Image generation models are evolving at an unprecedented pace, yet the gap between polished demos and reliable, real-world performance persists. Our study introduces a structured, taxonomy-driven benchmark to cut through the hype and offer a factual, reproducible evaluation of five major text-to-image models: Seedream 4.0, Higgsfield Soul, GPT Image 1, Flux.1 Kontext, and Nano Banana Pro.

Objective

To provide creators, developers, and teams with the clarity they need to select the right tool for their specific workflow, highlighting where each model excels and where it still falls short. This is a condensed preview of our full benchmark study.

​​Preview Disclaimer

Evaluations were conducted by annotators using structured rubrics across 40 prompts spanning multiple use cases, styles, and composition complexities. A detailed methodology breakdown, taxonomy documentation, and extended analysis will be published shortly.

TL;DR

• Best all-rounder: Nano Banana Pro
• Best for realism/factual accuracy: GPT Image 1
• Best for artistic/creative work: Seedream 4.0 or Nano Banana Pro

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Overview of Model Performance

Our evaluation, structured across comprehensive rubrics, reveals a closely contested field.

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Nano Banana Pro shows a slight edge in overall consistency, while GPT Image 1 and Seedream 4.0 are strong contenders.

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Strategic Model Selection Guide

To help you choose the best tool for your next project, here is a breakdown of what each model is best suited for:

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Key Findings by Rubric

The study was structured around four core evaluation rubrics: Visual Aesthetics, Quality Adherence, Creativity & Novelty, and Realism (Fairness & Representation).

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What the rubrics reveal:

• Visual Aesthetics: Nano Banana Pro scored highest (90.12%); Higgsfield Soul's craftsmanship inconsistency limits professional use
• Quality Adherence: GPT Image 1 scored highest (85.97%); text legibility is the industry-wide weak point (64.60% average)
• Creativity: Nano Banana Pro and Seedream 4.0 scored strongest; Higgsfield Soul and Flux.1 Kontext favored safe interpretations
• Realism: GPT Image 1 achieved highest scores with superior lighting and proportions

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Key Findings by Task Type

When breaking down performance by task type, the competitive landscape shifts, indicating that model selection should be task-specific:

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Detailed Observations by Category

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Appendix

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