Black Forest Labs' 12 billion parameter distilled image generation model optimized for speed, capable of generating high-quality images in just 4 inference steps
Settled by community votes across 13 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.
FLUX.1 [schnell]
18.7
arena score
#48 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Skill signature
· Text-to-Image
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
27.9
arena score
#3 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Top 3 in Text-to-Image
Vote tally
Where the votes landed
FLUX.1 [schnell]
0%
win rate
Ties
0%
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
0%
win rate
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + Features a very clean, high-clarity glass aesthetic.
- + Vibrant colors and high image resolution.
- + Excellent lighting that emphasizes the geometry of the objects.
- − Included an extra blue sphere on top of the book that was not in the prompt.
- − The sphere inside the cube is floating unnaturally and appears too large relative to the cube.
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Followed the spatial instructions perfectly, including only one sphere inside the cube.
- + Highly realistic glass texture with subtle dust and reflections.
- + Excellent source preservation of the plant's visibility through the glass.
- − The overall lighting is a bit dim and moody compared to Model A.
Verdict: While FLUX.1 [schnell] produced a very sharp and vibrant image, it failed the specific spatial logic of the prompt by adding an extra sphere on top of the book. FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo followed every instruction accurately, providing a more realistic and believable arrangement of the objects.
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + Excellent shallow depth of field with beautiful bokeh
- + High cinematic quality with vibrant colors and rich reflections
- + Clean rendering of the bicycle and man's face
- − Missed the motion blur request for the cars
- − Does not show visible rain or rain textures
- − Composition feels a bit too posed for a 'candid' street photo
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Perfect adherence to the motion blur on passing cars
- + Visible rain streaks and puddles create a more realistic atmosphere
- + Natural-looking 'imperfect' framing and authentic skin textures
- − The character's pose is slightly physically awkward (kneeling through the bike)
- − Lower visual clarity in the background compared to Model A
Verdict: While FLUX.1 [schnell] creates a more polished and visually striking cinematic image, FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo followed the prompt much more accurately, specifically capturing the motion blur and the presence of rain. FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo's output feels like a genuine candid street photograph, whereas FLUX.1 [schnell] feels more like a staged movie still.
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + Extremely high skin texture detail with visible pores and fine wrinkles
- + Intense and lifelike eye rendering
- + Strong dramatic lighting and color saturation
- − Missed the request for beads in the hair
- − Armor is mostly cropped out relative to the prompt requirements
- − Skin appears overly textured, bordering on hyper-realism
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Excellent adherence to all prompt elements including beads, scars, and cloth underlayers
- + Exceptional detail on the ornate engraved plate armor and leather straps
- + Effective use of bokeh sparks and torchlight to create atmosphere
- − The facial expression is somewhat neutral and less intense than Model A
- − The torch in the background has a slightly soft, computer-generated look
Verdict: While FLUX.1 [schnell] creates a powerful and intense facial portrait, FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo followed the prompt much more accurately by including the requested beads, specific armor details, and layering. FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo is the clear winner for its superior composition and meticulous attention to the 'battle-worn' aesthetic and material textures.
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + Strong minimalist aesthetic with plenty of white space
- + Clean, professional typography that is highly legible
- + Effective layout for a two-column menu
- − Includes a nonsensical section header ('ORFEFUS')
- − The food photography is repetitive and lacks variety
- − Smaller body text is illegible and looks like scribbles
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Excellent use of color accents and vibrant blocks to create a modern feel
- + High-quality, diverse food photography that fits a professional 'vibrant' aesthetic
- + Reasonable attempt at price points and latin-style placeholder text
- − Layout is slightly more cluttered compared to the minimalist request
- − Text in the 'Mains' section has some overlapping characters
Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo followed the prompt more effectively by incorporating vibrant color accents and creating a diverse grid of food photos. While FLUX.1 [schnell] captures the minimalist aspect well, it suffers from repetitive images and a hallucinated section header ('ORFEFUS'), whereas FLUX.2 feels like a complete, professional design asset.
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + High resolution with vibrant, saturated colors
- + Strong photographic texture on the meat patty
- − Failed text rendering with 'AGIC BURGER' and confusing price elements
- − The burger is largely assembled rather than 'exploded' as requested
- − Includes strange, unidentified floating food chunks
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Perfectly adhered to the 'exploded' burger concept with suspended components
- + Excellent text rendering including the 'fiery, glowing effect' and starburst price
- + Accurate price and title spelling
- − The sauce droplets look slightly digital and less photorealistic than other components
Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo significantly outperformed FLUX.1 [schnell] by following all prompt instructions, specifically the 'exploded' layout and the complex fiery text effects. While FLUX.1 [schnell] produced a high-quality main image, it failed on the text spelling and the specific structural requirement of the burger assembly.
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + The handwriting looks clean and legible.
- + Successfully placed the requested date on the board.
- − Significant spelling errors throughout the menu items.
- − The texture looks more like a white ink marker than realistic chalk on a dusty board.
- − Failed to Use cursive for the title as requested.
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Excellent adherence to the 'chalk' texture and 'handwritten' aesthetic with natural variants.
- + Almost perfect spelling and completion of the complex menu items.
- + Accurately rendered cursive for the title and maintained a cozy café atmosphere.
- − Slight repetition of prices/words in the bottom section of the board.
Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo significantly outperforms FLUX.1 [schnell] by accurately rendering the specific handwriting styles requested and avoiding the severe spelling hallucinations present in the latter. FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo also achieved a much more realistic chalk texture, whereas FLUX.1 [schnell] looked like a digital font or marker.
The Reversed Rodeo
Text-to-Image“Horse riding astronaut in space — horse on top, not vice versa. Surreal, highly detailed, cinematic.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + Perfectly follows the specific role-reversal instruction of the horse riding the astronaut.
- + Cinematic lighting and composition create a strong surrealist effect.
- + High level of polish and visual clarity.
- − The horse has two heads/torsos fused together, which is a significant anatomical artifact.
- − The astronaut's suit is somewhat amorphous and lacks detailed mechanical textures.
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Exceptional realism in the textures of the space suit and horse hair.
- + Beautiful, detailed space background with multiple planetary bodies.
- + High resolution and sharp rendering.
- − Fails the primary prompt instruction by placing the astronaut on top of the horse.
- − Lacks the 'surreal' quality requested, opting for a traditional fantasy interpretation.
Verdict: FLUX.1 [schnell] is the clear winner because it successfully followed the complex logical instruction to have the horse on top, whereas FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo defaulted to a standard astronaut-riding-a-horse image. Although FLUX.1 [schnell] has a major anatomical artifact with the horse's head, its adherence to the surreal prompt makes it more useful for this specific challenge.
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + Excellent fur texture rendering
- + Captured the 'bored' expression of the passenger perfectly
- + Clean, high-quality lighting that feels cinematic
- − One 'paw' is positioned awkwardly off the steering wheel
- − The passenger is sitting in the front passenger seat instead of the back seat
- − The capybara's face looks slightly anthropomorphized like a plush toy
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Followed the seating instruction correctly with the passenger in the back
- + Both paws are clearly placed on the steering wheel as requested
- + More realistic capybara anatomy and features
- − The 'TAXI' sign on top of the car is misspelled as 'TAX'
- − The capybara's paws look more like human hands in gloves/scaly skin
- − The composition feels slightly more cramped than Image A
Verdict: While both models followed the creative prompt well, Flux.2 [dev] Turbo is the winner for correctly placing the passenger in the back seat and adhering to the instruction of having both paws on the steering wheel. FLUX.1 [schnell] produced a more polished cinematic look, but failed on spatial positioning by putting the human in the front seat.
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + Features a bold, vibrant glowing jack-o-lantern.
- + Captures a clean graphic design style suitable for digital use.
- − Significant text errors including typos ('firiichts'), repetitive lines, and hallucinated info.
- − Failed to include the requested thorn/web border, opting for a simple thin frame.
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Perfect text rendering for all requested details and event information.
- + Excellent adherence to the 'vintage parchment' and 'thorns and webs' border prompt.
- + Superior artistic detail in the twisted trees and textured background.
- − Lacks the 'scroll banner' shape for the secondary text, using a flat scroll graphic instead.
Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo significantly outperforms FLUX.1 [schnell] by following every instruction, especially regarding the complex border and the specific event text. FLUX.1 [schnell] struggles with text legibility and accuracy, including several typos and nonsensical lines of data, whereas FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo delivers a polished, professionally formatted invitation.
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + Excellent clean aesthetic with a very minimal diorama base
- + High-clarity text rendering for 'JAPAN'
- + High-quality soft lighting and smooth isometric perspective
- − Completely missed the word 'SUSHI' in the text overlay
- − The sushi itself looks slightly more like a 2D illustration than a 3D PBR miniature
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Followed all text instructions including both 'JAPAN' and 'SUSHI'
- + Excellent 3D textures for the rice, fish, and wooden base
- + Superior interpretation of the miniature diorama prompt
- − The text layout is slightly crowded compared to Model A
- − A small artifact is present in the flag icon's border
Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo followed the prompt more comprehensively, successfully including all requested text headers while FLUX.1 [schnell] missed the word 'SUSHI' entirely. Additionally, FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo provided a much more convincing 3D miniature aesthetic with realistic material qualities for the food and base.
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + Strong bokeh effect and vibrant colors
- + Captures the 'big expressive eyes' and soft fur request well
- + Clean, high-saturation composition
- − Failed to include a rabbit, instead showing multiple cat-like creatures
- − Anatomical issues with the animals' limbs blending together
- − Creatures look more like stylistic illustrations than photorealistic animals
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Accurately included all four requested animals: golden retriever, tabby kitten, bunny, and fox kit
- + Excellent depiction of 'god rays' and 'dew sparkles' mention in the prompt
- + More naturalistic fur textures and anatomy while maintaining a playful vibe
- − The butterfly on the right has slightly wonky wing anatomy
- − The kitten's pose is a bit awkward in its mid-air jump
Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo followed the prompt much more accurately by including all four distinct types of animals, whereas FLUX.1 [schnell] missed the bunny entirely. Furthermore, FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo delivered a more realistic 8K appearance with beautiful lighting effects like dew and sunbeams that better matched the 'hyper-photorealistic' requirement.
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + Clean vector-style execution
- + Good use of warm brown tones
- − Significant spelling errors ('FRAMILAN' and '7720')
- − Missing requested steam element
- − Typography is a bit disjointed with the accent mark placement
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Perfect text rendering for both the name and date
- + Accurately includes the steam and banner elements requested
- + Excellent vintage texture and shading
- − None notable; matches all prompt constraints perfectly
Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo followed the prompt perfectly, including the specific name 'Caffè Florian', the correct date of 1720, and the steam detail. FLUX.1 [schnell] failed on several key text elements, misspelling the name as 'Framilan' and changing the year to '7720', while also omitting the requested steam.
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.”
FLUX.1 [schnell]
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.1 [schnell]
- + Clean minimalist vector style
- + Adheres strictly to the requested NASA-inspired color palette
- − Text is largely illegible gibberish
- − The rocket design is confusing and non-representative of a Saturn V
- − Fails to clearly distinguish 6 unique steps as icons
FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo
- + Excellent typography and legible text including mission names
- + Included specific icons for all 6 steps as requested
- + Highly detailed and accurate icons for the Saturn V and Lunar Module
- − Introduces colors like yellow and green that weren't in the specific palette
- − The layout is a bit crowded compared to the clean vector request
Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Turbo followed the complex instructions much more effectively, providing legible text and all six specific mission stages with accurate iconography. While FLUX.1 [schnell] captured the minimalist aesthetic and color palette better, its content was disorganized and the text was unreadable.
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Distilled version of Black Forest Labs' FLUX.2 [dev] outperforming it at a cheaper price. Developed by fal.ai.