Short answer: today, the only thing official material says about both GPT Image 2.6 and GPT Image 2.5 is that they support the new markup edit field. OpenAI hasn't published 2.6's model ID, price, resolution, reference limit or quality results, so any speed or quality comparison is guesswork. GPT Image 2.5 is live now, and for most projects there's no reason to wait.
GPT Image 2.6 vs 2.5: side by side
| GPT Image 2.5 | GPT Image 2.6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Released September 8, 2026 | Named in OpenAI's API spec on October 28, 2026; not released |
| Model IDs | gpt-image-2.5-flare, gpt-image-2.5-sunburst | Not published |
markup edits | Listed as supported in the spec | Listed as supported in the spec |
| Reference images for edits | 1 to 16 on HiAPI | Not published |
| Output sizes | 1K, 2K, 4K on HiAPI | Not published |
| Transparent background | PNG and WebP | Not published |
| Price on HiAPI | $0.025 (1K), $0.04 (2K), $0.06 (4K) per image | Not published |
| Callable today | Yes | No |
What can be compared today
Markup: the one shared feature
OpenAI's spec change on October 28 (commit aa880040) added this description to the image edit endpoints:
A transparent PNG overlaid on the first image to guide the edit. Must match that image's dimensions after orientation and contain transparent pixels. Supports GPT Image 2.5 and 2.6. Cannot be combined with mask.
So markup isn't a 2.6 exclusive. Both versions take a transparent overlay with circles, arrows or notes drawn on it, and use the marks to decide what to change. Whether 2.6 follows those marks more precisely than 2.5 is the obvious question, and there's no public answer yet.
One caveat for HiAPI users: our GPT Image 2.5 requests don't include a markup field yet. Edits on HiAPI's 2.5 use a prompt plus reference images.
Everything else: not published
Text rendering, photorealism, speed, maximum resolution, how many references 2.6 accepts, whether it comes in Flare and Sunburst variants like 2.5: none of it has been published. We'll fill in the right-hand column as OpenAI does.
What GPT Image 2.5 already does
If you're deciding whether to start now, this is what's available on HiAPI today:
- Two variants. Flare and Sunburst, same price. How they differ is covered in GPT Image 2.5 Flare vs Sunburst.
- Generation and editing on one model ID, through
POST /v1/tasks. Pass 1 to 16image_urlsto edit or combine references. - 1K, 2K and 4K output, one image per task.
- Transparent backgrounds in PNG or WebP.
- Quality tiers on the @pro route, from LOW at $0.0172 to MAX at $0.7143 per image.
Pricing details are in the GPT Image 2.5 API pricing guide, and request code is in the GPT Image 2.5 API guide.
Should you wait for GPT Image 2.6?
Start with 2.5 if:
- You're shipping something in the next few weeks. 2.6 has no release date.
- You need predictable cost now. 2.5's prices are fixed and published; 2.6's aren't.
- Your workflow is generation, reference-based edits or transparent assets. 2.5 covers all three.
Wait for 2.6 if:
- Your product depends on a capability 2.5 doesn't handle well for you, and you're willing to bet 2.6 fixes it without evidence either way.
- You're only evaluating, with no launch date of your own.
Starting on 2.5 doesn't lock you in. If 2.6 keeps the same request shape on HiAPI, moving over is a model ID change. Turn on Notify me at launch on the GPT Image 2.6 page to hear when that's possible.
How to test the switch when 2.6 opens
- Keep a fixed set of 10 to 20 prompts and reference images you already run on 2.5.
- Run the same set on 2.6 with the same size and settings.
- Compare cost per accepted image, not just price per image: a cheaper model that needs more retries costs more.
- If you use markup on OpenAI's API, test the same overlays on both versions.
FAQ
Is GPT Image 2.6 better than 2.5?
Unknown. OpenAI hasn't published any results for 2.6.
Does GPT Image 2.5 support markup?
OpenAI's spec lists GPT Image 2.5 as supported. On HiAPI, 2.5 requests don't include a markup field yet.
Will GPT Image 2.6 replace 2.5?
OpenAI hasn't said. GPT Image 2 is still listed after 2.5's release, so a new version hasn't automatically retired the previous one.
Can I try GPT Image 2.6 on HiAPI?
Not yet. The model page is live with a launch alert. New accounts get up to 2,000 free credits ($1) to try 2.5 in the meantime.
More on 2.6 itself: What Is GPT Image 2.6? and GPT Image 2.6 Release Date.
