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Head-to-head comparison

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro vs. MAI-Image-2.5 Flash

Compare shared capability tests, arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Research benchmarks, preference arenas, and our n = 1 samples remain separate.

shared result series
6
shared sample prompts
4
latest arena retrieval
2026-09-22

Change image model selection

Specifications and cost

General specifications and task-specific pricing

A model can have one price for generating new images and another for editing. Prices therefore remain tied to the corresponding arena configuration.

Specifications and pricing for Qwen Image 2.0 Pro and MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
AttributeQwen Image 2.0 ProMAI-Image-2.5 Flash
ProviderAlibabaMicrosoft AI
ReleasedApril 2026June 2026
AccessAPIAPI, Web app
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticePreview in Microsoft Foundry Status source
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
ParametersNot published20 billion
Maximum output2,048 × 2,048 pixels1,048,576 pixels
Arena configuration2026-04-22Flash
Text-to-image price$75 per 1,000 images$20 per 1,000 images
Editing price$75 per 1,000 images$20 per 1,000 images
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-09-22
Qwen Image 2.0 ProMAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro$75
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashLower price$20
Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro$75
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashLower price$20

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Prompt adherence and specialist tests

Shared capability benchmarks

Both checkpoints completed the same four Gradually sample tasks. For each task, 30 archived first outputs are ranked in three differently ordered, model-blind passes. The published 0-100 value normalizes the mean rank. It must still be read as an n = 1 sample per model. No exact shared result from the integrated research benchmarks is available for this pair.

Qwen Image 2.0 ProMAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Gradually sample test: Typography and layoutMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro40.2 / 100
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher blind-rank score51.7 / 100
Gradually sample test: Product photographyMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro57.5 / 100
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher blind-rank score81.6 / 100
Gradually sample test: Character and detailMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro48.3 / 100
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher blind-rank score82.8 / 100
Gradually sample test: InfographicMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro44.8 / 100
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher blind-rank score75.9 / 100

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Capability benchmark scores for Qwen Image 2.0 Pro and MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
BenchmarkQwen Image 2.0 ProMAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Gradually sample test: Typography and layout
40.2 / 100
Mean rank: 18.33 (15 / 20 / 20)
Five rubric scores
Headline: 1.67 / 2
Subline: 1.67 / 2
Text control: 1.67 / 2
Visual brief: 1.67 / 2
Layout: 1 / 2
Higher blind-rank score51.7 / 100
Mean rank: 15 (13 / 14 / 18)
Five rubric scores
Headline: 1.67 / 2
Subline: 1.67 / 2
Text control: 1.67 / 2
Visual brief: 1.67 / 2
Layout: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Product photography
57.5 / 100
Mean rank: 13.33 (18 / 6 / 16)
Five rubric scores
Subject: 1.67 / 2
Time: 1.67 / 2
Watch details: 1.33 / 2
Photography: 1.67 / 2
Exclusions: 1.67 / 2
Higher blind-rank score81.6 / 100
Mean rank: 6.33 (1 / 11 / 7)
Five rubric scores
Subject: 1.67 / 2
Time: 1.67 / 2
Watch details: 1.67 / 2
Photography: 1.67 / 2
Exclusions: 1.67 / 2
Gradually sample test: Character and detail
48.3 / 100
Mean rank: 16 (19 / 14 / 15)
Five rubric scores
Scene: 1 / 2
Wardrobe: 1 / 2
Anatomy: 1 / 2
Props: 1 / 2
Environment: 1 / 2
Higher blind-rank score82.8 / 100
Mean rank: 6 (14 / 3 / 1)
Five rubric scores
Scene: 1 / 2
Wardrobe: 1 / 2
Anatomy: 1 / 2
Props: 1 / 2
Environment: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Infographic
44.8 / 100
Mean rank: 17 (16 / 20 / 15)
Five rubric scores
Title: 1 / 2
Sequence: 1.67 / 2
Labels: 1.67 / 2
Diagram: 1.67 / 2
Clarity: 1 / 2
Higher blind-rank score75.9 / 100
Mean rank: 8 (10 / 6 / 8)
Five rubric scores
Title: 1.67 / 2
Sequence: 1.67 / 2
Labels: 1.67 / 2
Diagram: 1.33 / 2
Clarity: 1.33 / 2

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Independent preference tests

Shared arena benchmarks

Artificial Analysis and Arena derive scores from blind comparisons. Raters see outputs for the same prompt and choose the image they prefer. Separate series cover text rendering, photorealism, portraits, art, commercial design, and image editing. Confidence intervals indicate how certain a measured lead is.

2 shared result series
Qwen Image 2.0 ProMAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro1,030 Elo
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashNo clear lead1,033 Elo
Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro1,016 Elo
MAI-Image-2.5 FlashHigher score1,087 Elo

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Arena benchmark scores for Qwen Image 2.0 Pro and MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
BenchmarkQwen Image 2.0 ProMAI-Image-2.5 FlashSource
Text to Image Arena
1,030 Elo
Rank 19, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 5,988 ratings
No clear lead1,033 Elo
Rank 18, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 5,742 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22
Image Editing Arena
1,016 Elo
Rank 31, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 3,572 ratings
Higher score1,087 Elo
Rank 14, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 12,248 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Visual comparison

Sample images

Our images complement preference data, but do not replace it. The prompt, request count, and selection rule match. Provider resolution, quality tier, randomness, and prompt processing remain visible limitations, so this is not a fully controlled laboratory test.

Largely standardized comparison protocol. Both models receive the same archived prompt, exactly one request, and the first result counts. Files are normalized to 1,024 × 1,024 pixels without cropping. Provider resolution, randomness, quality tier, and prompt processing can still differ. These images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Character and detail
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, Character and detail
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Prompt and settings

Create a square cinematic full-body portrait of a fictional bicycle courier waiting under a transparent umbrella at a rainy tram stop in Hamburg at blue hour. She wears a mustard raincoat, navy trousers, red sneakers, a silver helmet, and carries a teal messenger bag. Keep both hands visible, render the bicycle correctly, use realistic wet-street reflections, and include no readable brand names.

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.0-Pro, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 PM. Source
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, image SHA 256: 05f19da3e2d0eedb17d098c1b21abf8c83c663afa59083f0ce7a67a948e8a263

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, request SHA 256: daf42522a323804ef9196abe1efabac816b4b442bec00a91f90b9fdd8d57bae6

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: a2637943faf5ae5210c69f645f96c70ea0a1d267c38a64705810947d2ba78dc8

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Infographic
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, Infographic
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Prompt and settings

Create 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.

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.0-Pro, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:22 PM. Source
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, image SHA 256: 003fbe859de5df62a4f49e3d590c00f5036e208149d81226d1835871fd1e0410

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, request SHA 256: 8afcf2a2661e733ceed209087c6253139db63559bce51a1887e280855549ad48

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: 6af00e502934a24a9e535b3f72d9b1ca545a984fc463e785ffe796a700e015b3

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Product photography
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, Product photography
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Prompt and settings

Create 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.

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.0-Pro, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 PM. Source
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:23 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, image SHA 256: b811a440655cae766c039dfc8f9efb1756be5dce63ef22cd95deb1fe7dab6a3a

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, request SHA 256: e24ea060a669087c82f55e22cc5b361c6b23fb3f61b55d73b67406147d2a570f

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: 9cb652604f7c64d8ebaa4303e924155a1f45581a940045be12775419e635bd8f

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, Typography and layout
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, Typography and layout
Qwen Image 2.0 Pro
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash
Prompt and settings

Create 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.

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID Qwen/Qwen-Image-2.0-Pro, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 PM. Source
MAI-Image-2.5 Flash. Provider Manual import, Official Bing Image Creator web app; MAI-Image-2.5-Flash; one request; 1:1; first result; free guest generation; 2026-08-14; https://www.bing.com/images/create/ai-image-generator, model ID manual export, generated Aug 14, 2026, 4:22 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, image SHA 256: 4eb4915afa71f6a8c76979dcecadd70beabd3869f11ca092a725fd7b6c87b4f2

Qwen Image 2.0 Pro, request SHA 256: dc02f3c7a699f6ddcd1b8a7e82170adae1563e75665d9c3f93965c6a00917ee4

MAI-Image-2.5 Flash, image SHA 256: 185a852b71d68ea37a41091b57f3ec02829b2d1e87fd1045939ffa0f8e4c3cf8

How to read this comparison

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

A higher arena score means this specific configuration was preferred more often in blind comparisons.

Typography, character consistency, local execution, licensing, and price may matter more to your workload than overall visual appeal.

Prices cover 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels using settings documented by Artificial Analysis. Subscriptions and special rates are excluded.

More matchups

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