GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst is OpenAI's most capable image model, released on September 8, 2026 for work where editing precision matters most. OpenAI says it keeps subjects from reference photos recognisable, edits only what you ask for and holds consistency across several rounds of edits, and it offers quality settings up to max. It trades speed for that control: OpenAI says Sunburst takes longer to generate than the faster GPT Image 2.5 Flare.
FLUX.2 Pro from Black Forest Labs is built for production volume: up to 4MP output in any aspect ratio, sub-10-second generation, up to 10 reference images for consistent characters and products, and exact brand colours from hex codes. The FLUX.2 family also includes an open-weight [dev] model you can run yourself, while Sunburst is only available through OpenAI's API. On LMArena's text-to-image leaderboard dated September 24, 2026, Sunburst ranked first on a preliminary rating and FLUX.2 Pro ranked well below it. If turnaround time or self-hosting matters, test FLUX.2 Pro alongside Sunburst on your prompts in Omny.
Which should you choose?
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst · ~60s per image
Pick it if
you need careful edits that preserve subjects and composition over several rounds.
FLUX.2 Pro
Flux 2 Pro · ~10s per image
Pick it if
you need fast 4MP output, many references, hex-accurate colours or an open-weight option.
Pick GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst for precise, multi-round edits and the current top LMArena text-to-image ranking. Pick FLUX.2 Pro for fast 4MP output, up to 10 reference images and exact brand colours, with an open-weight model in the same family.
Questions
Which is faster?
FLUX.2 Pro. Black Forest Labs quotes sub-10-second generation, while OpenAI says Sunburst takes longer than GPT Image 2.5 Flare in exchange for more precise editing.
Can I self-host either?
Not Sunburst, which is available through OpenAI's API. Black Forest Labs publishes open weights for FLUX.2 [dev], while FLUX.2 Pro itself is served through its API.
Which handles text in images better?
Both vendors claim strong text. Black Forest Labs lists production-ready typography, infographics and UI mockups, and OpenAI says Images 2.5 handles more complex layouts, including transparent backgrounds. Test your exact copy on both.