OpenAI announced Images 2.6 on November 4, 2026, adding GIF creation and more precise iterative editing across ChatGPT, Codex and the API. The company reports 50% faster image generation; that figure is its own comparison, not a result measured by this site. Official source.
Choose for the job you need to finish
The API offers GPT-Image-2.6 Flare and Sunburst. OpenAI positions Flare for fast iteration and Sunburst for finer detail and consistency at medium or high quality. A separate complexity control governs scene planning; it should not be treated as another name for image quality.
A practical comparison to run
- Use the same product image and brief for both variants; hold output size and quality settings constant.
- Request several small edits and inspect lettering, logos, geometry and details that should remain unchanged.
- Record the time and billable usage for all attempts, including rejected outputs. Compare cost per accepted asset rather than the fastest single image.
Availability and cost boundaries
The announcement says Images 2.6 is available globally in ChatGPT and Codex across subscription tiers. API use has its own usage pricing: a subscription does not establish an API allowance. Token rates are not a fixed price per finished image; consult the pricing page and your actual request settings before budgeting.
Sources and method
Official source · Related documentation
Prepared with AI assistance from official materials, checked on November 6, 2026. No hands-on test was performed. The checks suggested above are editorial recommendations.
