July 2026 brought three major image generation model updates. We tested Midjourney V6.2, Black Forest Labs' FLUX.1, and Stability AI's Stable Diffusion 3.5 across 100 prompts in five categories. Here are the results.
We used 100 prompts across five categories: photorealistic portraits, artistic illustrations, product photography, architecture/interior design, and text-in-image. Each image was rated on a 1-10 scale by three judges: a professional photographer, a digital artist, and a graphic designer. We also measured generation time and counted usable outputs.
Winner: Midjourney V6.2 (8.7/10)
Midjourney produced the most aesthetically pleasing portraits with natural skin textures and convincing lighting. FLUX.1 scored 8.2/10 with slightly better anatomical accuracy but less artistic quality. SD3.5 scored 7.5/10 — good but with visible artifacts in hair and eyes.
Winner: Midjourney V6.2 (9.1/10)
Midjourney's artistic output remains unmatched. The V6.2 update improved color harmony and composition. FLUX.1 scored 8.0/10 with a more "digital" look. SD3.5 scored 7.8/10, producing decent illustrations but lacking the "painterly" quality of Midjourney.
Winner: FLUX.1 (8.8/10)
FLUX.1 surprised us by winning this category. Its product shots had the cleanest backgrounds, most accurate material representation, and best lighting control. Midjourney scored 8.3/10 — beautiful but sometimes "too artistic" for commercial product photography. SD3.5 scored 7.6/10 with occasional background artifacts.
Winner: FLUX.1 (8.5/10)
FLUX.1 rendered text correctly in 78% of prompts — a massive improvement over previous generation models. Midjourney V6.2 scored 7.2/10 (70% accuracy, up from 30% in V6.1). SD3.5 scored 6.8/10 (62% accuracy). FLUX.1's text rendering makes it the best choice for marketing materials with text overlays.
| Model | Portraits | Artistic | Product | Text | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midjourney V6.2 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 8.3 | 7.2 | 8.3 |
| FLUX.1 | 8.2 | 8.0 | 8.8 | 8.5 | 8.4 |
| SD 3.5 | 7.5 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 6.8 | 7.4 |
Midjourney V6.2 remains the best choice for artists and designers who prioritize aesthetic quality. At $10/month, it is the best value for creative work.
FLUX.1 is the best choice for commercial and marketing use cases. Its superior product photography and text rendering make it ideal for advertising materials. Available via API and through various platforms.
Stable Diffusion 3.5 is the best choice for developers and technical users who need local generation, custom models, and full control. As an open-source model, it has no usage limits and can be fine-tuned for specific use cases.
Explore all AI image tools in our AI Image category.