Image Battle
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Head to head

MAI-Image-2.6 vs Nano Banana 2

MAI-Image-2.6 wins 59% of 86 direct comparisons against Nano Banana 2.

Both models received the same prompts. Wins and losses count only images judged together in the same call, the same comparisons the leaderboard Elo is fitted from.

MAI-Image-2.6
Microsoft
1145 Elo ±59
Rank #10 of 42 · median 69s per image · 15 refused
43–15–28
wins – ties – losses for MAI-Image-2.6
86 direct comparisons
Elo expectation: MAI-Image-2.6 wins 54%
Nano Banana 2
Google
1116 Elo ±33
Rank #12 of 42 · median 16s per image

By category

CategoryMAI-Image-2.6Nano Banana 2Direct record
Anime & Cartoon Style 1297 1202 5–0–1
Architecture & Interiors 1138 1069 5–2–2
Complex Scenes 1122 1175 5–0–4
Ghibli style 1490 1168 1–0–0
Graphic Design 1048 1072 4–2–4
Hands & Anatomy 1115 1096 4–2–4
Photorealistic People & Portraits 1115 1065 6–1–4
Surreal & Creative Prompts 1289 1177 4–4–2
Text in Images 1090 1151 4–1–5
Ultra Hard 1273 1128 5–3–2

By criterion

CriterionMAI-Image-2.6Nano Banana 2
Prompt adherence 1110 1112
Technical quality 1102 1080
Artistic merit 1157 1093
Detail execution 1125 1116
Realism & coherence 1115 1074

Side by side

Anime & Cartoon Style An anime scene of a character eating ramen at a small shop counter (slice-of-life style).
An anime scene of a character eating ramen at a small shop counter (slice-of-life style). - MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 9 / 10 This is the strongest combination of expressive characterization, believable daily-life surroundings, and clearly resolved eating action. It ranks 1st of 13, with only small rendering regularities keeping it below a flawless score.
An anime scene of a character eating ramen at a small shop counter (slice-of-life style). - Nano Banana 2
Nano Banana 2 7 / 10 This is a competent and richly populated scene, but its visual congestion limits both realism and compositional refinement. It ranks 6th of 13, below the green-hoodie image's more focused emotional presentation.
Architecture & Interiors A traditional Moroccan riad courtyard with detailed zellige tilework, flowing fountain, citrus trees, and ornate woodwork. Morning light casting intricate shadow patterns.
A traditional Moroccan riad courtyard with detailed zellige tilework, flowing fountain, citrus trees, and ornate woodwork. Morning light casting intricate shadow patterns. - MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 9 / 10 Ranks 2nd of 13, offering the set's most sumptuous and consistently detailed architectural presentation. Slightly more synthetic fountain ornament and a busier composition place it just behind image 3967.
A traditional Moroccan riad courtyard with detailed zellige tilework, flowing fountain, citrus trees, and ornate woodwork. Morning light casting intricate shadow patterns. - Nano Banana 2
Nano Banana 2 6 / 10 Ranks ninth of 13, offering competent architecture and an appealing domestic atmosphere. The subdued fountain action and repeated small-scale ornament prevent the image from achieving the stronger examples' fidelity.
Complex Scenes An astronaut and a deep-sea diver playing chess together inside a submarine.
An astronaut and a deep-sea diver playing chess together inside a submarine. - MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 5 / 10 Ranked 10th of 13, this is polished at the object level but substantially compromised by its setting contradiction. Strong material rendering does not resolve the image's central environmental inconsistency.
An astronaut and a deep-sea diver playing chess together inside a submarine. - Nano Banana 2
Nano Banana 2 8 / 10 Ranked 3rd of 13, this combines excellent prompt communication with unusually engaging character interaction. Small rendering ambiguities prevent it from reaching the top pair's level of refinement.
Ghibli style A child and elder tending oversized vegetables in a garden. Reproduce the artistic style of Studio Ghibli, with their distinctive character proportions and detailed plant illustrations.
A child and elder tending oversized vegetables in a garden. Reproduce the artistic style of Studio Ghibli, with their distinctive character proportions and detailed plant illustrations. - MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 9 / 10 Ranked 1st of 13: this offers the best balance of faithful character design, convincing gardening gestures, and richly differentiated botany. Its consistency across anatomy, materials, composition, and emotional tone makes it the strongest complete interpretation.
A child and elder tending oversized vegetables in a garden. Reproduce the artistic style of Studio Ghibli, with their distinctive character proportions and detailed plant illustrations. - Nano Banana 2
Nano Banana 2 8 / 10 Ranked 5th of 13: excellent emotional storytelling and environmental detail make this one of the stronger results. Minor contact compression and its more uniformly graphic finish keep it behind the most atmospheric entries.
Graphic Design Instagram post graphic: 'SPRING SALE 30% OFF'. Floral background, pastel colors, elegant serif font style visually integrated.
Instagram post graphic: 'SPRING SALE 30% OFF'. Floral background, pastel colors, elegant serif font style visually integrated. - MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 9 / 10 A near-professional watercolor advertisement with correct wording, excellent spacing, and a cohesive palette. It ranks just behind the leading designs because the offer and call to action are slightly less visually forceful.
Instagram post graphic: 'SPRING SALE 30% OFF'. Floral background, pastel colors, elegant serif font style visually integrated. - Nano Banana 2
Nano Banana 2 6 / 10 Ranks tenth because visual density and unsupported promotional additions reduce its usefulness for the specific brief. It is competent and colorful, but less focused than the stronger alternatives.
Hands & Anatomy A person typing on a laptop keyboard, showing both hands on the keys.
A person typing on a laptop keyboard, showing both hands on the keys. - MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 3 / 10 Ranked 13th of 13, this is the weakest result because of its critical extra-hand problem. Attractive lighting and respectable textures cannot rescue the anatomical incoherence and distorted laptop.
A person typing on a laptop keyboard, showing both hands on the keys. - Nano Banana 2
Nano Banana 2 8 / 10 Ranked 4th of 13, this is one of the strongest complete scenes, combining credible typing with excellent environmental storytelling. Its small hand and keyboard imperfections place it below the leading close-ups.
Photorealistic People & Portraits A 4K photo of an old fisherman with a weathered face and a pipe, grinning.
A 4K photo of an old fisherman with a weathered face and a pipe, grinning. - MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 9 / 10 Rank 2 of 13: one of the most believable and characterful photographs in the set. Its slightly softer finish is less immediately striking than the winner, but its natural aging treatment is excellent.
A 4K photo of an old fisherman with a weathered face and a pipe, grinning. - Nano Banana 2
Nano Banana 2 6 / 10 Ranks ninth because its ambitious setting exceeds its consistency of execution. Strong atmosphere and prompt coverage cannot fully compensate for the weaker hands and background construction.
Surreal & Creative Prompts An elephant made of clouds floating in a sunset sky, rendered in a surrealist photorealistic style with ethereal golden lighting and atmospheric depth.
An elephant made of clouds floating in a sunset sky, rendered in a surrealist photorealistic style with ethereal golden lighting and atmospheric depth. - MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 9 / 10 Ranks first for the strongest combination of complete cloud construction, clear suspension, coherent lighting, and environmental depth. Minor texture repetition and slightly solid feet keep it just below flawless.
An elephant made of clouds floating in a sunset sky, rendered in a surrealist photorealistic style with ethereal golden lighting and atmospheric depth. - Nano Banana 2
Nano Banana 2 6 / 10 Ranks ninth of 13 because its polished landscape cannot compensate for the incomplete cloud construction. It succeeds as a flying elephant with cloudy accents rather than the requested elephant made of clouds.
Text in Images A digital clock display showing the time "10:45" in LED-style numerals, photorealistic render.
A digital clock display showing the time "10:45" in LED-style numerals, photorealistic render. - MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 4 / 10 This ranks 12th of 13 because the minute glyphs fail the exact-time requirement despite an appealing scene. The central numerical defect outweighs its competent lighting and composition.
A digital clock display showing the time "10:45" in LED-style numerals, photorealistic render. - Nano Banana 2
Nano Banana 2 9 / 10 Ranks third of 13 for accurate time rendering and highly convincing bedroom photography. Slightly weaker small-label execution places it below the two strongest images.
Ultra Hard A realistic astronaut being ridden by a horse, photorealistic depiction in outer space with accurate lighting and proportions
A realistic astronaut being ridden by a horse, photorealistic depiction in outer space with accurate lighting and proportions - MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 9 / 10 First overall: this is the clearest free-floating realization of the requested horse-on-astronaut reversal, with excellent lighting and material separation. Minor compression in the horse's tucked legs prevents a flawless score.
A realistic astronaut being ridden by a horse, photorealistic depiction in outer space with accurate lighting and proportions - Nano Banana 2
Nano Banana 2 4 / 10 Ranks 7th of 12 because it attempts the correct reversal in a convincing orbital environment. Severe hybrid anatomy prevents the image from succeeding as a realistic depiction despite its considerable visual detail.

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