GPT Image 2.6 Flare and Sunburst: what changes for YouTube thumbnails
OpenAI released GPT-Image-2.6 to the API with two image models, Flare and Sunburst. OpenAI says both make images 50% faster than before. GPT Image 2.6 Flare is live in ThumbnailCreator today at the same per-image price as 2.5 Flare.
What OpenAI announced
From the OpenAI Developers announcement:
- Speed. Flare and Sunburst “generate images 50% faster than before.”
- Edits. “At medium or high quality, Sunburst keeps details more consistent from one edit to the next.”
The 2.6 models also add a complexity setting (low, medium or high). It controls how much the model plans before it draws. Higher complexity helps with dense text and busy layouts, which is most thumbnails, but it can take longer.
What is live in ThumbnailCreator
- GPT Image 2.6 Flare replaces GPT Image 2.5 Flare. It runs at medium quality with complexity set to high, and costs $0.10 per image, the same as before.
- GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst isn’t available yet on Replicate, the service that runs our models. GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst stays in the lineup at $0.26 per image until 2.6 is available to run here.
Agents get the new model the same way: list_models over MCP and the x402 quote both show gpt-image-2.6-flare. Saved calls that still name gpt-image-2.5-flare need the new id.
What it means for thumbnails
Faster drafts. Flare is already the cheap way to get readable headline text. A faster Flare means less waiting when you compare it with other models side by side.
Steadier edits with Sunburst. When you refine a thumbnail over several edits, or make a series from one reference photo, the face, logo and props should stay the same each time. OpenAI says 2.6 Sunburst holds those details better at medium and high quality. We’ll test that claim once it is available here.
What we haven’t tested yet
The 50% figure is OpenAI’s. We haven’t timed 2.6 Flare ourselves, and the model benchmark still shows GPT Image 2.5 Flare’s results. When we rerun it, the new results will go on that page.
Try GPT Image 2.6 Flare with a headline prompt
Pay per image. No subscription.
FAQ
Did the price change?
No. GPT Image 2.6 Flare costs $0.10 per image, the same as 2.5 Flare. You’re charged only for images that succeed.
Can I still use GPT Image 2.5 Flare?
No. 2.6 Flare replaced it. Past 2.5 Flare thumbnails stay in your history.
When will GPT Image 2.6 Sunburst be available?
When Replicate offers it. We’ll add it then and list it in the changelog.