX 3 Image43 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 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:38 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

FLUX 3 Image image SHA 256: 496cb58121a97575ae471aaed88c0570d0e24cd434d5f54f28535dbd7ce53f6d

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 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:39 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

FLUX 3 Image image SHA 256: 3a4bc8305d15194d5c2a3d8af72d0e032b46e665443b65f4d43604eb3bd19c7e

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 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:38 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

FLUX 3 Image image SHA 256: 270abe3dfe41073daff4fa3c83c62d8a957f9d6d960c195050c709eb831699c6

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 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:38 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

FLUX 3 Image image SHA 256: 67a219cf5a25c37ee31b05ca918a6b05df5d0675b61aace5fe1ba1244c24cde4

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 3 Image

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 46 of 74

FLUX 3 Image

Rank 23 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.039

MAI-Image-2.6

fairly cheap

n/a

FLUX 3 Image

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 3 Image

Subscription: No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €9.59 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 20 plans in Germany.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API, Web app.
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.

Kennzahl	MAI-Image-2.6	FLUX 3 Image
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	62
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	39	74
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	84	43
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	44	73
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	40	59
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	unknown
Lifecycle	Preview in Microsoft Foundry	no notice
Access	API	API, Web app
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	2,359,296 pixels	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	n/a	20

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 3 Image model 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 3 Image from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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First image modelSecond image model

More matchups

Compare MAI-Image-2.6 and FLUX 3 Image 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 3 Image

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

Compare another matchup

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