GPT Image 2.5: Flare for speed, Sunburst for detail
OpenAI's newest image model, in both variants, in one browser workbench.
OpenAI released GPT Image 2.5 on September 8, 2026 as two models. Flare is the fast default: OpenAI says it delivers higher-quality images than GPT Image 2 at 50% lower latency. Sunburst takes longer per image and gives tighter control for demanding edits. LazyKiwi lists both in the AI image generator, so you can draft with Flare, switch to Sunburst for the final pass, and never leave the page.
- Provider
- OpenAI
- Variants
- Flare · Sunburst
- Released
- Sept 8, 2026
- Credits
- From 13 / image
How it works
Three steps from prompt to finished image
GPT Image 2.5 works like every other model in the LazyKiwi image workbench: one prompt box, one model picker, and the credit cost shown before you generate.
1Pick Flare or Sunburst
Open the image generator and choose GPT Image 2.5 Flare for quick drafts or GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst for careful, detailed work. Type your prompt, and add a reference photo if you want the result to follow a real subject.
2Set ratio and resolution
Choose 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3 or 3:4, then 512, 1K, 2K or 4K. The Generate button shows the credit cost for that exact combination before anything runs.
3Generate, compare, refine
Run the prompt, keep the strongest image, and download it. If one version is close but not quite right, switch the picker to Sunburst and refine that image with a targeted edit.
What's new in GPT Image 2.5
Two models, one upgrade
According to OpenAI's launch post, Images 2.5 brings more natural lighting, richer textures, better preservation of subjects from reference photos, and more reliable editing across several turns. The two API models split that upgrade by priority: Flare for speed, Sunburst for precision.
GPT Image 2.5 Flare
The fast default for everyday images
OpenAI calls Flare the default choice for most applications and says it delivers higher-quality images than GPT Image 2 at 50% lower latency. That makes it the one to reach for when you need many images quickly and want to explore several directions before committing.
- Creator and social content
- Product visuals and rapid prototyping
- High-volume batches and first drafts
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
Tighter control for demanding edits
Sunburst trades speed for precision. OpenAI describes it as built for premium visual workflows that benefit from tighter control across edits, with longer generation times, and suggests it for production-ready campaign creative and polished product imagery.
- Campaign hero images
- Polished product shots
- Multi-step edits on one chosen image
Reference fidelity
Subjects that stay recognizable
OpenAI says Images 2.5 is better at working from reference photos: subjects look more recognizable in new settings and styles, and lighting and textures feel more natural. In LazyKiwi, add a reference image next to your prompt to use it.
- Upload a reference photo with your prompt
- Move a familiar subject into a new scene
- More natural lighting and texture
Precise edits and layouts
Change one thing, keep the rest
Images 2.5 is better at editing only what you ask for while keeping the other details the same, per OpenAI, including a single product, background or piece of copy. OpenAI also reports more accurate real-world information in images and support for more complex layouts.
- Swap a background or product without redrawing the scene
- Edits stay consistent across several turns
- Better handling of complex layouts
Directions to try
Ideas to run with GPT Image 2.5
Start from one of these directions and adapt the prompt to your brand. The preview images come from our GPT Image 2 page; native GPT Image 2.5 samples are on the way.
E-commerce product photo
Editorial cover illustration
Social media brand post
Brand mascot sheet
Specs
GPT Image 2.5 at a glance
What the LazyKiwi image workbench offers for both GPT Image 2.5 variants.
- Provider
- OpenAI
- Variants
- GPT Image 2.5 Flare (speed) and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst (precision)
- Release date
- September 8, 2026
- Type
- Image generation and editing
- Inputs
- Text prompt, optional reference image
- Resolution options
- 512, 1K, 2K, 4K
- Aspect ratios
- 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3, 3:4
- Credits per image
- 512: 13 · 1K: 13 · 2K: 17 · 4K: 20 (currently discounted from 130 / 130 / 170 / 200)
- Best for
- Flare: drafts, social content, volume. Sunburst: hero images, product shots, careful edits
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst vs Flare
Flare vs Sunburst: which one to pick
Both variants take text and image inputs and return images, and both cost the same credits in LazyKiwi. The difference is speed versus control. A practical workflow: generate several directions with Flare, pick the strongest, then refine it with Sunburst. For other styles, compare Nano Banana and Seedream 5.0, or step back to GPT Image 2.
| Model | Strength | Best for | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPT Image 2.5 Flare | Higher quality than GPT Image 2 at 50% lower latency (per OpenAI); OpenAI's default choice for most applications | Social and creator content, product concepts, moodboards, rapid prototyping, high-volume generation | Fast |
| GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst | Extra precision and tighter control across edits, with longer generation times | Production-ready campaign creative, polished product imagery, multi-step edits on one image | Slower |
| GPT Image 2 | The previous GPT Image generation, still available in the workbench | Matching earlier projects made with GPT Image 2 | Standard |
Use cases
What to make with GPT Image 2.5
Match the variant to the job: Flare when you need options quickly, Sunburst when one image has to be exactly right.
Social posts in volume
Use Flare to turn one brief into a batch of post and thumbnail variations, then keep the ones that fit your feed.
Product photos
Draft product scenes with Flare, then use Sunburst to fix a label, a shadow or the background of the shot you chose.
Campaign hero images
Sunburst is built for polished, production-ready creative where small details have to stay put across several edits.
Photos of real subjects
Upload a reference photo and place the same person, pet or product in a new setting or visual style.
FAQ
GPT Image 2.5 FAQ
What is GPT Image 2.5?
GPT Image 2.5 is OpenAI's image model released on September 8, 2026. It comes as two models: GPT Image 2.5 Flare, optimized for speed, and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst, optimized for precision. Both take text and image inputs and output images. In ChatGPT the same upgrade is called ChatGPT Images 2.5.
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst vs Flare: which should I use?
Start with Flare. OpenAI calls it the default for most applications, with higher quality than GPT Image 2 at 50% lower latency, so it suits drafts, social content and batches. Switch to Sunburst when a single image needs careful work, such as a campaign hero image or a product shot you are editing in several steps. It takes longer per image in exchange for tighter control.
What is GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst?
Sunburst is the quality-first GPT Image 2.5 model. OpenAI describes it as built for premium visual workflows that benefit from tighter control across edits, with longer generation times. In LazyKiwi it costs the same credits as Flare.
What is GPT Image 2.5 Flare?
Flare is the speed-first GPT Image 2.5 model and OpenAI's default recommendation. OpenAI says it produces higher-quality images than GPT Image 2 at 50% lower latency and suits creator content, product experiences, rapid prototyping and high-volume generation.
When was GPT Image 2.5 released?
OpenAI announced ChatGPT Images 2.5 and released GPT Image 2.5 Flare and GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst in its API on September 8, 2026. Both variants are available in the LazyKiwi image generator.
How much does GPT Image 2.5 cost on LazyKiwi?
LazyKiwi charges credits per image by resolution, and Flare and Sunburst cost the same: 13 credits at 512 or 1K, 17 at 2K and 20 at 4K. Those prices are currently discounted from 130, 130, 170 and 200 credits. The Generate button shows the exact cost before you run a prompt, and plans are listed on the pricing page.
Is there a GPT Image 2.5 API on LazyKiwi?
No. LazyKiwi is a web workbench, not an API reseller: you use GPT Image 2.5 in the browser from the image generator. If you want to call the model from your own code, OpenAI offers both GPT Image 2.5 Flare and Sunburst in its own API, with pricing published by OpenAI.
How is GPT Image 2.5 different from GPT Image 2?
OpenAI says Images 2.5 produces more natural lighting and richer textures, preserves subjects from reference photos better, and follows edit instructions more reliably across several turns. Flare in particular generates higher-quality images than GPT Image 2 at 50% lower latency. GPT Image 2 is still available in LazyKiwi if you want to match older work.
Can I edit my own photo with GPT Image 2.5?
Yes. In the image generator, upload a reference image next to your prompt and describe the change, such as a new background or a different setting. OpenAI says Images 2.5 is better at changing only what you ask for while keeping the rest of the image the same.
What sizes and aspect ratios does GPT Image 2.5 support in LazyKiwi?
You can choose 16:9, 9:16, 1:1, 4:3 or 3:4, and a resolution of 512, 1K, 2K or 4K. Higher resolutions cost more credits per image.
Create with GPT Image 2.5
Open the image generator with GPT Image 2.5 Flare selected. Switch to Sunburst from the same model picker whenever an image needs extra precision.
More image models
Other image models in the same LazyKiwi workbench.