AI IMAGE GENERATION MODELS COMPARISON
Which model delivers the best results and what is each best suited for?
AI image generation models differ more than you might think at first glance. One model excels at realism, another at text rendering, and yet another at artistic graphics or anime.
In this article, we compare four popular models:
- Nano Banana (Pro)
- Seedream 4.5
- ChatGPT Image (OpenAI)
- Grok Image
The comparison focuses on image quality, realism, and practical applications.
Nano Banana (Pro)
Nano Banana, especially the Pro version, is currently one of the strongest image generation models in terms of quality and realism.
The model can create images so realistic that they're very difficult to distinguish from actual photographs. This especially applies to portraits, lifestyle photos, product photography, and realistic scenes.
Key advantages:
- Very high level of photorealism
- Excellent skin and facial detail quality
- Great multilingual support
- Very good text rendering
- Excellent infographics and marketing graphics
Nano Banana also excels at image-to-image mode. You can draw a simple sketch on paper, take a photo, and generate a YouTube thumbnail, social media graphic, or advertising banner based on it.
Nano Banana Pro — 12 credits | Standard — 4 credits
Seedream 4.5
Seedream 4.5 is a model that comes close to Nano Banana in terms of realism, especially for portraits, photos of people, and photorealistic scenes.
The model handles facial anatomy, proportions, lighting, and image depth very well.
Advantages
- Cheaper than Nano Banana
- No aggressive content filters
- Great creative freedom
- Very good realism
Limitations
- Weaker multilingual support
- Worse infographics and text
- Issues with special characters
Seedream 4.5 is a Chinese model created by the makers of TikTok, and despite language limitations, it's a very powerful tool for photorealistic images.
ChatGPT Image (OpenAI)
OpenAI's image generation model is a very versatile tool that works well for everyday tasks.
Key advantages:
- Good multilingual support
- Clear infographics
- Consistent and aesthetic graphics
Compared to Nano Banana, images can look more "computer-generated," and realism is slightly weaker. However, after recent updates, realism has significantly improved, portraits look much better, and quality differences are shrinking.
ChatGPT Image is a great choice for infographics, idea visualization, educational content, and if you're already using the ChatGPT ecosystem.
Grok Image
Grok Image is a model that was heavily promoted through marketing, but in practice:
- Struggles with photorealism
- Not suitable for realistic portraits
- Poor at infographics with text
- Major text rendering issues
However, Grok excels at:
- Artistic styles
- Anime
- Fantasy illustrations
- Concept art
Grok is more of a tool for fun and stylization rather than professional business applications.
How Did We Compare?
To ensure a fair and meaningful comparison, all models received exactly the same prompt. We didn't change the description, style, or details — the only variable was the model generating the image.
This allowed us to realistically compare: facial and skin realism, anatomy, lighting, image depth, and overall photographic effect.
Prompt used for comparison
"Photorealistic portrait of an adult woman, around 25-30 years old, attractive and elegant, subtle makeup, natural skin, long well-groomed hair. Wearing a stylish dress with a subtle neckline, emphasizing her figure in an elegant way. Soft studio lighting, beauty dish style, gentle shadows on face. Waist-up shot, 85mm lens, shallow depth of field, blurred background. Fashion photography style, high realism, natural colors, very high quality, professional photoshoot look."
Why this prompt?
- Tests realism and skin quality
- Checks anatomy and proportions
- Shows how the model handles clothing
- Verifies lighting and depth of field
- Is neutral and repeatable
Summary — Which Model to Choose?
Nano Banana Pro — best choice for realism and quality
Seedream 4.5 — very good realism at a lower price
ChatGPT Image — versatile, stable, improving quality
Grok Image — good for anime and stylization, weak realism and text
There is no single model perfect for everything. The best results come from consciously choosing a model for a specific use case.