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Midjourney V8.1vs.Qwen Image 3.0 Pro

Which one is better?

In our own test, Qwen Image 3.0 Pro 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: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run
Midjourney V8.135 out of 100
Qwen Image 3.0 Pro: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run
Qwen Image 3.0 Pro62 out of 100

Result for “Infographic”:Qwen Image 3.0 Pro ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate a square German infographic titled SO FUNKTIONIERT PHOTOSYNTHESE. Show exactly four numbered steps in this order: 1 LICHT, 2 WASSER, 3 CO₂, 4 ZUCKER + SAUERSTOFF. Use a clean editorial science style with one plant cross-section, simple arrows, high contrast, legible labels, and no other text.

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

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

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.040000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:04 PM. Source

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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: cf522740817fefe58b263fa9a0d07d249c42211eca7d7c9b013f7145a7d2a8ea

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro image SHA 256: 25a44aae505a9cb8ac370e1df5ee303f1e39116a234249bf89c412dedb9c25d6

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

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.040000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:05 PM. Source

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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: ac36188f88f37f23c2c405355d8dd12594085e1450d732fa419d8cec9a6c598f

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro image SHA 256: edc1b5dfb1984cb0050d213de2360fa44450e49bf89c80a2751b4d6879fb62b6

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

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.040000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:03 PM. Source

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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: 992f2486be40bc361a638b4b266909d334883c05fe4763cf5e243358c688bfdd

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro image SHA 256: a9696d17066bcbc6268a0c8523187b3770f14297fc80767512f1d2a17a17cf8c

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

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.040000, generated Nov 2, 2026, 3:02 PM. Source

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

Midjourney V8.1 image SHA 256: af3d2c5042b108a7fe2eb49bae072d30030e6b6cf814875ef9ce7074ceafc4ce

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro image SHA 256: d2b2069fe00237ab005465a66e608926e3a0e86b827baba80f04ff631e77f298

The numbers at a glance

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

Midjourney V8.1

not in the arena

n/a

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro

not in the arena

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

Midjourney V8.1

Rank 73 of 108

61

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro

Rank 53 of 108

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

Midjourney V8.1

no API price

n/a

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro

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.

Qwen Image 3.0 Pro

Subscription
At Alibaba from ≈ €6.36 a month (Token Plan Individual Lite, with limited credits). 7 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 · 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 V8.1Qwen Image 3.0 Pro
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 1003861
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition1436
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details5071
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency5174
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization3562
API price
Per imagelower is bettern/an/a
100 imagesn/an/a
Profile
ReleasedApr 14, 2026n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryunknown
AccessWeb appAPI, Web app
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output2K2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model47

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) · Qwen Image 3.0 Pro 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 Midjourney V8.1 and Qwen Image 3.0 Pro from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

More comparisons

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