OpenAI's previous generation image model with higher quality than DALL-E 2 and support for larger resolutions
Settled by community votes across 13 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.
DALL-E 3
20.5
arena score
#38 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Skill signature
· Text-to-Image
FLUX1.1 [pro]
18.4
arena score
#50 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Vote tally
Where the votes landed
DALL-E 3
0.0%
win rate
Ties
0.0%
FLUX1.1 [pro]
100.0%
win rate
0.0%
0.0% ties
100.0%
Shared challenges
13
Challenge by challenge
The strongest take from each model on every shared challenge, with the AI judge's read.
Geometric Composition
Text-to-Image“A glass cube on a wooden table. Inside the cube is a small blue sphere. On top of the cube sits a red book. A green plant is behind the cube, partially visible through the glass. Soft window light from the left.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + High artistic detail within the sphere
- + Excellent wooden texture on the frame and table
- + Atmospheric lighting and shadows
- − Failed the spatial layout; the book is inside the cube instead of on top
- − The blue sphere is not a simple sphere but contains a forest landscape
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Perfect adherence to spatial instructions (sphere inside, book on top)
- + Realistic rendering of the plant through the glass
- + Correct lighting source direction from the left
- − The sphere appears to be floating without a visible support structure
- − Composition is a bit more clinical compared to the artistic lighting of the other image
Verdict: While DALL-E 3 produced a more visually stunning and textured image, it failed significantly on prompt adherence by placing the red book inside the cube and adding complex details to the sphere that were not requested. FLUX1.1 [pro] followed every spatial instruction perfectly, correctly positioning the book on top and the sphere inside while maintaining high photorealistic quality.
Candid Street Photography
Text-to-Image“A candid street photo of an elderly Japanese man repairing a red bicycle in light rain, reflections on wet pavement, shallow depth of field, 50mm lens, natural skin texture, imperfect framing, motion blur from passing cars, cinematic but realistic, no stylization.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Excellent puddles and wet pavement reflections that match the subject perfectly.
- + Strong adherence to the focal length and depth of field request.
- + Captures the cinematic, story-rich atmosphere of a Japanese backstreet.
- − Physical anatomy issues, specifically the man's elongated neck and barefoot stance which feels unrealistic for the setting.
- − The foreground framing element is a bit muddy and distracting.
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Realistic skin textures and clothing details on the subject.
- + Captures a more genuine 'candid' street photography feel with natural lighting.
- + Effective background bokeh and car light rendering.
- − The red bicycle is severely deformed, with a frame that doesn't connect logically.
- − The man is holding the handlebars rather than 'repairing' the bike as requested.
- − The background cars lack the specific 'motion blur' requested, appearing mostly static.
Verdict: DALL-E 3 captures the atmospheric and compositional requirements of the prompt much better, specifically the 'repairing' action and the puddle reflections, though it suffers from some anatomical distortions. FLUX1.1 [pro] has superior texture and realism in the human subject but fails significantly on the structural integrity of the bicycle and the specific action requested. DALL-E 3 is the winner for better overall prompt adherence and a more compelling cinematic scene.
Fantasy Warrior
Text-to-Image“Close portrait of a battle-worn paladin in ornate engraved plate armor, hair braided with small beads, faint scars and dirt on the skin, warm torchlight reflecting off metal, shallow depth of field, bokeh sparks, lifelike eyes, highly detailed texture on leather straps and cloth underlayer.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Excellent rendition of ornate, engraved plate armor with a beautiful golden sheen.
- + Warm torchlight lighting is highly consistent and effective across all surfaces.
- + Very clean rendering of hair and beard textures.
- − Failed to include the requested beads in the hair braids.
- − The 'scars' look more like surface paint or superficial marks rather than healed tissue.
- − Features a slightly more 'digital CGI' look compared to a photographic style.
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Hyper-realistic skin texture including fine pores, sweat, and convincing dirt/scars.
- + Successfully included small beads within the braided hair as requested.
- + Extremely lifelike eyes with complex iris patterns and natural reflections.
- − The armor is less 'engraved' and 'ornate' than requested, appearing more like standard hammered plate.
- − The lighting feels more like natural daylight with sparks rather than a specific warm torchlight source.
- − The leather and cloth textures are mostly obscured or out of frame compared to the prompt's focus.
Verdict: FLUX1.1 [pro] wins on sheer realism and prompt adherence regarding the hair beads and skin texture, producing an image that looks like a high-end film still. DALL-E 3 produced a better interpretation of the 'ornate engraved' armor and torchlight atmosphere, but the character rendering feels more artificial and it missed a specific detail in the hair.
Modern Clean Menu
Text-to-Image“Modern minimalist restaurant menu design, white background with colorful food photos in grid, sections for appetizers/pizza/mains, bold sans-serif fonts, vibrant accents, clean professional layout for casual dining.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Excellent photographic quality and appetizing food presentation
- + Strong adherence to the grid layout requirement
- + Vibrant and professional color palette
- − Text is largely nonsensical symbols and 'lorem ipsum' style characters
- − Sections for specific food types are less clearly defined in the text
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Much better text legibility and recognizable words for sections
- + Clean and highly professional typography following the 'bold sans-serif' request
- + Logical layout that mimics a real-world trifold or multi-page menu
- − Food photos are smaller and less prominent than Image A
- − The 'grid' format for images is confined to just the bottom of the page
Verdict: DALL-E 3 produces more visually striking food photography and captures the 'grid' layout more comprehensively across the design. However, FLUX1.1 [pro] is more functional as a graphic design piece, providing readable text heading and a more realistic menu structure, even if the food imagery is less central to the composition.
Magic Burger Explosion: Fiery Photorealism Challenge
Text-to-Image“Ad for 'Magic Burger'. Dynamic, exploded burger with all components (bun, patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, sauce) suspended in mid-air. Emphasize photorealistic detail and a sense of motion. Dark, fiery background with glowing embers. Integrate text: 'MAGIC BURGER' as a prominent title, 'LIMITED TIME ONLY' as a secondary message, and '€6.99' in a starburst, all rendered with a fiery, glowing effect.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Excellent adherence to the 'exploded' visual requirement with clearly separated layers.
- + Dramatic use of lighting and fiery embers that creates high visual impact.
- + The overall composition feels dynamic and energetic.
- − Several spelling errors in the text including 'MAGIC BURGR' and 'Limiited'.
- − The price tag is rendered in an awkward box rather than a fiery starburst.
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Perfect text rendering for all requested phrases including the price.
- + High photographic realism in the texture of the meat and bun.
- + Clean, professional layout suitable for a real advertisement.
- − Failed to provide an 'exploded' burger, keeping the main sandwich mostly intact.
- − Missing the 'fiery, glowing effect' on the text as requested; the main text is neon blue instead.
- − The composition is static compared to the dynamic motion requested.
Verdict: DALL-E 3 followed the creative aspects of the prompt more closely, delivering a truly exploded burger with the requested fiery atmosphere, despite failing on text spelling. FLUX1.1 [pro] produced much cleaner text and better realism but failed to provide the exploded deconstruction and fiery text effects that were central to the prompt's request. DALL-E 3 is preferred for capturing the intended spirit of the 'Magic Burger' theme.
Chalkboard Menu
Text-to-Image“Handwritten-style chalkboard menu in a cozy café, all text rendered in the exact same realistic chalk handwriting style with natural variations in letter size, slight slant, and chalk texture — no printed or digital fonts anywhere on the board. Title at the top in elegant cursive chalk handwriting: ‘TODAY’S SPECIALS – APRIL 30, 2026’. Below it, three menu items also in the same handwritten chalk style: ‘Truffle Mushroom Risotto – $24’, ‘Grilled Octopus with Lemon & Herbs – $28’, ‘Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – $9’. At the very bottom, smaller text in the identical handwritten chalk style (slightly smaller but still clearly legible with the same handwriting characteristics): ‘All items made fresh daily • Ask about our gluten-free options’. Warm ambient café lighting, visible chalk dust and smudges, realistic handwriting imperfections, no clean printed text anywhere.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Excellent chalk texture with realistic smudging and dusting
- + Cozy café atmosphere with cinematic lighting
- − Numerous spelling errors including 'Trufle', 'Occtus', and 'Suter Choke'
- − Numerical values are nonsensical, such as '$234' for a single item
- − Fails to render the specific text completion 'Brown Butter'
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Perfectly follows the specific text instructions for menu items
- + High legibility and clear, consistent handwriting style
- + Follows the date and pricing instructions much more accurately
- − Handwriting looks slightly more like a digital font than natural chalk
- − Includes a strange price of '$228' for one of the lines
- − Composition is a bit plain compared to the artistic flair of typical chalk art
Verdict: FLUX1.1 [pro] is the clear winner as it accurately renders nearly all the requested text with correct spelling and prices, including the completion of the 'Brown Butter' item. DALL-E 3 creates a more aesthetically pleasing chalk texture and background, but fails significantly on text adherence with gibberish words and incorrect spelling throughout the board.
The Reversed Rodeo
Text-to-Image“Horse riding astronaut in space — horse on top, not vice versa. Surreal, highly detailed, cinematic.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Features a beautiful, expansive galactic background that fits the space theme well
- + Good silhouettes and cinematic lighting through the clouds
- + Strictly follows the 'in space' requirement with visible stars and nebulae
- − Failed the negative constraint; the astronaut is riding the horse, not the other way around
- − The horse's legs and hooves have anatomical issues where they meet the clouds
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Excellent texture and detail on the astronaut's suit and the horse's fur
- + Dynamic and powerful composition with the rearing pose
- + High resolution with very sharp textures
- − Failed the negative constraint; the astronaut is riding the horse
- − The background feels more like a mountain range on Earth rather than 'in space'
Verdict: Both models failed the specific prompt instruction to have the horse on top of the astronaut, instead providing the standard interpretation of an astronaut riding a horse. DALL-E 3 captures the 'space' atmosphere much better, while FLUX1.1 [pro] provides significantly higher detail and better textures despite the earthly mountain environment.
The Capybara Taxi Driver
Text-to-Image“Photorealistic scene inside a yellow New York taxi at night. A capybara is driving, wearing a yellow taxi driver cap and a dark jacket. It has a calm, professional expression and both front paws on the steering wheel. In the back seat sits a human businesswoman in a coat, looking at her phone with a completely normal, bored expression (as if this is just another normal ride). Through the windows you can see the streets of Manhattan at night with blurred lights. Realistic taxi interior, photorealistic, detailed fur and fabric, 35mm lens, night lighting with reflections, shallow depth of field.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Excellent detail in the capybara's fur and whiskers.
- + Highly realistic taxi interior and dashboard.
- + Accurate portrayal of Manhattan streets outside the window.
- − Completely failed to include the human businesswoman in the back seat.
- − The cap is black instead of the requested yellow.
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Included both the capybara driver and the businesswoman as requested.
- + The lighting on the subjects from the phone and streetlights is very cinematic.
- + Followed the color instruction for the yellow cap.
- − The composition is anatomically confusing, appearing as if both are in the front seat or the capybara is very small.
- − Details on the paws and phone are a bit mushy compared to Model A.
- − The capybara's paws are not clearly on a steering wheel.
Verdict: DALL-E 3 produced a much more realistic and detailed image of a capybara driving a car, but it failed the core instruction to include a passenger. FLUX1.1 [pro] followed the prompt's narrative elements by including both characters, though the spatial composition of the car interior is physically impossible. FLUX1.1 [pro] is the winner for adhering to all prompt requirements, despite the awkward layout.
The Halloween Invitation
Text-to-Image“Vintage gothic Halloween party invitation. Dark parchment poster, spooky border with webs and thorns, central glowing jack-o-lantern, bats, twisted trees, moody night sky. Add elegant gothic title text saying "Halloween Party Invitation", a small scroll banner saying "You are invited to a night of frights", and event details at the bottom: Date: 30.10.2026 Time: 7pm Location: The Arches, NYC Spooky but polished, cinematic lighting, square format.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Exquisite composition with a highly detailed gothic 3D frame effect
- + Beautiful vintage parchment textures and moody, dark aesthetic
- + Excellent integration of bats, twisted trees, and webs into a cohesive layout
- − Text rendering is poor with significant misspellings and gibberish
- − The 'central' jack-o-lantern is actually quite small compared to other elements
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Near-perfect adherence to specific event details and date
- + Strong atmospheric lighting and a classic spooky outdoor scene
- + Clear, legible primary text and banner
- − Repetitive text blocks for date, time, and location at the bottom
- − Composition is a bit generic and flat compared to the intricate layered look of the other model
- − Minor spelling error in the banner text ('You imvited to a n night')
Verdict: While DALL-E 3 produces a much more visually stunning and artistic gothic design, it fails significantly on text legibility. FLUX1.1 [pro] follows the specific prompt instructions for event details much better and captures the 'moody night sky' more effectively, though it suffers from repetitive text fields. FLUX1.1 [pro] is the winner for actually functioning as an invitation, whereas DALL-E 3 is a better piece of art with unreadable content.
Isometric Miniature Diorama Scenes
Text-to-Image“Create a clear, 45° top-down isometric miniature 3D cartoon scene of Japan's signature dish: sushi, with soft refined textures, realistic PBR materials, gentle lighting, on a small raised diorama base with minimal garnish and plate. Solid light blue background. At top-center: 'JAPAN' in large bold text, 'SUSHI' below it, small flag icon. Perfectly centered, ultra-clean, high-clarity, square format.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Excellent 3D miniature diorama feel with high-quality PBR-like lighting and textures.
- + Very clean isometric perspective and square composition.
- + Clever integration of text and flags into the 3D geometry of the scene.
- − Failed to place the text 'top-center' as specified.
- − Omitted the specific word 'SUSHI' from the text elements.
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Followed text instructions perfectly, including top-center placement for 'JAPAN' and 'SUSHI'.
- + Accurate 45-degree isometric projection and solid background.
- + Variety of sushi types rendered with a soft, clean cartoon aesthetic.
- − Missed the 'small flag icon' requirement.
- − Garnish includes non-traditional elements like cherry tomatoes.
Verdict: FLUX1.1 [pro] adhered much better to the specific layout instructions regarding text placement and content, although it missed the flag icon. DALL-E 3 produced a more visually cohesive 3D 'object' where the text was part of the model, but it ultimately ignored the requested text hierarchy and positioning. FLUX1.1 [pro] is the winner for its superior prompt adherence and cleaner graphic design layout.
Adorable Baby Animals in Sunny Meadow
Text-to-Image“Hyper-photorealistic scene of fluffy baby animals—a golden retriever puppy, tabby kitten, baby bunny, and red fox kit—with big expressive eyes and ultra-detailed soft fur, playfully chasing butterflies and tumbling together in a lush wildflower meadow, warm golden sunrise light with god rays and dew sparkles, joyful wholesome vibe, 8K masterpiece.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Successfully includes all four requested animals (dog, cat, bunny, fox).
- + Vibrant, high-fantasy aesthetic with strong golden hour lighting and god rays.
- + Excellent composition that fills the frame while making all subjects distinct.
- − Very stylized and cartoonish, failing the 'hyper-photorealistic' part of the prompt.
- − Anatomic oddities present, such as butterflies having furry mammalian faces.
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Much higher degree of photorealistic texture in the fur and environment.
- + Natural lighting and bokeh effects create a more convincing 'masterpiece' look.
- + Very cute and expressive facial features on the animals.
- − Missed prompt elements: only features three animals, missing the red fox kit.
- − The butterflies are simplified glowing shapes rather than detailed insects.
Verdict: DALL-E 3 followed the complex prompt requirements more accurately by including all four specific animals, but the resulting image is very processed and looks like a 3D digital illustration rather than the requested hyper-photorealism. FLUX1.1 [pro] produced a much more realistic and visually stunning image, but it failed on basic adherence by omitting the fox.
Vintage Cafe Logo
Text-to-Image“Vintage minimalist restaurant logo for "Caffè Florian", retro cloche dome with steam and "Est. 1720" banner, classic typography, warm brown and cream tones, subtle texture on light background, vector emblem style.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Excellent color palette following the warm brown and cream tones requested.
- + Clear and intentional vector emblem style with a balanced circular composition.
- + Highly legible and perfectly spelled 'Est. 1720' text.
- − Failed the primary text prompt, replacing 'Caffè Florian' with 'Coffee House'.
- − Steam effects look more like decorative scrolls than steam.
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Successfully rendered of a vintage-style cloche dome with more realistic steam lines.
- + Good use of subtle paper texture on a light background.
- + Captured the 'minimalist' and 'vintage' aesthetic effectively.
- − Spelling error in the main brand name, rendering 'Cafeé Fratilian' instead of 'Caffè Florian'.
- − Typography is a bit cluttered with overlapping lines and inconsistent font weights.
Verdict: Both models failed to correctly render the text 'Caffè Florian', though FLUX1.1 [pro] attempted it while DALL-E 3 completely ignored the name for a generic 'Coffee House'. DALL-E 3 produced a much more professional and clean vector emblem with superior color and balance, but FLUX1.1 [pro] followed the specific request for a minimalist light background better.
Apollo 11: Journey to Tranquility
Text-to-Image“Create a clean, modern vector infographic poster about the Apollo 11 mission. NASA-inspired palette (navy, white, muted red, light gray). Flat-vector style, crisp lines, consistent iconography, subtle gradients only. Steps (stop at landing): 1. Launch (Saturn Vicon) 2. Earth Orbit (Earth + orbit ring icon) 3. Translunar (trajectory arc icon) 4. Lunar Orbit (Moon + orbit ring icon) 5. Descent (lunar module descending icon) 6. Landing (lunar module on the surface icon) Small supporting elements (minimal text): • Crew strip: three silhouette icons with only last names: Armstrong, Aldrin, Collins. • Landing site marker: Moon pin labeled "Tranquility" only. Layout constraints: generous margins, large readable labels, clean background with subtle stars. Vector-only, print-poster look, high resolution.”
DALL-E 3
FLUX1.1 [pro]
0% wins
0% ties
100% wins
AI Judge Analysis
DALL-E 3
- + Successfully captures the requested NASA-inspired color palette.
- + Displays professional layout and composition across three variations.
- + Excellent flat-vector aesthetic with decorative geometric elements.
- − Fails to include real text, using scribbles or garbled characters for the steps.
- − Does not follow the 6-step logical flow requested in the prompt.
FLUX1.1 [pro]
- + Attempts to follow the sequential numbering and step descriptions.
- + Cleaner, more modern vector aesthetic that aligns with the 'minimalist infographic' request.
- + Text is partially legible and maps to the requested mission phases.
- − Incorrectly depicts a Saturn V as a Space Shuttle or cartoon rocket.
- − The central moon graphic lacks the level of detail seen in Model A.
- − Some numbering is repetitive or out of order.
Verdict: DALL-E 3 produces a much more visually sophisticated and stylistically accurate 'NASA' poster, but it fails to include the specific text and six-step logic requested. FLUX1.1 [pro] attempts the instructional content and specific steps more directly, though the iconography (such as the rocket) is less accurate to the Apollo mission. DALL-E 3 is preferred for its superior artistry and adherence to the requested color and design style.
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