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Head-to-head comparison

Seedream 4.0 vs. Luma UNI 1 Max

Compare arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Text-to-image generation and image editing are never blended into an artificial overall score.

2

shared result series

4

shared sample prompts

2026-08-15

latest arena retrieval

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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 Seedream 4.0 and Luma UNI 1 Max
AttributeSeedream 4.0Luma UNI 1 Max
ProviderByteDanceLuma Labs
ReleasedSeptember 2025May 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, Web app
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticeNo separate lifecycle notice
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
ParametersNot publishedNot published
Maximum output4K2K
Arena configurationNo separate configuration namedMax
Text-to-image price$30 per 1,000 images$100 per 1,000 images
Editing price$30 per 1,000 images$100 per 1,000 images
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
Seedream 4.0Luma UNI 1 Max
Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Seedream 4.0$30Lower price
Luma UNI 1 Max$100
Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Seedream 4.0$30Lower price
Luma UNI 1 Max$100

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
Seedream 4.0Luma UNI 1 Max
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Seedream 4.01,221 Elo
Luma UNI 1 Max1,226 EloNo clear arena lead
Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Seedream 4.01,185 Elo
Luma UNI 1 Max1,219 EloHigher arena score
Arena benchmark scores for Seedream 4.0 and Luma UNI 1 Max
BenchmarkSeedream 4.0Luma UNI 1 MaxSource
Text to Image Arena
1,221 Elo
Rank 17, 95% confidence interval: ±11, 4,014 ratings
1,226 EloNo clear arena lead
Rank 14, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 4,073 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Image Editing Arena
1,185 Elo
Rank 25, 95% confidence interval: ±7, 11,378 ratings
1,219 EloHigher arena score
Rank 12, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 6,178 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15

Visual comparison

Sample images from documented runs

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

Seedream 4.0, Character and detail
Seedream 4.0
Luma UNI 1 Max, Character and detail
Luma UNI 1 Max
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.

Seedream 4.0. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID ByteDance-Seed/Seedream-4.0, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:24 PM. Source
Luma UNI 1 Max. Provider fal.ai, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), model ID luma/agent/uni-1/v1/max, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:47 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Seedream 4.0, image SHA 256: 81b5aa023fa252472878015448b5ee1cefcbc61844dd6cff98997685d7ab1511

Seedream 4.0, request SHA 256: 84dbdb6b71e48c5944f2d15aa4069a994358e4f10f81fa84cdef4974deee2317

Luma UNI 1 Max, image SHA 256: 8034ca5627e1a256cdf1d06fc87b583d91d971d02edc9af7df52cd6721d3ea9c

Luma UNI 1 Max, request SHA 256: 81275c8abc4186d3dd5205d2f141c1ac6765e2217b9c7ea23caa622a232ab8a5

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Seedream 4.0, Infographic
Seedream 4.0
Luma UNI 1 Max, Infographic
Luma UNI 1 Max
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.

Seedream 4.0. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID ByteDance-Seed/Seedream-4.0, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:25 PM. Source
Luma UNI 1 Max. Provider fal.ai, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), model ID luma/agent/uni-1/v1/max, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:49 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

Seedream 4.0, image SHA 256: 63dcddf4bf7bb58ea0c67eea96f2c71834158568f29ed3b7f2523b56a91e6526

Seedream 4.0, request SHA 256: 3cdb665a8b6ba558cedce86e937f28b5daa3b3e7a8af57fe9562e13cab212c02

Luma UNI 1 Max, image SHA 256: 36dea214eb680804d4fea089eec3d4f10a4bf7b7a71c7a80f92313a37e8c2f73

Luma UNI 1 Max, request SHA 256: b99624302d834bf44e21100914a69d38225d34be413ad69decf73e2ad3a70c71

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Seedream 4.0, Product photography
Seedream 4.0
Luma UNI 1 Max, Product photography
Luma UNI 1 Max
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.

Seedream 4.0. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID ByteDance-Seed/Seedream-4.0, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:24 PM. Source
Luma UNI 1 Max. Provider fal.ai, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), model ID luma/agent/uni-1/v1/max, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:43 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Seedream 4.0, image SHA 256: 1fbad61d03b05e6cd8523e76409983e86c11c74fca2fa1a14d20f07f0d801519

Seedream 4.0, request SHA 256: 55ce222b205d1832a107db6db7f13941b81298037e4bdf6c0d25054a1dc96c7c

Luma UNI 1 Max, image SHA 256: 4890cdf8b858c5740124e3b2ba038b73f6a35decc7e3e3d920890462b6e89c2b

Luma UNI 1 Max, request SHA 256: 3f4a422b01687a8af7e9ef60e1b5a15251459af4c4ab6a6318a13f5b415a2b54

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Seedream 4.0, Typography and layout
Seedream 4.0
Luma UNI 1 Max, Typography and layout
Luma UNI 1 Max
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.

Seedream 4.0. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID ByteDance-Seed/Seedream-4.0, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:01 PM. Source
Luma UNI 1 Max. Provider fal.ai, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), model ID luma/agent/uni-1/v1/max, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:40 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

Seedream 4.0, image SHA 256: 029be40f71522352246ad0de0de2e6c1ed2e45608f59c4f0e1be87b4dc2353c1

Seedream 4.0, request SHA 256: b2353ce00afff8f1dad912b51b418a7ea7da741b587814625f1ca7fc492b02c5

Luma UNI 1 Max, image SHA 256: d2a6162d544def0a283ed62f939b33252636d296a21142111851ecdedd2989d3

Luma UNI 1 Max, request SHA 256: 31b38cf7833b7ed265ab47297533faea410b463cf427ee9c8bfc269ed47d0ddb

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.

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