GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst in the AI Image Arena
OpenAI · released 2026-11-04 · voting now
GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst by OpenAI is competing in the BudgetPixel AI Image Arena with 8 blind votes so far; it is ranked once it reaches 40 votes in a category.
Measured on the arena’s own suite at default settings, GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst generates a 1:1 image in 31.5s median for 120 credits ($0.12), with a 14.7% failure rate across 34 attempts. It refused 4 prompts on content-policy grounds, which the arena records separately from failures. 0 of the 49 suite prompts are rendered below; each one opens in the workshop with the prompt prefilled.
Rank by category
- Prompt adherenceCollecting2/40 votes1732 (1500–1902) · 2 votes · 100% wins
- Illustration & animeCollecting2/40 votes1655 (1500–1792) · 2 votes · 50% wins
- Portrait & fashionCollecting1/40 votes1520 · 1 votes · 100% wins
- Architecture & interiorsCollecting2/40 votes1505 · 2 votes · 50% wins
- Product & commercialCollecting1/40 votes1491 · 1 votes · 0% wins
All arena samples
0 prompts whose voting has closed, rendered at default settings with the prompt sent verbatim; 29 more are rendered and still being voted on — they appear here as their prompts retire. Click to enlarge; “Try” opens the workshop with the prompt and model prefilled.
29 samples are rendered and in voting now. Samples become public here once their prompt retires from the rotation (about five prompts a day).
Record against each rival
| Opponent | Votes | Won | Lost | Ties | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FLUX 3 Image | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% | 2/20 for a compare page |
| GPT Image 2.5 Flare | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% | 1/20 for a compare page |
| GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 1/20 for a compare page |
| Ideogram v4.5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 1/20 for a compare page |
| Kling v3 Omni | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 1/20 for a compare page |
| Qwen Image 3.0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 1/20 for a compare page |
| Seedream 5.0 Flash | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 1/20 for a compare page |
From the BudgetPixel blog
- The best AI image generators in 2026The ranking these blind votes produce, category by category, with what each model costs.
- The best AI video generators, testedThe same prompts on the leading video models, side by side.
- Kling 4.0 vs Seedance 2.5, testedThe same four prompts on both video models, one take each, side by side.
- NightCafe vs BudgetPixel for AI artistsCommunity, challenges, models and the price of a picture, compared.
FAQ
- Is GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst any good?
- Not enough votes to say yet: a model needs 40 votes in a category before the BudgetPixel AI Image Arena ranks it, and GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst has 8 so far.
- How does GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst rank in the AI image arena?
- GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst is still collecting votes in the BudgetPixel AI Image Arena and is ranked once it has 40 in a category. 8 votes so far.
- How fast is GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst?
- GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst takes 31.5s median per 1:1 image at default settings, measured across the BudgetPixel AI Image Arena prompt suite.
- How much does GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst cost per image?
- GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst costs 120 credits per 1:1 image at default settings on BudgetPixel, about $0.12 (1,000 credits are one dollar). Other resolutions and quality tiers price differently in the workshop and API.
- Can I try GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst with these prompts?
- Yes. Every sample on this page has a “Try” link that opens the BudgetPixel workshop with the exact prompt and GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst preselected. GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst is also available through the developer API and MCP.
See also: the full leaderboard · price index
Badge for OpenAI
Badges are issued for ranks with at least 200 votes whose rating interval clears the next model. Until then the badge shows “Competing”.
<a href="https://budgetpixel.com/arena/models/gpt-image-2.6-sunburst"><img src="https://budgetpixel.com/arena/badge/gpt-image-2.6-sunburst.svg" alt="GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst on BudgetPixel Arena"></a>