MAI-Image-2.5 Flashvs.Runway Gen-4 Image
Which one is better?
In our own test, MAI-Image-2.5 Flash leads. Neither is in the arena. Runway Gen-4 Image has no API price.
Test images
Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.
Result for “Infographic”:MAI-Image-2.5 Flash ahead
What the rating looks at: Numbers, labels, and visual organization.
“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
Runway Gen-4 Image: manual, 1:1, one request, first output (first top-left candidate of native batch), exact UI model Runway Gen-4 Image, provider-default random seed, native resolution provider default, fast mode not offered, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square cinematic full-body portrait of a fictional bicycle courier waiting u 715099.png, source 1080x1080, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 10:33 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: a2637943faf5ae5210c69f645f96c70ea0a1d267c38a64705810947d2ba78dc8
Runway Gen-4 Image image SHA 256: 1235971dc0ffbe1e82ce305c9e7608d10a9b604697ec359a332cd4f2d931db71
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
Runway Gen-4 Image: manual, 1:1, one request, first output (first top-left candidate of native batch), exact UI model Runway Gen-4 Image, provider-default random seed, native resolution provider default, fast mode not offered, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square German infographic titled SO FUNKTIONIERT PHOTOSYNTHESE. Show exactly 715099.png, source 1080x1080, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 10:33 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: 6af00e502934a24a9e535b3f72d9b1ca545a984fc463e785ffe796a700e015b3
Runway Gen-4 Image image SHA 256: 13955a0ff71a8e54cde4d84a78ace5dba2bc64b8df79c939bffabca22620480c
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
Runway Gen-4 Image: manual, 1:1, one request, first output (first top-left candidate of native batch), exact UI model Runway Gen-4 Image, provider-default random seed, native resolution provider default, fast mode not offered, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square premium product photograph of a brushed titanium wristwatch standing 715099.png, source 1080x1080, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 10:31 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: 9cb652604f7c64d8ebaa4303e924155a1f45581a940045be12775419e635bd8f
Runway Gen-4 Image image SHA 256: 24a4b7e7c9ac88d5e5c7a508aca6c7de29c4ca9e55c0d17623005dbe3e6aaadd
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
Runway Gen-4 Image: manual, 1:1, one request, first output (first top-left candidate of native batch), exact UI model Runway Gen-4 Image, provider-default random seed, native resolution provider default, fast mode not offered, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square editorial poster for an imaginary night train called MONDFALTER. Show 715099.png, source 1080x1080, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 10:31 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash image SHA 256: 185a852b71d68ea37a41091b57f3ec02829b2d1e87fd1045939ffa0f8e4c3cf8
Runway Gen-4 Image image SHA 256: 73ca9e031f19143e8227ccfb5d651cd72eed23184d7cf7b980890310d55f7a8d
The numbers at a glance
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
not in the arena
Runway Gen-4 Image
not in the arena
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Rank 24 of 108
Runway Gen-4 Image
Rank 70 of 108
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
cheap
Runway Gen-4 Image
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.
Runway Gen-4 Image
- Subscription
- No Runway subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.36 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 19 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.
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 | Runway Gen-4 Image |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 51 |
| Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details | 58 | 33 |
| Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency | 68 | 39 |
| InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization | 81 | 32 |
| 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 | no notice |
| Access | API, Web app | API, Web app |
| Parameters | 20 billion | not published |
| Largest output | 1,048,576 pixels | not consistently published |
| Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model | n/a | 19 |
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) · Runway Gen-4 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-2.5 Flash and Runway Gen-4 Image from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.
More comparisons
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