FLUX.2 [dev] Flash fal HiDream E1 HiDream AI

Settled by community votes across 4 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.

FLUX.2 [dev] Flash

27.1 arena score

#5 of 62 in Text-to-Image

Skill signature · Text-to-Image

HiDream E1

0.7 arena score

#33 of 32 in Image Editing

Vote tally

Where the votes landed

FLUX.2 [dev] Flash

win rate

Ties

HiDream E1

win rate

Shared challenges 4

Challenge by challenge

The strongest take from each model on every shared challenge, with the AI judge's read.

Bald man challenge

Image Editing

Edit instruction

“Give the person a full, thick head of natural hair with realistic texture, density, and a natural hairline. Preserve facial features and lighting.”

FLUX.2 [dev] Flash

HiDream E1

AI Judge Analysis

FLUX.2 [dev] Flash

+ Excellent source preservation of the background and facial details.
+ Realistic hair texture and natural integration with the original lighting.
+ Perfectly maintained the clothing and overall image quality.

− The hair volume is very high, leaning toward an afro style, which may not be the 'natural' look expected for this specific person’s features.

HiDream E1

+ Successfully added thick hair with a distinct style.
+ Maintains the central subject's pose and basic features.

− Failed to preserve the source background, replacing it with a cartoonish desert environment.
− Heavy artifacts and 'paint' filters are visible across the face and jacket.
− The hairline and hair texture appear artificial and overly smooth.

Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Flash followed the instructions perfectly while keeping every detail of the original image intact, simply adding the requested hair with realistic texture. HiDream E1 failed as an image editor, completely regenerating the background and applying a strange texture over the person's face and clothes. FLUX.2 [dev] Flash is the clear winner for its high-fidelity source preservation.

Over-the-top cartoon caricature

Editing

Edit instruction

“Create a caricature of me and my job. Make it exaggerated and humorous, incorporating my profession as a tv show anchor and my love for dogs and hockey.”

Source

FLUX.2 [dev] Flash

HiDream E1

AI Judge Analysis

FLUX.2 [dev] Flash

+ Excellent preservation of the subject's facial features and likeness in caricature form.
+ Densely packed with details combining all requested themes: news desk, hockey rinks, and multiple dogs.
+ Clean, professional illustration style with readable text.

− The hands on the desk have some anatomical merging issues.
− The background hockey players look a bit generic compared to the foreground dogs.

HiDream E1

+ Strong 'exaggerated and humorous' vibe with large eyes and a chaotic expression.
+ Incorporates most elements including the suit, dog, and hockey players in the background.

− Loses the specific likeness of the woman in the source image, looking like a generic character.
− Low visual quality with blurred background elements and distorted hands.
− The scale of the dog being held results in several clipping and anatomical errors.

Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Flash successfully created a recognizable caricature that maintained the original woman's identity while perfectly blending the news anchor, dog, and hockey themes into a cohesive scene. In contrast, HiDream E1 failed to preserve the subject's likeness and produced an image with significant anatomical distortions and lower overall resolution. FLUX.2 is the clear winner for its superior composition and detail preservation.

Studio Ghibli Anime Style

Editing

Edit instruction

“Transform this photo into a Studio Ghibli–inspired illustration. Use soft pastel colors, hand-painted textures, gentle lighting, dreamy backgrounds, and a warm, nostalgic mood”

Source

FLUX.2 [dev] Flash

HiDream E1

AI Judge Analysis

FLUX.2 [dev] Flash

+ Excellent preservation of the original pose, expressions, and clothing patterns.
+ Perfectly captures the requested Studio Ghibli watercolor aesthetic with soft textures.
+ Integrates charming thematic elements like the background creature and flower field.

− The eyes lean slightly more toward modern manga than classic Ghibli character designs.

HiDream E1

+ Successfully adopts a simplified 2D animation style.
+ Preserves the overall layout and character positions.

− Loss of key clothing details like the plaid pattern on the man's shirt.
− The art style feels more like generic web-toon or vector art than Ghibli's hand-painted look.
− The character expressions lose the specific nuance of the original meme.

Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Flash is the clear winner as it successfully translates the famous meme into a Ghibli-esque illustration while keeping the unmistakable likeness and clothing patterns of the subjects. HiDream E1 simplifies the image too much, losing the textures and specific character expressions that make the original image iconic.

Golden Hour Stroll

Image Editing

Edit instruction

“Add dynamic motion to this photo: make hair blow in the wind, add leaves flying, energetic and lively feel.”

FLUX.2 [dev] Flash

HiDream E1

AI Judge Analysis

FLUX.2 [dev] Flash

+ Excellent adherence to the 'windy hair' instruction with a natural flow.
+ The leaves are well-integrated into the scene with variable sizes and depths.
+ Maintains high fidelity to the original person and environment.

− The excessive amount of small leaves can feel slightly cluttered.

HiDream E1

+ Successfully adds the wind effect to the hair in a dynamic way.
+ Clear, bold addition of leaves following the prompt.

− The added leaves look like flat clip-art stickers and lack realistic lighting/shadows.
− Significantly alters the lighting of the entire scene, making it overly saturated compared to the original.
− Changes the subject's facial features and some details of the dog's fur.

Verdict: FLUX.2 [dev] Flash is the clear winner as it successfully adds the requested dynamic elements while perfectly preserving the identity of the person and the dog from the source image. In contrast, HiDream E1 alters the subjects' appearances and adds leaves that look poorly composited and unrealistic.