Runway Gen-4 Imagevs.Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. Neither is in the arena. Neither has an API price.

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

Runway Gen-4 Image: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Runway Gen-4 Image32 out of 100

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra9 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:Runway Gen-4 Image slightly 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

Both models receive the same archived prompt in 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. The images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Runway Gen-4 Image: manual, 1:1, one request, first output (first top-left candidate of native batch), exact UI model Runway Gen-4 Image, provider-default random seed, native resolution provider default, fast mode not offered, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square cinematic full-body portrait of a fictional bicycle courier waiting u 715099.png, source 1080x1080, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 10:33 PM. Source

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra: manual, 1:1, one request, first output, one output observed, exact UI model Firefly Image 4 Ultra, provider-default random seed, native 2K square output, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square cinematic full-body portrait of a fictional bicycle courier waiting u 33523.jpg, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:42 PM. Source

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

Runway Gen-4 Image image SHA 256: 1235971dc0ffbe1e82ce305c9e7608d10a9b604697ec359a332cd4f2d931db71

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra image SHA 256: 6a981030438be43a369ba8440c0dbbe43576a83dadc4e61a48a3dce0abc1e69c

Infographic

Runway Gen-4 Image: manual, 1:1, one request, first output (first top-left candidate of native batch), exact UI model Runway Gen-4 Image, provider-default random seed, native resolution provider default, fast mode not offered, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square German infographic titled SO FUNKTIONIERT PHOTOSYNTHESE. Show exactly 715099.png, source 1080x1080, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 10:33 PM. Source

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra: manual, 1:1, one request, first output, one output observed, exact UI model Firefly Image 4 Ultra, provider-default random seed, native 2K square output, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square German infographic titled SO FUNKTIONIERT PHOTOSYNTHESE. Show exactly 33523.jpg, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:42 PM. Source

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

Runway Gen-4 Image image SHA 256: 13955a0ff71a8e54cde4d84a78ace5dba2bc64b8df79c939bffabca22620480c

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra image SHA 256: 7a306acea26f85b98aaebf8e79efa9c878a68ae84617f7c3cf47339980ecbca8

Product photography

Runway Gen-4 Image: manual, 1:1, one request, first output (first top-left candidate of native batch), exact UI model Runway Gen-4 Image, provider-default random seed, native resolution provider default, fast mode not offered, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square premium product photograph of a brushed titanium wristwatch standing 715099.png, source 1080x1080, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 10:31 PM. Source

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra: manual, 1:1, one request, first output, one output observed, exact UI model Firefly Image 4 Ultra, provider-default random seed, native 2K square output, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square premium product photograph of a brushed titanium wristwatch standing 33523.jpg, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:42 PM. Source

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

Runway Gen-4 Image image SHA 256: 24a4b7e7c9ac88d5e5c7a508aca6c7de29c4ca9e55c0d17623005dbe3e6aaadd

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra image SHA 256: 888b218766947c6a7f58e163f0f42dc660bd1110b7bf9bbb536881e486d8282c

Typography and layout

Runway Gen-4 Image: manual, 1:1, one request, first output (first top-left candidate of native batch), exact UI model Runway Gen-4 Image, provider-default random seed, native resolution provider default, fast mode not offered, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square editorial poster for an imaginary night train called MONDFALTER. Show 715099.png, source 1080x1080, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 10:31 PM. Source

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra: manual, 1:1, one request, first output, one output observed, exact UI model Firefly Image 4 Ultra, provider-default random seed, native 2K square output, no reference images, no selected effects, default content settings, source UI file Firefly_Create a square editorial poster for an imaginary night train called MONDFALTER. Show 33523.jpg, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:42 PM. Source

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

Runway Gen-4 Image image SHA 256: 73ca9e031f19143e8227ccfb5d651cd72eed23184d7cf7b980890310d55f7a8d

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra image SHA 256: 8c05d93d71bf08caa02caa5b00463be262ab395ec2350ec26944460e34c0d98f

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

n/a

Runway Gen-4 Image

not in the arena

n/a

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Runway Gen-4 Image

Rank 61 of 74

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra

Rank 69 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

n/a

Runway Gen-4 Image

no API price

n/a

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra

no API price

Ranks among the 22 image models with an arena rating and the 74 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.

Runway Gen-4 Image

Subscription: No Runway subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.39 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 19 plans in Germany.
Via API: No API price known. Access: API, Web app.
Weights: unknown.

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: No API price known. Access: 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 1, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (34 days old)

All data side by side

The better value is bold. For ratings only when the gap is clear.

Kennzahl	Runway Gen-4 Image	Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra
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	25	16
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	32	9
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	20	6
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	22	43
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	27	8
API price
Per imagelower is better	n/a	n/a
100 images	n/a	n/a
Profile
Released	n/a	Apr 24, 2025
Weightsopen means: runs locally	unknown	unknown
Access	API, Web app	Web app
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	not consistently published	not consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	19	n/a

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

Sources: Runway Gen-4 Image model source (verified Nov 1, 2026) · Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra 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 Runway Gen-4 Image and Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

Compare another matchup

First image modelSecond image model

More matchups

Compare Runway Gen-4 Image and Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra with other important image models.

View the complete image model comparison

Same prompt, two images

The numbers at a glance

Runway Gen-4 Image

Adobe Firefly Image 4 Ultra

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

Compare another matchup

Related image model comparisons