GPT Image 2.5 Flare vs Sunburst
The common image benchmark is supplemented by a shared-source product edit chain and a two-step identity test. Both variants start from the exact same generated reference images; later edits consume that variant’s previous output.
Anvisha Pai, Co-founder & CEO, Voyager
Which to use
Flare remains a sensible default, but the new edit chain does not establish a decisive winner. Both variants turn the same black dripper green, add a brass handle, then restore black while keeping the handle and broadly preserving the studio composition. Both also retain the woman’s grey hair, red mug and pose when moving her into a plain studio and then watercolor. These are visual comparisons, not proof of pixel-perfect preservation. Use the recorded waits and the exact edit you need to decide whether Sunburst’s precision positioning is useful for your workload.
Side by side, measured
| GPT Image 2.5 Flare | GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst | |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor | OpenAI | OpenAI |
| Released | 2026-09-08 | 2026-09-08 |
| Price | $0.05268 per 1024 by 1024, high quality via fal | $0.05268 per 1024 by 1024, high quality via fal |
| Seconds per image | 16 to 66 | 23 to 41 |
| 12 pictures cost | $0.54 | $0.54 |
| Sizes | Exact pixel dimensions from a 1:3 strip to a 3:1 banner, up to 3840 on the long edge | Exact pixel dimensions from a 1:3 strip to a 3:1 banner, up to 3840 on the long edge |
Seconds and cost are from our own runs of the same 12 prompts through each model.
The same 12 prompts, GPT Image 2.5 Flare against GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
One try each, nothing re-rolled or retouched, generated by us. GPT Image 2.5 Flare is on the left, GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst on the right. Every prompt has its own page with the whole roster.
Text in an image
Every model on this prompt →
›What we asked for
A concert poster that reads 'MODA SUMMER SESSIONS' in large bold type, with the subtitle 'Friday 12 June, 8pm, Roundhouse' and a smaller line 'Tickets at the door'. Risograph style, two colours, tangerine and navy, grainy ink texture.
Product on white
Every model on this prompt →
›What we asked for
Studio product photograph of a matte black ceramic pour-over coffee dripper on a seamless white background, soft top light, subtle contact shadow, centred, catalogue style.
Face and hands
Every model on this prompt →
›What we asked for
Close-up portrait of a woman in her 40s with short grey hair, laughing, holding a red ceramic mug with both hands, natural window light, 85mm lens, shallow depth of field.
Logo mark
Every model on this prompt →
›What we asked for
A flat vector logo mark for a bicycle repair shop called 'Spoke & Chain': a single-colour icon combining a chain link and a wheel spoke, with the wordmark below in a geometric sans-serif, black on white.
Busy scene
Every model on this prompt →
›What we asked for
A crowded Saturday farmers market seen from slightly above: at least twelve stalls with striped awnings, shoppers carrying tote bags, a dog on a leash, crates of oranges, a musician with a guitar, bunting overhead, late morning light.
Specific art style
Every model on this prompt →
›What we asked for
A lighthouse on a rocky cliff during a storm, in the style of a Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print, with visible wood grain texture, flat colour areas and a bokashi gradient sky.
›What we asked for
A clean bar chart titled 'Monthly active users' showing six months, January through June, with the values 120, 150, 180, 170, 220 and 260, labelled axes, white background, one accent colour, no 3D effects.
Wide aspect ratio
Every model on this prompt →
›What we asked for
Website hero banner: a wide panorama of a sunlit modern co-working space with plants, the left third of the frame kept as clear wall space for text, warm neutral palette.
Infographic with steps
Every model on this prompt →The existing Flare result follows the four requested headings closely; Sunburst’s result adds copy that was not requested.
›What we asked for
An infographic card titled 'How to brew pour-over' with four numbered steps in this order: 1. Rinse the filter, 2. Bloom for 30 seconds, 3. Pour in slow circles, 4. Wait 3 minutes. A simple icon beside each step, muted palette, clean sans-serif type.
Food photography
Every model on this prompt →
›What we asked for
Overhead photograph of a margherita pizza on a wooden board, fresh basil leaves, one slice pulled out with the cheese stretching, restaurant menu photography, natural light.
Hard composition
Every model on this prompt →
›What we asked for
A glass of water on a wooden table with exactly three ice cubes in it, a yellow pencil resting across the rim of the glass, a blue book to the left of the glass and a red apple to the right, photographed from table height.
Edit an existing image
Every model on this prompt →The original recolor-and-handle fixture uses each model’s own starting image. The supplemental chain below instead holds the starting image constant, making preservation easier to compare.
›What we asked for
Change the coffee dripper to a deep forest green and add a small brass handle on its right side. Keep the background, lighting and composition exactly as they are.
Additional workflow tests
Separate from the common benchmark above. These tests examine longer shots, successive edits or specialized controls. One attempt per test, including failures. Costs are estimates from published rates.
Edit 1: change only color
View the generated starting image
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Sequential editing from the same starting image; look for changes outside the requested region.
›What we asked for
Change only the black coffee dripper to deep forest green. Preserve its exact shape, position, lighting, shadow and white background.
openai/gpt-image-2.5/flare/edit
image_size: {"width":1024,"height":1024}, quality: high, output_format: png, num_images: 1
returned 1024 by 1024 pixels
Generated . Cost basis: fal's published per-image figure for this endpoint at high quality, nearest listed size 1024x1024; fal bills it by tokens and does not return the charge. Original output.
The dripper is green while its broad silhouette and studio framing remain recognizable.
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
Sequential editing from the same starting image; look for changes outside the requested region.
›What we asked for
Change only the black coffee dripper to deep forest green. Preserve its exact shape, position, lighting, shadow and white background.
openai/gpt-image-2.5/sunburst/edit
image_size: {"width":1024,"height":1024}, quality: high, output_format: png, num_images: 1
returned 1024 by 1024 pixels
Generated . Cost basis: fal's published per-image figure for this endpoint at high quality, nearest listed size 1024x1024; fal bills it by tokens and does not return the charge. Original output.
The dripper is green while its broad silhouette and studio framing remain recognizable.
Edit 2: add a brass handle
View the generated starting image
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Edits the previous output above.
Sequential editing from the same starting image; look for changes outside the requested region.
›What we asked for
Add one small brass handle on the right side of the forest green coffee dripper. Change nothing else.
openai/gpt-image-2.5/flare/edit
image_size: {"width":1024,"height":1024}, quality: high, output_format: png, num_images: 1
returned 1024 by 1024 pixels
Generated . Cost basis: fal's published per-image figure for this endpoint at high quality, nearest listed size 1024x1024; fal bills it by tokens and does not return the charge. Original output.
A brass handle appears on the right; the green ceramic and plain background are retained.
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
Edits the previous output above.
Sequential editing from the same starting image; look for changes outside the requested region.
›What we asked for
Add one small brass handle on the right side of the forest green coffee dripper. Change nothing else.
openai/gpt-image-2.5/sunburst/edit
image_size: {"width":1024,"height":1024}, quality: high, output_format: png, num_images: 1
returned 1024 by 1024 pixels
Generated . Cost basis: fal's published per-image figure for this endpoint at high quality, nearest listed size 1024x1024; fal bills it by tokens and does not return the charge. Original output.
A brass handle appears on the right; the green ceramic and plain background are retained.
Edit 3: restore black
View the generated starting image
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Edits the previous output above.
Sequential editing from the same starting image; look for changes outside the requested region.
›What we asked for
Change only the forest green ceramic to matte black. Keep the brass handle, dripper geometry, background, shadow and framing unchanged.
openai/gpt-image-2.5/flare/edit
image_size: {"width":1024,"height":1024}, quality: high, output_format: png, num_images: 1
returned 1024 by 1024 pixels
Generated . Cost basis: fal's published per-image figure for this endpoint at high quality, nearest listed size 1024x1024; fal bills it by tokens and does not return the charge. Original output.
The final image restores black and keeps the added handle. Fine surface shading differs; this is not a pixel-equality test.
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
Edits the previous output above.
Sequential editing from the same starting image; look for changes outside the requested region.
›What we asked for
Change only the forest green ceramic to matte black. Keep the brass handle, dripper geometry, background, shadow and framing unchanged.
openai/gpt-image-2.5/sunburst/edit
image_size: {"width":1024,"height":1024}, quality: high, output_format: png, num_images: 1
returned 1024 by 1024 pixels
Generated . Cost basis: fal's published per-image figure for this endpoint at high quality, nearest listed size 1024x1024; fal bills it by tokens and does not return the charge. Original output.
The final image restores black and keeps the added handle. Fine surface shading differs; this is not a pixel-equality test.
Identity in a new setting
View the generated starting image
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Preserve the same person and clothing while changing the setting.
›What we asked for
Move this same person into a bright photography studio with a plain light grey background. Preserve their face, age, hairstyle, clothing, pose and the objects in their hands. Only change the background.
openai/gpt-image-2.5/flare/edit
image_size: {"width":1024,"height":1360}, quality: high, output_format: png, num_images: 1
returned 1024 by 1360 pixels
Generated . Cost basis: fal's published per-image figure for this endpoint at high quality, nearest listed size 1024x1536; fal bills it by tokens and does not return the charge. Original output.
The grey hair, red mug, hands and smiling pose remain recognizable against the plain background.
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
Preserve the same person and clothing while changing the setting.
›What we asked for
Move this same person into a bright photography studio with a plain light grey background. Preserve their face, age, hairstyle, clothing, pose and the objects in their hands. Only change the background.
openai/gpt-image-2.5/sunburst/edit
image_size: {"width":1024,"height":1360}, quality: high, output_format: png, num_images: 1
returned 1024 by 1360 pixels
Generated . Cost basis: fal's published per-image figure for this endpoint at high quality, nearest listed size 1024x1536; fal bills it by tokens and does not return the charge. Original output.
The grey hair, red mug, hands and smiling pose remain recognizable against the plain background.
Identity after a second edit
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
Edits the previous output above.
Keep recognizable features through a second style change.
›What we asked for
Convert this image into a delicate watercolor illustration. Preserve the same person, facial features, hairstyle, clothing, pose and objects. Keep the studio background plain.
openai/gpt-image-2.5/flare/edit
image_size: {"width":1024,"height":1360}, quality: high, output_format: png, num_images: 1
returned 1024 by 1360 pixels
Generated . Cost basis: fal's published per-image figure for this endpoint at high quality, nearest listed size 1024x1536; fal bills it by tokens and does not return the charge. Original output.
The second edit changes the rendering style while preserving the grey-haired subject, mug and pose.
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
Edits the previous output above.
Keep recognizable features through a second style change.
›What we asked for
Convert this image into a delicate watercolor illustration. Preserve the same person, facial features, hairstyle, clothing, pose and objects. Keep the studio background plain.
openai/gpt-image-2.5/sunburst/edit
image_size: {"width":1024,"height":1360}, quality: high, output_format: png, num_images: 1
returned 1024 by 1360 pixels
Generated . Cost basis: fal's published per-image figure for this endpoint at high quality, nearest listed size 1024x1536; fal bills it by tokens and does not return the charge. Original output.
The second edit changes the rendering style while preserving the grey-haired subject, mug and pose.
Frequently asked questions
Are the source images identical?
Yes for the supplemental tests below. Each model edits the same initial product and portrait images; subsequent edits use its own preceding output.
Does this prove edits leave every other pixel untouched?
No. We inspected the outputs visually. Generative edits can change texture and lighting even when composition and identity look stable.
Voyager
Run any of these inside Voyager
Voyager is an agent for creative work that runs every model on this page. Brief it, and it picks the model for the job, makes the thing and hands back something you can edit. Create an account to get started.