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AI image model comparison

MiniMax H3 Image vs Flux 2

Both are open-weights models that Mage runs on its own GPUs. MiniMax H3 Image is the newer one, released by MiniMax on November 10, 2026, and Arena has not ranked it yet, while Flux 2 Dev, the version of Flux 2 that Mage runs, ranks 40th of 84 for text-to-image. On Mage, MiniMax H3 Image renders larger, up to 4K against 2K, takes up to 16 input images against 3, and costs fewer Gems; Flux 2 runs unlimited from the Basic plan, against the Pro plan for MiniMax H3 Image.

Try MiniMax H3 ImageTry Flux 2

Side by side

Prices, plans, resolutions, ratios, and reference limits are Mage's own, for the model compared. Makers, release dates, search grounding, and watermarks are what each maker publishes. Arena ranks come from its text-to-image and text-rendering and image-edit boards of November 7, 2026. Arena ranks each open-weights model as Arena runs it, not as Mage hosts it. "Not ranked" means the board does not list the version Mage runs.

MiniMax H3 ImageFlux 2
Made byMiniMax SourceBlack Forest Labs Source
Where it runsOpen weights, hosted on Mage's GPUsOpen weights, hosted on Mage's GPUs
ReleasedNovember 10, 2026 SourceNovember 25, 2025 Source
Price on Mage, from15 Gems ($0.015) per image40 Gems ($0.04) per image
Unlimited on Mage fromProBasic
Top resolution on Mage4K2K
Aspect ratios on Mage21:9, 16:9, 3:2, 5:4, 1:1, 4:5, 2:3, 9:16, 9:2121:9, 16:9, 3:2, 5:4, 1:1, 4:5, 2:3, 9:16, 9:21
Reference images on Mage, up to163
Search groundingNone documented SourceNone documented Source
Arena text-to-imageNot ranked Source#40 of 84 Source
Arena text renderingNot ranked Source#33 of 84 Source
Arena image editNot ranked Source#47 of 63 Source
WatermarkNone stated SourceA sample pixel-layer watermark in its reference code Source

Last checked November 2026

Which should you use?

Choose MiniMax H3 Image for

  • 4K images rendered directly, with no upscaler
  • Edits that combine up to 16 reference images
  • A lower price: 15 Gems an image on Mage

Choose Flux 2 for

  • A model with independent rankings: it is on every Arena board we checked
  • Complex typography, infographics, and UI mockups, which Black Forest Labs built the Flux 2 family for
  • Unlimited images from the Basic plan

Image quality

Arena's text-to-image, text-rendering, and image-edit boards of November 7, 2026, do not list MiniMax H3 Image yet. There, Flux 2 Dev, the version of Flux 2 that Mage runs, ranks 40th of 84 for text-to-image and 47th of 63 for image editing, on scores not marked preliminary.

MiniMax released MiniMax H3 Image on November 10, 2026 and says it goes beyond the familiar "AI look", with intricate detail and lifelike realism. It also calls its instruction following the strongest among open-source models. Both are the maker's own claims, not independent votes. Black Forest Labs released Flux 2 on November 25, 2025, with Flux 2 Dev as an open-weights model of the family.

Text in images

MiniMax's showcase for MiniMax H3 Image includes text with reasoning behind it: logic puzzles in Chinese and in English, worked through and solved on the board. Arena's text-rendering board does not list MiniMax H3 Image yet, so there is no independent score for its lettering. There, Flux 2 Dev ranks 33rd, and Black Forest Labs says the Flux 2 family handles complex typography, infographics, and UI mockups with legible fine text.

Edits and reference images

MiniMax H3 Image makes and edits images in the same model, and on Mage it takes up to 16 input images at once. MiniMax's own showcase composes an empty room and a set of furniture pieces, each its own reference image, into one furnished living room, and turns an untextured grey render of a scene into a photographic film still.

Flux 2 takes up to 3 input images, enough to edit one image or combine a few.

Resolution and shape

MiniMax built MiniMax H3 Image to render its full size directly, with no upscaler, at about the same pixel count in every aspect ratio. On Mage that full size is 4K, and 2K is there for quicker drafts.

Flux 2 renders up to 2K. Both offer the same 9 aspect ratios on Mage, from 9:21 to 21:9.

Price on Mage

MiniMax H3 Image starts at 15 Gems (about $0.015) per image on Mage and runs unlimited from the Pro plan. Flux 2 starts at 40 Gems (about $0.04) per image on Mage and runs unlimited from the Basic plan.

MiniMax H3 Image's starting price and unlimited plan are for 2K: 4K images cost more Gems and run unlimited from a higher plan, and each input image you attach adds to the price.

A little more clarity

Questions

Is MiniMax H3 Image better than Flux 2?
There is no independent vote yet: Arena has not ranked MiniMax H3 Image, and Flux 2 Dev ranks 40th on Arena's text-to-image board. On Mage, MiniMax H3 Image renders larger, takes more input images, and costs fewer Gems per image, and Flux 2 runs unlimited from the Basic plan. Run the same prompt on both and keep the better image.
Is MiniMax H3 Image on Arena?
Not yet. Arena's text-to-image, text-rendering, and image-edit boards of November 7, 2026, do not list MiniMax H3 Image, which MiniMax released on November 10, 2026. Flux 2 is on each of them.
Are both open weights?
Yes. MiniMax publishes MiniMax H3 Image's weights on Hugging Face under the MiniMax-H3-Image Community License Agreement, and Black Forest Labs publishes the Flux 2 Dev weights there too. Mage runs both on its own GPUs, so there is nothing to install or rent.
Which costs less on Mage?
MiniMax H3 Image starts at 15 Gems (about $0.015) per image on Mage and runs unlimited from the Pro plan. Flux 2 starts at 40 Gems (about $0.04) per image on Mage and runs unlimited from the Basic plan.
Can I use both on Mage?
Yes. Both run in the same prompt box on Mage, on the same Gems and plans, and through the Mage API and the Mage MCP server for Claude and ChatGPT, so you can try a prompt on each and keep the better image.

Try MiniMax H3 Image and Flux 2 on one prompt

Run the same prompt on both in Mage's prompt box and keep the better image. New accounts get 300 free Gems.

Try MiniMax H3 Image