OpenAINotable

GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst

Released Sep 8, 2026

OpenAI's precision-tier image model from the Images 2.5 launch, aimed at detailed creative work and tight control across edits, at the cost of longer generation times.

Price per image: —
Max resolution: 3840x2160
AA arena Elo: 1199
LMArena Elo: 1425
Capabilities: text to image, editing, inpainting, reference images
Licence: Proprietary

Strengths & weaknesses

Strengths

#1 on both the Artificial Analysis and LMArena text-to-image leaderboards (2026-10-14)
Better at preserving reference subjects and earlier edits across turns
Adds xhigh and max quality levels above high
Custom sizes up to 3840px on the long edge

Weaknesses

Longer generation times than Flare
Prompt-based masking, so the model may not follow the exact mask shape
OpenAI says it can still struggle with precise text placement

Size limits are from the OpenAI image-generation guide: max edge 3840px, total pixels 655,360 to 8,294,400, aspect ratio between 1:3 and 3:1. OpenAI calls anything above 2560x1440 experimental. AA scored it at "max" quality. The LMArena score is marked Preliminary. The model page marks the Responses endpoint unsupported but also says the model can be selected for the Responses image tool, and the two statements conflict.

Links

API model strings

openaigpt-image-2.5-sunburst
openaigpt-image-2.5-sunburst-2026-09-08