MAI-Image-2.5vs.Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

Which one is better?

MAI-Image-2.5 leads in both ratings: in our own test and in the arena. Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large has no API price.

Test images

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

MAI-Image-2.5: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.570 out of 100

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: Product photography, first image from the fixed test run — Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large17 out of 100

Result for “Product photography”:MAI-Image-2.5 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

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

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=7087247023770270000, estimated cost $0.068157, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: ca1c58688ae4601975d7e1f7b58bb43a0a999e736f610d9f51cd11e06284bced

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large image SHA 256: e748006fe56e442ad347e3f994f18b86ee1739f20dcee063aa7a03ee710c5d54

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

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=12166653711354006000, estimated cost $0.068157, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: eaf00a906231e8859f98ef5dc2cce7e8017797819aea453305a4ef0e970d4dbf

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large image SHA 256: 4eb0fd741ef42e6d3fee4b1280cdfb098a0a04009b139051963895892e349f1e

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

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=13346308312015933000, estimated cost $0.068157, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: 67d4930b711fac61482231c4bc270cfcdb41c1b0daf653045781fb2126e237dd

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large image SHA 256: ea9a7401dee8859ec2cb96af9f7ca29a177ef2202f52f629d8ce9f5839bd4061

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

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=16632333557910893000, estimated cost $0.068157, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:37 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.5 image SHA 256: 4c8a60555b57b8c3b5ebaa131371d1bba9d31bfafe7aaa772554969f7c28cb08

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large image SHA 256: e2994b1883a245b1c8c447957d121ea89d93aafff149029aa4e8507dbb769f9a

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,253

MAI-Image-2.5

Rank 9 of 21

938

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

Rank 21 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

MAI-Image-2.5

Rank 26 of 108

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

Rank 87 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.048

MAI-Image-2.5

fairly cheap

n/a

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

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

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.

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API, local.
License: Open weights.

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.

Kennzahl	MAI-Image-2.5	Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,253	938
Arena rank	Rank 9 of 21	Rank 21 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	61,222	23,396
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	69	27
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	82	31
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	70	17
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	55	23
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	69	39
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.048	n/a
100 images	$4.81	n/a
Profile
Released	June 2026	Oct 22, 2024
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	open
Lifecycle	Preview in Microsoft Foundry	no notice
Access	API, Web app	API, local
Parameters	20 billion	8.1 billion
Largest output	1,048,576 pixels	1 Megapixel
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	6	n/a

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) · Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large 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-2.5Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,251963ahead

Text to Image: Art1,277997ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,269945ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,259937ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,253938ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,251928ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,255942ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,281921ahead

LMArena from Nov 6, 2026

All individual values with sources

Rating	MAI-Image-2.5	Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large	Source
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,251	963	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,277	997	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,269	945	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,259	937	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,253	938	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,251	928	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,255	942	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,281	921	LMArenaRetrieved Nov 6, 2026

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Test images

The numbers at a glance

MAI-Image-2.5

Stable Diffusion 3.5 Large

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

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