Black Forest Labs' distilled 9 billion parameter image generation model with sub-second inference and multi-reference support
Settled by community votes across 2 shared challenges, with an AI judge weighing in on each.
FLUX.2 [klein] 9B
21.3
arena score
#7 of 23 in Image Editing
Skill signature
Not enough comparable category data
The chart appears once both models have ratings across at least three shared arena categories.
Recraft V4 Pro
24.3
arena score
#18 of 44 in Text-to-Image
Vote tally
Where the votes landed
FLUX.2 [klein] 9B
0%
win rate
Ties
0%
Recraft V4 Pro
0%
win rate
Shared challenges
2
Challenge by challenge
The strongest take from each model on every shared challenge, with the AI judge's read.
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.2 [klein] 9B
Recraft V4 Pro
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 9B
- + Excellent typography integration with high-quality glowing and fiery effects.
- + Strong food photography aesthetic with vibrant, appetizing colors.
- + Dynamic composition with effective use of sparks and motion lines.
- − The burger is tilted but not truly 'exploded' or separated as requested.
- − The sauce drops look slightly unnatural and plastic-like.
Recraft V4 Pro
- + Perfect adherence to the 'exploded' burger concept with clearly separated components.
- + Great photorealistic texture on the bun and individual ingredients.
- + Accurate starburst and fiery text rendering as requested.
- − The overall lighting is a bit darker and less 'commercial' than model A.
- − The starburst placement feels slightly cramped in the top right corner.
Verdict: Both models followed the complex prompt very well. FLUX.2 [klein] 9B created a much more commercially appealing and vibrant advertisement, but failed to actually separate the burger components into an exploded view. Recraft V4 Pro followed the layout instructions more literally, delivering a true exploded burger with high-quality details, though it lacks the polish of the first image's lighting.
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.2 [klein] 9B
Recraft V4 Pro
AI Judge Analysis
FLUX.2 [klein] 9B
- + Excellent realistic chalk texture with smudges and natural variations.
- + Perfect adherence to the 'elegant cursive' requirement for the title.
- + Captures the requested 'handwritten-style' with varying slants and letter sizes.
- − Small typo in the footer text ('fress' instead of 'fresh').
Recraft V4 Pro
- + Provides a wider environmental context for the café setting.
- + All requested menu items and prices are present and correctly spelled.
- − Text looks like a digital font rather than authentic chalk handwriting.
- − The title lacks the requested 'elegant cursive' style.
- − The font is too uniform and lacks the grain and texture of real chalk.
Verdict: FLUX.2 [klein] 9B followed the stylistic instructions much more closely, delivering a convincing chalk-on-board texture and beautiful cursive handwriting as requested. Recraft V4 Pro failed the negative constraint regarding digital fonts, producing a look that appears overlayed and artificial rather than handwritten.
Next steps
Explore each model
Recraft's latest image generation model at ~2048px resolution with stronger composition, refined lighting, and realistic materials for print-ready and large-scale work