MAI-Image-2.5 Flashvs.FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]
Which one is better?
In our own test, MAI-Image-2.5 Flash leads. Neither is in the arena. FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] has no API price.
Test images
Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.
![FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run](/_astro-img/1c1e71d614b662f0/1024.avif)
Result for “Typography and layout”:MAI-Image-2.5 Flash ahead
What the rating looks at: Legible text, hierarchy, and composition.
“Ahead”: better in all three rating rounds. “Slightly ahead”: a higher value, but not in every round.
Test protocol of the images
Each test attempt uses the same archived prompt and one request. The first output of that attempt counts. Repeats after technical test failures are disclosed for the affected images. 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 Flash: manual, 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, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 PM. Source
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=1661036738, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: a2637943faf5ae5210c69f645f96c70ea0a1d267c38a64705810947d2ba78dc8
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: a2b5cfe16c918f33c56d04a35a8cea5433ea17db1f41ab3f3ccefdc20791a3d1
Infographic
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash: manual, 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, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 PM. Source
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=261169301, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: 6af00e502934a24a9e535b3f72d9b1ca545a984fc463e785ffe796a700e015b3
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: 8ec7449c0fd1b68f984aaa28dda6cb4d74a053cd88af42c10d79fac31980ffbe
Product photography
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash: manual, 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, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 PM. Source
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=3307245438, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: 9cb652604f7c64d8ebaa4303e924155a1f45581a940045be12775419e635bd8f
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: 367531e667dd9156abe9666dc571fc122174a66788d726b2b4ab06d9c8226d9d
Typography and layout
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash: manual, 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, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:22 PM. Source
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=4284980986, Fal schema has no resolution field; official 1:1 example returns 1024x1024, estimated cost $0.040000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:02 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: 185a852b71d68ea37a41091b57f3ec02829b2d1e87fd1045939ffa0f8e4c3cf8
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] image SHA 256: d14a3243cc28d6996fd549722f34d49227f278151c441fa635f955e1c8140414
The numbers at a glance
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
not in the arena
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]
not in the arena
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Rank 24 of 108
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]
Rank 69 of 108
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
cheap
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]
no API price
Ranks among the 21 image models with an arena rating and the 108 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
- Subscription
- n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
- Via API
- $0.02 per image, 100 images $2.
FLUX.1 Kontext [pro]
- Subscription
- No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.36 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 23 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.
GraduallyBench from Nov 3, 2026 · API prices from Nov 6, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (38 days old)
All data side by side
The better value is bold. For ratings only when the gap is clear.
| Kennzahl | MAI-Image-2.5 Flash | FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better | n/a | n/a |
| Arena rank | n/a | n/a |
| Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating | n/a | n/a |
| GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 | 69 | 39 |
| GraduallyBench by task | ||
| Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition | 70 | 19 |
| Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details | 58 | 36 |
| Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency | 68 | 50 |
| InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization | 81 | 53 |
| API price | ||
| Per imagelower is better | $0.02 | n/a |
| 100 images | $2 | n/a |
| Profile | ||
| Released | June 2026 | n/a |
| Weightsopen means: runs locally | proprietary | unknown |
| Lifecycle | Preview in Microsoft Foundry | Edit-first model line; API also supports image creation from text, but the main GraduallyBench tasks are not edit-based |
| Access | API, Web app | API |
| Parameters | 20 billion | not published |
| Largest output | 1,048,576 pixels | not consistently published |
| Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model | n/a | 23 |
API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.
Sources: MAI-Image-2.5 Flash model source, status source (verified Sep 22, 2026) · FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] 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 Flash and FLUX.1 Kontext [pro] from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.
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