xAI's premium image generation model offering higher fidelity output and stronger performance on single-image editing benchmarks compared to the standard Grok Imagine model
Settled by community votes across 8 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.
Grok Imagine Image Pro
24.5
arena score
#17 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Skill signature
· Text-to-Image
Qwen Image Max
21.3
arena score
#35 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Vote tally
Where the votes landed
Grok Imagine Image Pro
0%
win rate
Ties
0%
Qwen Image Max
0%
win rate
Shared challenges
8
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.”
Grok Imagine Image Pro
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Grok Imagine Image Pro
- + Excellent realism in texture and lighting
- + Highly accurate reflections on the interior glass surfaces
- + The plant is clearly visible through the glass as requested
- − The sphere appears to be resting on the bottom rather than being 'inside' in a more dynamic way, though this is a minor interpretation choice
Qwen Image Max
- + Strong composition and vibrant colors
- + Captures the sphere in a floating position which feels more 'contained' by the cube
- + Follows the lighting direction perfectly
- − The sphere's reflection on the right side of the cube is physically impossible/misaligned
- − The sphere appears to be hovering without support, which may look less realistic than Model A
Verdict: Grok Imagine Image Pro produces a significantly more realistic image with convincing refraction and reflections that match the physical world, particularly how the plant and sphere interact with the glass. Qwen Image Max has a pleasing aesthetic but contains a notable reflection error on the right side of the cube where the sphere's reflection does not align with its actual position.
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.”
Grok Imagine Image Pro
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Grok Imagine Image Pro
- + Excellent textural detail on the engraved armor and leather straps.
- + Crisp rendering of the Latin text 'Lux in tenebris' on the gorget.
- + Highly lifelike eyes and skin texture that perfectly match the battle-worn description.
- − The hair braids look a bit more like modern aesthetic styling rather than traditional braids.
- − The lighting on the face feels a bit flat compared to the dramatic torchlight in the background.
Qwen Image Max
- + Superb facial character and realistic skin weathering with deep wrinkles and scars.
- + Very natural-looking braids and beads that integrate well with the character's appearance.
- + Great dynamic lighting with strong contrast from the torchlight.
- − The armor engravings are slightly more repetitive and less 'ornate' than Model A.
- − Some minor artifacts in the background bokeh where sparks overlap with the torch flame.
Verdict: Both models followed the prompt exceptionally well, but Grok Imagine Image Pro takes a slight lead due to the incredible precision in the armor's engraving and the successful rendering of legible text. While Qwen Image Max delivers a more soulful and rugged facial performance, Grok's sharp execution of the 'ornate' and 'detailed texture' requirements makes it the more technically impressive image.
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.”
Grok Imagine Image Pro
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Grok Imagine Image Pro
- + Excellent 'exploded' composition with clear air gaps between all layers.
- + Highly detailed food textures, particularly the grilled texture of the patty and the dripping sauce.
- + Perfectly rendered text that is clean and legible.
- − The starburst feels like a flat clip-art asset compared to the rest of the image.
- − The background is slightly less 'fiery' and more focused on sparks than smoke/flames.
Qwen Image Max
- + Strong sense of motion with motion blur on debris and flying embers.
- + Superior integration of the fiery theme, especially with the flaming text and the glowing starburst effect.
- + Dynamic lighting that makes the burger feel part of the environment.
- − Failed the 'exploded' instruction as the burger components are mostly touching and stacked.
- − The patty looks slightly plastic or overly glazed compared to Model A.
Verdict: Grok Imagine Image Pro followed the structural prompt much better, providing a true 'exploded' view where every component is clearly suspended in mid-air. Qwen Image Max created a more cinematic atmosphere with better lighting and integrated effects, but failed to separate the burger layers as requested, resulting in a mostly intact burger that lacks the 'exploded' dynamic.
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.”
Grok Imagine Image Pro
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Grok Imagine Image Pro
- + Excellent text rendering on the hat with 'NYC TLC Medallion' details.
- + Followed seat positioning instructions exactly by placing the passenger in the back seat.
- + High photographic realism and clear focus on the capybara's professional expression.
- − The transition between the capybara's neck and the jacket is slightly abrupt.
- − The capybara's claws are a bit too sharp/humanoid for a capybara.
Qwen Image Max
- + The fur texture and integration of the capybara's head into the jacket are very seamless.
- + Good use of depth of field for the background lights.
- + Authentic wear-and-tear details on the interior roof of the car.
- − Failed the positioning prompt by placing the passenger in the front seat instead of the back.
- − The paws on the steering wheel look more like primate/human hands than capybara paws.
- − The yellow cap is generic and lacks the 'taxi driver' branding suggested.
Verdict: Grok Imagine Image Pro is the winner because it adhered strictly to the spatial requirements of the prompt, correctly placing the businesswoman in the back seat to sell the narrative of a taxi ride. Qwen Image Max produced a high-quality render, but placing the passenger in the front seat and using generic hands for the driver made it less effective for this specific request.
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.”
Grok Imagine Image Pro
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Grok Imagine Image Pro
- + Excellent typography with a classic gothic feel.
- + Rich cinematic lighting with a glowing jack-o-lantern and subtle smoke.
- + High-quality composition that feels like a professional poster design.
- − Technical adherence to 'dark parchment' is slightly undermined by the bright moon scene in the center.
- − Small spiders on the bottom are a bit blurry.
Qwen Image Max
- + Stronger 'vintage' parchment texture across the entire background.
- + Excellent banner design for the secondary text.
- + Very clear and legible event information at the bottom.
- − The transition between the central illustration and the parchment background is a bit harsh/foggy.
- − The layout feels slightly more crowded than the first image.
Verdict: Both models followed the complex prompt perfectly, including the specific date and location text. Grok Imagine Image Pro stands out for its superior lighting and a more cohesive, high-end commercial look, whereas Qwen Image Max leans more into the vintage parchment aesthetic with a beautifully illustrated scroll banner.
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.”
Grok Imagine Image Pro
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Grok Imagine Image Pro
- + Excellent 3D miniature toy aesthetic with soft, clay-like textures.
- + Perfect text rendering and alignment for both 'JAPAN' and 'SUSHI'.
- + Clean, high-quality wood material for the circular diorama base.
- − The sushi looks a bit more like plastic toys than 'realistic PBR' food materials.
Qwen Image Max
- + Beautiful glass diorama base that fits the 'isometric miniature' prompt well.
- + The PBR materials for the fish and egg look very realistic and appetizing.
- + Strong bold typography with a well-rendered flag icon.
- − The alignment of the word 'SUSHI' is slightly offset from center.
- − The scale of the garnish (green onions) is a bit large for the miniature scene.
Verdict: Grok Imagine Image Pro excels in creating a cohesive 'cartoon scene' with perfect graphic design elements and centered text. Qwen Image Max follows the material instructions more closely by providing realistic food textures on a stylish glass base, though its text layout is slightly less polished. Grok Imagine Image Pro is preferred for its cleaner, more balanced composition as requested in the prompt.
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.”
Grok Imagine Image Pro
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Grok Imagine Image Pro
- + Successfully includes all four requested animal species plus an additional kitten.
- + Excellent lighting with distinct god rays and a clear sunrise source.
- + Better facial expressions on the animals that convey 'joy' and 'wholesome' vibes.
- − The fox has black paws that look slightly anthropomorphic or hand-like.
Qwen Image Max
- + High level of fur detail and realistic textures.
- + Dynamic composition with animals physically tumbling over each other.
- − Failed to include the requested baby bunny.
- − Doubles the golden retriever puppy instead of providing the full set of species requested.
- − The fox's front right leg has an anatomical issue where it connects to the body.
Verdict: Grok Imagine Image Pro followed the prompt much more accurately by including all four distinct animal species (puppy, kitten, bunny, and fox), whereas Qwen Image Max missed the bunny entirely and included a second puppy. Grok also captured the 'god rays' and 'sunrise' atmosphere more effectively, creating a more cohesive and professional-looking 8K masterpiece.
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.”
Grok Imagine Image Pro
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Grok Imagine Image Pro
- + Clean vector emblem style that matches the minimalist request.
- + Accurate spelling of 'Caffè Florian' with the correct accent.
- + Excellent balance and circular composition typical of a logo.
- − The 'subtle texture' on the background is almost invisible.
Qwen Image Max
- + Strong vintage aesthetic with woodcut-style shading on the cloche.
- + Beautiful illustrative steam and aged paper texture.
- + Accurate text rendering and banner placement.
- − Less of a 'logo' and more of an illustration due to the lack of a cohesive enclosing shape.
- − The heavy shading makes it less 'minimalist' than requested.
Verdict: Both models followed the prompt exceptionally well, including specific text and elements. Grok Imagine Image Pro is the winner because its circular vector emblem style is much more practical and appropriate for a minimalist restaurant logo, whereas Qwen Image Max created a more detailed illustration with an overly distressed background.
Next steps
Explore each model
The Max series of Tongyi Qwen’s image generation model excels across a wide range of generation tasks. Compared with the Plus series, it significantly reduces the “AI-like” feel in generated images, enhancing their realism. It delivers more lifelike material textures for human subjects, finer and more detailed natural textures, and more visually appealing text rendering.