Image model vs image model
MAI-Image-2.6 vs SRPO
People picked MAI-Image-2.6’s picture over SRPO’s about 88% of the time in blind votes. SRPO costs 1.6× less (≈$0.041 against $0.025 an image), so it wins when “good enough” will do.
At a glance
Longer bar means the bigger number. Elo bars start at 800.
Blind votes · how often people would pick each picture
MAI-Image-2.6 SRPO
Price per image · 1024×1024, lower is better
Text to image · arena Elo, higher is better
Where they sit among all 56 image models
Up and to the left is better pictures for less money. Hover or tap a dot for its numbers, then click it to compare that model with MAI-Image-2.6. Models the arena hasn’t rated yet sit in the grey lane at the bottom.
Which one to pick
Pick MAI-Image-2.6 if
- you want the better picture: in blind votes people chose its image over SRPO’s about 88% of the time
- you need to edit pictures you upload; SRPO only makes new ones here
- your prompts mustn’t be stored: every provider that serves it promises zero data retention
Pick SRPO if
- price matters: 100 images cost $2.50, against $4.06 with MAI-Image-2.6
- you want open weights you can run yourself
The specs
| Spec | MAI-Image-2.6 | SRPO |
|---|---|---|
| Price per image | ≈$0.041 (estimated, medium quality) | $0.025 |
| 100 images | $4.06 | $2.50 |
| Text-to-image Elo | 1166 ±12 (#5 in the arena) | 826 ±20 (#99 in the arena) |
| Editing Elo | 1151 ±12 (#3 in the arena) | Not scored yet |
| Arena votes | 8,342 | 2,154 |
| Edits uploaded pictures | Yes | No |
| Largest size | — | — |
| Open weights | No | Yes |
| Zero data retention | Yes | — |
| Lab | Microsoft AI | Tencent |
| Official name | MAI-Image-2.6 | SRPO |
| Released | October 2026 | September 2025 |
Elo ± is the 95% margin. Prices are for one 1024×1024 image from the Vercel AI Gateway and fal.ai.
Questions
Which is better, MAI-Image-2.6 or SRPO?
People picked MAI-Image-2.6’s picture over SRPO’s about 88% of the time in blind votes. SRPO costs 1.6× less (≈$0.041 against $0.025 an image), so it wins when “good enough” will do.
Which is cheaper, MAI-Image-2.6 or SRPO?
SRPO: $0.025 for a 1024×1024 image, against ≈$0.041 for MAI-Image-2.6. 100 images cost $2.50 and $4.06. MAI-Image-2.6 is billed per token, so its price is an estimate at medium quality.
Can MAI-Image-2.6 and SRPO edit images?
MAI-Image-2.6 can change a picture you upload. SRPO only makes new pictures from a prompt here.
How can I compare MAI-Image-2.6 and SRPO myself?
Open the comparison, type one prompt and both models draw it side by side, each with what it cost and how long it took. You sign up with Google before your first run, and new accounts start with free credit.
Related comparisons
Where the numbers come from
Quality scores are Elo ratings from the Artificial Analysis image arenas, where people vote between two pictures made from the same prompt without knowing which model made which. The vote split comes from the Elo gap. Prices are for one 1024×1024 image from the Vercel AI Gateway and fal.ai; models billed per token are estimated at the quality the arena scored. The sample pictures are our own runs. Updated October 25, 2026.