OpenAI has released two new image models, GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst and GPT Image 2.6 Flare, and the Sunburst variant placed second on the Text-to-Image Arena leaderboard with 1409 points, according to Arena's published results.
Image generation · OpenAI release
OpenAI's two new image models land near the top of the leaderboard
GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst ranks No. 2 and Flare ranks No. 4 on the Text-to-Image leaderboard. OpenAI says the new models run almost twice as fast as GPT Image 2.5.
#2
Sunburst (Medium), 1409 points
#4
Flare (Medium), 1384 points
~2×
Speed versus GPT Image 2.5 (almost twice as fast)
Speed: relative generation speed
Previous generation shown as 1 unit; new generation as almost 2 units.
1×
GPT Image 2.5
almost 2×
GPT Image 2.6
Takeaway: the reported speedup is close to, but not quite, a full doubling. It holds in the release's own figures; independent real-world tests are still pending.
Text-to-Image leaderboard placements
#1
Leader (not named in this report)
#2
GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst (Medium) · also No. 1 in Cartoon, Anime & Fantasy
1409
#4
GPT Image 2.6 Flare (Medium)
1384
The two variants sit 25 points apart, a modest gap on a relative scale.
How to read these numbers
Scores are relative rankings from head-to-head comparisons, not a fixed measure of image quality.
Points rank models against one another and reflect comparisons collected at publication time.
No independent benchmark testing, pricing, or availability details are included in the release information.
Speed and category claims should be read as reported figures until independent evaluators confirm them.
Why it matters
A near-2× speed gain would make the models more practical for high-volume creative workflows, if it holds up in everyday use.
What remains open
Whether leaderboard placements translate into consistent results across different kinds of prompts still needs broader testing.
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