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MAI-Image-2.5vs.Qwen Image 2.0 Pro

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Qwen Image 2.0 Pro has no arena rating yet. Qwen Image 2.0 Pro costs 1.6 times as much per image.

Test images

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

MAI-Image-2.5: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
MAI-Image-2.555 out of 100
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: Character and detail, first image from the fixed test run
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro89 out of 100

Result for “Character and detail”:Qwen Image 2.0 Pro slightly ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

What the rating looks at: Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency.

“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: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048508, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 PM. Source

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: ca1c58688ae4601975d7e1f7b58bb43a0a999e736f610d9f51cd11e06284bced

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro image SHA 256: 05f19da3e2d0eedb17d098c1b21abf8c83c663afa59083f0ce7a67a948e8a263

Infographic

MAI-Image-2.5: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048538, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 PM. Source

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:22 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: eaf00a906231e8859f98ef5dc2cce7e8017797819aea453305a4ef0e970d4dbf

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro image SHA 256: 003fbe859de5df62a4f49e3d590c00f5036e208149d81226d1835871fd1e0410

Product photography

MAI-Image-2.5: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048513, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:25 PM. Source

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: 67d4930b711fac61482231c4bc270cfcdb41c1b0daf653045781fb2126e237dd

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro image SHA 256: b811a440655cae766c039dfc8f9efb1756be5dce63ef22cd95deb1fe7dab6a3a

Typography and layout

MAI-Image-2.5: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048473, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:03 PM. Source

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: 4c8a60555b57b8c3b5ebaa131371d1bba9d31bfafe7aaa772554969f7c28cb08

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro image SHA 256: 4eb4915afa71f6a8c76979dcecadd70beabd3869f11ca092a725fd7b6c87b4f2

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,253

MAI-Image-2.5

Rank 9 of 21

n/a

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
69

MAI-Image-2.5

Rank 26 of 108

72

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro

Rank 17 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.048

MAI-Image-2.5

fairly cheap

$0.075

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro

fairly expensive

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

Subscription
No Microsoft AI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from €19.04 a month (Magnific Premium, with limited credits). 6 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.048 per image, 100 images $4.81.

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro

Subscription
At Alibaba only in team or business plans, from ≈ €21.20 a month per seat (Token Plan Team Team Standard Seat). 3 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.075 per image, 100 images $7.50.

Subscriptions only count plans that name exactly this model. Subscription prices include VAT, API prices are in dollars.

Arena rating (LMArena) from Nov 6, 2026 · 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.

KennzahlMAI-Image-2.5Qwen Image 2.0 Pro
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,253n/a
Arena rankRank 9 of 21n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating61,222n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1006972
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition8281
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details7058
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency5589
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization6962
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.048$0.075
100 images$4.81$7.50
Profile
ReleasedJune 2026April 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryproprietary
LifecyclePreview in Microsoft Foundryno notice
AccessAPI, Web appAPI
Parameters20 billionnot published
Largest output1,048,576 pixels2,048 × 2,048 pixels
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model63

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

Sources: MAI-Image-2.5 model source, status source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · Qwen Image 2.0 Pro model source (verified Aug 15, 2026)

Arena ratings by category

From blind votes on LMArena. “Ahead” means the lead is clear.

Arena rating per categoryfrom votes by users · higher is betterMAI-Image-2.5Qwen Image 2.0 Pro
Text to Image ArenaMAI-Image-2.5: 1,120Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: 1,031MAI-Image-2.5 ahead
Image Editing ArenaMAI-Image-2.5: 1,124Qwen Image 2.0 Pro: 1,057MAI-Image-2.5 ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 6, 2026

All individual values with sources
RatingMAI-Image-2.5Qwen Image 2.0 ProSource
Text to Image Arena1,1201,031Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Image Editing Arena1,1241,057Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 6, 2026

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