Improved version of Alibaba's Qwen image model with better text rendering, finer natural textures, and more realistic human generation.
Settled by community votes across 8 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.
Qwen Image 2512
22.9
arena score
#30 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Skill signature
· Text-to-Image
Qwen Image Max
21.5
arena score
#35 of 62 in Text-to-Image
Vote tally
Where the votes landed
Qwen Image 2512
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.”
Qwen Image 2512
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Qwen Image 2512
- + Excellent depiction of physics with the sphere resting on the bottom surface.
- + High-quality wood texture on the table.
- + Accurate adherence to the 'plant behind the cube' prompt with realistic refraction.
- − The cube appears to have a mirrored base rather than being fully transparent glass.
- − The lighting on the cube edges is a bit thick and green-tinted.
Qwen Image Max
- + Clean glass transparency and realistic window light shadows.
- + Well-balanced composition with a clear view of the plant through the glass.
- + Accurate placement of all requested elements.
- − The blue sphere is levitating inside the cube, which feels less grounded/realistic.
- − Slightly less detail in the book texture compared to Model A.
Verdict: Both models followed the prompt perfectly in terms of object placement and colors. Qwen Image 2512 produces a more grounded image with the sphere resting on the surface, while Qwen Image Max creates a more ethereal look with a floating sphere but superior lighting and glass transparency. Model A is slightly preferred for its realistic physics and material textures.
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.”
Qwen Image 2512
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Qwen Image 2512
- + Excellent depiction of surface textures on the metal and skin.
- + Stronger implementation of the requested torchlight reflecting off the armor.
- + Highly lifelike eyes and realistic hair rendering.
- − The braids are somewhat generic.
- − The metal engraving is detailed but less complex than the other model.
Qwen Image Max
- + Exceptional detail on the ornate armor engravings.
- + Very strong adherence to the 'battle-worn' descriptor with tattered cloth layers.
- + Creative and intricate braiding with beads.
- − The facial anatomy, particularly around the eyes and brow, looks slightly strained/unnatural.
- − The skin texture appears a bit over-sharpened compared to the lighting.
Verdict: Both models followed the prompt exceptionally well, but Qwen Image 2512 produces a more lifelike and physically coherent portrait with superior lighting interaction. While Qwen Image Max excelled at the complex armor engravings and tattered cloth textures, the facial realism and overall lighting in Qwen Image 2512 make it the more compelling 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.”
Qwen Image 2512
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Qwen Image 2512
- + Excellent typography with a glowing fire texture.
- + Effective use of the starburst required by the prompt.
- + Logical arrangement of suspended burger components.
- − Texture of the meat patty looks slightly less realistic compared to the other version.
Qwen Image Max
- + Outstanding photorealistic texture on the grilled patty.
- + Dynamic sense of motion with light streaks and steam.
- + Vibrant color palette and high contrast.
- − The 'exploded' effect is less pronounced, with components still clustered tightly.
- − The 'LIMITED TIME ONLY' text lacks the high-quality fiery rendering seen in the main title.
Verdict: Qwen Image 2512 followed the layout requirements more precisely, specifically the starburst and the clear separation of the 'exploded' burger layers. Qwen Image Max produced a more visually striking patty and more dynamic lighting, but the burger itself feels less 'deconstructed' than requested.
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.”
Qwen Image 2512
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Qwen Image 2512
- + Excellent symmetry and central composition.
- + Clearly displays the 'bored' expression of the passenger as requested.
- + The capybara's hands/paws are positioned well on top of the steering wheel.
- − The paws look slightly more like human/monkey hands than capybara paws.
- − The lighting on the passenger is a bit flat compared to the foreground.
Qwen Image Max
- + Dynamic side-profile angle provides a better view of the taxi's interior and New York street.
- + High level of texture detail on the capybara's fur and the jacket fabric.
- + Realistic lighting and reflections from the city lights on the car's interior surfaces.
- − The passenger is partially cut off and less prominent in the composition.
- − The capybara's hands look more like human hands covered in fur than actual paws.
Verdict: Qwen Image 2512 follows the prompt's narrative cues slightly better, specifically capturing the passenger's 'bored' expression and centralizing the capybara's professional pose. Qwen Image Max offers a more visually complex and technically impressive render with better lighting and environmental depth, though it sacrifices the clear character interaction between the driver and passenger.
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.”
Qwen Image 2512
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Qwen Image 2512
- + Excellent typography rendering for the secondary text and details
- + Clean and atmospheric border design
- + Strong cinematic lighting on the jack-o-lantern
- − Spelling error in the main title ('Hallowern')
- − The layout feels slightly cramped with the large text
Qwen Image Max
- + Perfect spelling in all text elements including the title
- + Better aesthetic adherence to 'dark parchment' and vintage feel
- + Superior composition with a more balanced use of white space
- − The font for the bottom details is basic and less elegant than the gothic theme
Verdict: While Qwen Image 2512 produces a very striking and vibrant image, it fails on a basic spelling task in its primary headline. Qwen Image Max delivers a much better overall composition that captures the 'vintage' and 'parchment' aesthetic perfectly while correctly spelling all requested text, making it the preferred choice for a usable 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.”
Qwen Image 2512
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Qwen Image 2512
- + Excellent 3D miniature diorama feel with a detailed multi-layered base.
- + Stylized text that integrates well with the overall cartoon aesthetic.
- + Superior texture work on the salmon and tuna pieces.
- − The text has minor shading artifacts around the letters.
Qwen Image Max
- + Very clean, high-clarity glass diorama base.
- + Extremely professional and sharp typography.
- + High-fidelity PBR materials, especially on the glazed eel and rice.
- − The sushi feels slightly disconnected from the plate, appearing to hover slightly.
Verdict: Both models followed the prompt exceptionally well, but Qwen Image 2512 wins slightly on the 'miniature diorama' aspect by including a textured base with moss and plants. Qwen Image Max has cleaner text rendering and a more modern 'clean' aesthetic with the glass base, but the overall composition in Qwen Image 2512 feels more like a completed scene.
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.”
Qwen Image 2512
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Qwen Image 2512
- + Excellent portrait-style composition with high-detail fur and expressive eyes
- + All requested animals are clearly visible and well-rendered in a central group
- + Beautiful lighting and god rays that feel warm and natural
- − Static posing that doesn't fully capture the 'tumbling' or 'playfully chasing' action requested
- − Butterflies are mostly floating in the background rather than being interacted with
Qwen Image Max
- + Captures requested action perfectly with animals actually tumbling and chasing
- + Dynamic composition with movement and playful interaction between animals
- + Includes beautiful dew sparkles and a wide variety of colorful wildflowers
- − Missing the baby bunny requested in the prompt
- − Includes two golden retriever puppies instead of one
- − The fox's anatomy, specifically the front paws, looks slightly awkward in its pose
Verdict: Qwen Image 2512 followed the character list much better, including all four specific animals, but opted for a static portrait. Qwen Image Max captured the joyful, tumbling movement and butterfly interaction requested in the prompt but failed to include the bunny and doubled up on the puppy. Qwen Image 2512 is the winner for its superior prompt adherence regarding the subject list.
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.”
Qwen Image 2512
Qwen Image Max
AI Judge Analysis
Qwen Image 2512
- + Excellent typography with a professional cursive style
- + More dynamic and well-integrated steam effects
- + High-quality banner design with elegant curves
- − The detail level is slightly high for a 'minimalist' request
- − The steam is emerging from the sides of the cloche rather than from underneath it
Qwen Image Max
- + Strong adherence to the 'minimalist' part of the prompt
- + Clean vector style that would scale well as a logo
- + Better paper texture effect on the background
- − Typography is a bit more generic compared to Image A
- − The steam effect is very simple and lacks the 'retro' charm of the other version
Verdict: Qwen Image 2512 produces a much more sophisticated and aesthetically pleasing design with superior typography and banner integration. While Qwen Image Max follows the 'minimalist' instruction more closely with a cleaner layout, it feels a bit plain and the text isn't as well-crafted for a vintage cafe brand.
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.