MiniMax Image-01vs.AuraFlow v0.3

Which one is better?

In our own test, MiniMax Image-01 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.

MiniMax Image-01: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — MiniMax Image-0137 out of 100

AuraFlow v0.3: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — AuraFlow v0.311 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:MiniMax Image-01 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

MiniMax Image-01: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 PM. Source

AuraFlow v0.3: manual, local PyTorch 2.13.0, Diffusers 0.36.0; fal/AuraFlow-v0.3@2cd8588f04c886002be4571697d84654a50e3af3; native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request, first output; steps=50, guidance=3.5, seed=8761677709905735111; mps for text encoder and denoising; cpu for native VAE decode; float16 for text encoder and transformer; float32 for VAE, generated Nov 2, 2026, 6:42 PM. Source

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

MiniMax Image-01 image SHA 256: b99793e66d1eb69880872d1865f25456b6588dc658aa46906b7636da46f63320

AuraFlow v0.3 image SHA 256: 9d0f14ca671e82f18947b9a0d7d7587e372cb4f515ce028434fac4efbd937155

Infographic

MiniMax Image-01: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 PM. Source

AuraFlow v0.3: manual, local PyTorch 2.13.0, Diffusers 0.36.0; fal/AuraFlow-v0.3@2cd8588f04c886002be4571697d84654a50e3af3; native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request, first output; steps=50, guidance=3.5, seed=3793893866514060497; mps for text encoder and denoising; cpu for native VAE decode; float16 for text encoder and transformer; float32 for VAE, generated Nov 2, 2026, 6:47 PM. Source

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

MiniMax Image-01 image SHA 256: 31b08957fb9eda45525c50935fd332cdbe5a5150a4ed57dead5254e667b2b0de

AuraFlow v0.3 image SHA 256: d2a4ecc1c165bc861ca60133d9ff95dc9d5b1d5320763be92c8168ff8c3b8166

Product photography

MiniMax Image-01: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:43 PM. Source

AuraFlow v0.3: manual, local PyTorch 2.13.0, Diffusers 0.36.0; fal/AuraFlow-v0.3@2cd8588f04c886002be4571697d84654a50e3af3; native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request, first output; steps=50, guidance=3.5, seed=4682738952817248216; mps for text encoder and denoising; cpu for native VAE decode; float16 for text encoder and transformer; float32 for VAE, generated Nov 2, 2026, 6:37 PM. Source

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

MiniMax Image-01 image SHA 256: a8986bd9a5e8262b5705f8a7ba5259968371a3bc8e14394b992736f59e45385b

AuraFlow v0.3 image SHA 256: 6889065a427cc29bc1c0a53b0ad0662eb24f4be885148b0ebb8f6d945bbd4749

Typography and layout

MiniMax Image-01: fal, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 PM. Source

AuraFlow v0.3: manual, local PyTorch 2.13.0, Diffusers 0.36.0; fal/AuraFlow-v0.3@2cd8588f04c886002be4571697d84654a50e3af3; native 1024x1024, 1:1; one request, first output; steps=50, guidance=3.5, seed=7437917803059710684; mps for text encoder and denoising; cpu for native VAE decode; float16 for text encoder and transformer; float32 for VAE, generated Nov 2, 2026, 6:31 PM. Source

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

MiniMax Image-01 image SHA 256: 020129f518174bf171032cc5cb7b2234782f4e1d7b1e685d473388094630a107

AuraFlow v0.3 image SHA 256: b6c221541210743564f6921b5e0bbc227c4d2246f6410cb0c1779c7c58d9460d

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

n/a

MiniMax Image-01

not in the arena

n/a

AuraFlow v0.3

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

MiniMax Image-01

Rank 82 of 108

AuraFlow v0.3

Rank 102 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

n/a

MiniMax Image-01

no API price

n/a

AuraFlow v0.3

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.

MiniMax Image-01

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API.
Weights: unknown.

AuraFlow v0.3

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: No API price known. Access: 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 · 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	MiniMax Image-01	AuraFlow v0.3
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	31	12
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	37	11
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	30	15
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	33	16
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	26	7
API price
Per imagelower is better	n/a	n/a
100 images	n/a	n/a
Profile
Released	Feb 28, 2025	n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locally	unknown	open
Access	API	local
Parameters	not published	7 billion
Largest output	not consistently published	1,536 × 1,536 pixels
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: MiniMax Image-01 model source (verified Nov 1, 2026) · AuraFlow v0.3 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 MiniMax Image-01 and AuraFlow v0.3 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

More comparisons

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