AI image model comparison

MAI-Image-2.5 vs GPT-5.4 Image 2

Image quality, cost per image, and editing features compared side by side. Or skip the guesswork and generate with both.

microsoft logo

Microsoft

MAI-Image-2.5

Microsoft AI's MAI-Image-2.5 is a high-quality image generation model available via Azure AI Foundry.

Per image
Not available
Output / 1M
$47
Image Elo
1226

[GPT-5.4](https://openrouter.ai/openai/gpt-5.4) Image 2 combines OpenAI's GPT-5.4 model with state-of-the-art image generation capabilities from GPT Image 2.

Per image
Not available
Output / 1M
$30
Image Elo
Not available

At a glance

Quick verdict

Which model wins on the things that matter most when you're making images.

Cheaper per image

Not available

Per-image price is not available

Better image quality

Not available

Not enough arena data

Better at editing

Not available

Only one editing score is available

Newer release

microsoft logo

MAI-Image-2.5

Released June 2, 2026

Quality

Image quality rankings

Elo ratings from Design Arena, where people vote between two anonymous images made from the same prompt. Higher is better.

Image generation

microsoft logoMAI-Image-2.5#6 · 54.2% wins1226
openai logoGPT-5.4 Image 2Not available

Image editing

microsoft logoMAI-Image-2.5#5 · 55% wins1230
openai logoGPT-5.4 Image 2Not available

Graphic design

microsoft logoMAI-Image-2.5#6 · 52.3% wins1210
openai logoGPT-5.4 Image 2Not available

Logos

microsoft logoMAI-Image-2.5#5 · 53.5% wins1249
openai logoGPT-5.4 Image 2Not available

Pricing

MAI-Image-2.5 vs GPT-5.4 Image 2 price per image

What each image actually costs, plus the underlying API rates. Cheaper option highlighted.

Metricmicrosoft logoMAI-Image-2.5openai logoGPT-5.4 Image 2
Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024)Not availableNot available
Image outputPer 1M image tokens$47$30
Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image usesNot availableNot available
Prompt textPer 1M input tokens$5$8

What it costs in practice

Estimated totals at standard resolution.

Single image

1 image

microsoft logoMAI-Image-2.5Not available
openai logoGPT-5.4 Image 2Not available

Social media batch

50 images

microsoft logoMAI-Image-2.5Not available
openai logoGPT-5.4 Image 2Not available

Product catalog

1,000 images

microsoft logoMAI-Image-2.5Not available
openai logoGPT-5.4 Image 2Not available

Specs

Inputs, outputs, and limits

What each model accepts, what it gives back, and how long your prompt can be.

Metricmicrosoft logoMAI-Image-2.5openai logoGPT-5.4 Image 2
AcceptsImage, TextFile, Image, Text
ProducesImageImage, Text
Max prompt lengthText plus reference images4K tokens272K tokens
Reasoning stepNoOptional
Release dateJune 2, 2026April 21, 2026

Features

Supported features

Creative controls available for each model.

Metricmicrosoft logoMAI-Image-2.5openai logoGPT-5.4 Image 2
Image editingAccepts reference or source imagesSupportedSupported
Text alongside imagesCan explain or caption what it madeNot supportedSupported
Thinks before drawingPlans the image with a reasoning stepNot supportedSupported
Reproducible seedsSame seed, same imageNot supportedSupported
Temperature controlTrade consistency for varietySupportedNot supported

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can MAI-Image-2.5 and GPT-5.4 Image 2 edit existing images?

Yes. Both accept reference images, so you can upload a photo and ask for changes like a new background, different lighting, or added text.

Can I use MAI-Image-2.5 and GPT-5.4 Image 2 at the same time?

Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple image models at once, so you can see MAI-Image-2.5 and GPT-5.4 Image 2 results side by side and keep the one you like.

microsoft logoopenai logo

Why choose? Generate with both.

Send one prompt to MAI-Image-2.5 and GPT-5.4 Image 2 at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.