MAI-Image-2.6 Flashvs.FLUX 3 Image Klein

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Neither is in the arena. FLUX 3 Image Klein has no API price.

Test images

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

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.6 Flash54 out of 100

FLUX 3 Image Klein: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — FLUX 3 Image Klein84 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:FLUX 3 Image Klein ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate a square editorial poster for an imaginary night train called MONDFALTER. Show the exact German headline MONDFALTER and the exact subline BERLIN NACH LISSABON. Use a restrained midnight-blue and warm-cream palette, one stylized moth, strong Swiss-grid typography, generous negative space, and no additional words or logos.

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-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019587, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

FLUX 3 Image Klein: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.009000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:28 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: d6f2280312404df55179b7cf7d03468df04541eae774cc8d2b35e40e0820f06f

FLUX 3 Image Klein image SHA 256: b3331460097da628f405817301b99f206142350757be51bee5e406216ef8359f

Infographic

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019598, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

FLUX 3 Image Klein: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.009000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:28 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: 5c40f304b9dad1876a8d2223d22ca0e431ba9fe8a16e878a81743ac8296b6649

FLUX 3 Image Klein image SHA 256: 8f6c2d4ea5814181f198e45caf6b561a650145fccf667ecb5cace92c1fc3bbcb

Product photography

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019589, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

FLUX 3 Image Klein: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.009000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:28 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: 64376f13e8626feb37db3c138dde381843866e7d58fb87e8076c2fa9003365e4

FLUX 3 Image Klein image SHA 256: bafab00e86d3de8b29c6390b162e99291c84878c546246a95b5d47c6fe352fb9

Typography and layout

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.019575, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 AM. Source

FLUX 3 Image Klein: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.009000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:28 PM. Source

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

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash image SHA 256: be8d86a467f73abfce15cdcce3073acc257baf1c87112c2b53a64b36efde0804

FLUX 3 Image Klein image SHA 256: 8f3f8cc9a1ab3c037f81a05bb3eec4e9a0129bad649347c4f40dc30c2870c0aa

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

n/a

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

not in the arena

n/a

FLUX 3 Image Klein

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

Rank 31 of 108

FLUX 3 Image Klein

Rank 7 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.019

MAI-Image-2.6 Flash

cheap

n/a

FLUX 3 Image Klein

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-2.6 Flash

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.019 per image, 100 images $1.95.

FLUX 3 Image Klein

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.

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-2.6 Flash	FLUX 3 Image Klein
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	67	76
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	54	84
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	90	75
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	52	66
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	74	77
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.019	n/a
100 images	$1.95	n/a
Profile
Released	Jul 31, 2026	Oct 15, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	open
Lifecycle	Preview in Microsoft Foundry	no notice
Access	API	API, local
Parameters	not published	5.6 billion
Largest output	2,359,296 pixels	4K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	n/a	n/a

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

Sources: MAI-Image-2.6 Flash model source, status source (verified Sep 24, 2026) · FLUX 3 Image Klein 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 Flash and FLUX 3 Image Klein from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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