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Midjourney V8.1vs.FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview

Which one is better?

In our own test, FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview leads. Neither is in the arena. Neither has an API price.

Test images

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

Midjourney V8.1: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
Midjourney V8.114 out of 100
FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview56 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview 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.

Typography and layout

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 PM. Source

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview: manual, BFL API /v1/flux-2-klein-9b-preview (distinct preview checkpoint); native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request per attempt; two submissions; original signed output expired after local retrieval failure; first output of technical repeat with unchanged prompt and seed; seed=4230828387; output_format=png; no reference images or negative prompt, generated Nov 2, 2026, 7:06 PM. Source

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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: af3d2c5042b108a7fe2eb49bae072d30030e6b6cf814875ef9ce7074ceafc4ce

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview image SHA 256: 6cc5a70118def87bf0ec737b20c9dd56c3a7dd3ec776e007b8a5fdadd4c27849

Product photography

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 PM. Source

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview: manual, BFL API /v1/flux-2-klein-9b-preview (distinct preview checkpoint); native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request, first output; seed=132780547; output_format=png; no reference images or negative prompt; first provider output recovered by GET after local regional API validation stopped polling; no regeneration, generated Nov 2, 2026, 7:04 PM. Source

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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: 992f2486be40bc361a638b4b266909d334883c05fe4763cf5e243358c688bfdd

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview image SHA 256: b1f17cd46fcd8f8b862da7c59900c1616ac3db8052d92a344720b7dc7fcb75ea

Character and detail

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 PM. Source

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview: manual, BFL API /v1/flux-2-klein-9b-preview (distinct preview checkpoint); native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request, first output; seed=3453819885; output_format=png; no reference images or negative prompt, generated Nov 2, 2026, 7:05 PM. Source

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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: cf522740817fefe58b263fa9a0d07d249c42211eca7d7c9b013f7145a7d2a8ea

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview image SHA 256: 83bd206858a0d2bfab8a9d3bb7d90de6ff568017464a8168726175a6b324a90c

Infographic

Midjourney V8.1: manual, one request, first output, Midjourney V8.1 Standard, 1:1, 1024x1024, four candidates, stylize 100, weird 0, variety 0, Raw off, personalization off, Relax mode, no reference image, no negative prompt, generated Aug 16, 2026, 12:19 PM. Source

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview: manual, BFL API /v1/flux-2-klein-9b-preview (distinct preview checkpoint); native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request, first output; seed=1679342581; output_format=png; no reference images or negative prompt, generated Nov 2, 2026, 7:06 PM. Source

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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: ac36188f88f37f23c2c405355d8dd12594085e1450d732fa419d8cec9a6c598f

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview image SHA 256: deb8da580546e3d22e20222c5c7e8c1a95197f27be4bff0b064eba603bda7b47

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
n/a

Midjourney V8.1

not in the arena

n/a

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
38

Midjourney V8.1

Rank 73 of 108

62

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview

Rank 48 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
n/a

Midjourney V8.1

no API price

n/a

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview

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.

Midjourney V8.1

Subscription
At Midjourney from ≈ €10.60 a month (Midjourney Basic). 4 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: Web app.

FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview

Subscription
n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
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 · 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.

KennzahlMidjourney V8.1FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is bettern/an/a
Arena rankn/an/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer ratingn/an/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1003862
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition1456
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details5073
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency5145
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization3575
API price
Per imagelower is bettern/an/a
100 imagesn/an/a
Profile
ReleasedApr 14, 2026n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryunknown
Lifecycleno noticePreview API route with newer quality/speed improvements; the stable 9B route remains separate
AccessWeb appAPI
Parametersnot published9 billion
Largest output2Knot consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model4n/a

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

Sources: Midjourney V8.1 model source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview 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 Midjourney V8.1 and FLUX.2 Klein 9B Preview from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

More comparisons

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