Microsoft AI: MAI-Image-2.6 vs OpenAI: GPT-5.4 Image 2
A side-by-side comparison of Microsoft AI: MAI-Image-2.6 ($17.50 / 1M tokens) and OpenAI: GPT-5.4 Image 2 ($28.00 / 1M tokens) using current USD prices and capabilities from the api14 catalog. Both run through the same OpenAI-compatible API.
Specifications
| Microsoft AI: MAI-Image-2.6 | OpenAI: GPT-5.4 Image 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Microsoft | OpenAI |
| Input | $17.50 / 1M tokens | $28.00 / 1M tokens |
| Image input | $133.00 / 1M tokens | - |
| Image output | $133.00 / 1M tokens | $105.00 / 1M tokens |
| Output | - | $52.50 / 1M tokens |
| Cache read | - | $7.00 / 1M tokens |
| Web search | - | $35.00 / 1K searches |
| Context window | 4,096 | 272,000 |
| Max output | 1,024 | 128,000 |
| Input | text, image | image, text, file |
| Output | image | image, text |
| Tool calling | ||
| Structured output | ||
| Reasoning control | ||
| Added | Sep 4, 2026 | Apr 21, 2026 |
Key differences
- Microsoft AI: MAI-Image-2.6 is 38% cheaper on input tokens.
- OpenAI: GPT-5.4 Image 2 reads 66.4× more context (272,000 tokens).
- Only OpenAI: GPT-5.4 Image 2 supports structured JSON output.
- Only OpenAI: GPT-5.4 Image 2 supports reasoning effort control.
In depth
Microsoft AI: MAI-Image-2.6 is an image model from Microsoft, listed under the model id microsoft/mai-image-2.6. OpenAI: GPT-5.4 Image 2 is an image model from OpenAI, listed under the model id openai/gpt-5.4-image-2. Both sit in the same category on api14, so the choice between them comes down to how much context you need, what you want back, and how much control you want over the generation.
The two differ most in scale and output. MAI-Image-2.6 has a context window of 4096 tokens, accepts text and image input, and returns images only. GPT-5.4 Image 2 has a context window of 272000 tokens, accepts image, text and file input, and can return both image and text. That means the OpenAI model is the one to reach for when your prompt, reference material or attached file is long, or when you want a written response alongside the picture. GPT-5.4 Image 2 also exposes structured outputs and reasoning controls, which MAI-Image-2.6 does not. On price, MAI-Image-2.6 is the cheaper option for input; output pricing is about the same for both, so the input side is where the Microsoft model saves you money.
For short, image-only jobs, MAI-Image-2.6 is usually enough. If you are sending a brief prompt and just want an image back, its smaller context and simpler parameter set (max_completion_tokens, max_tokens, temperature) keep the call straightforward, and its lower input cost matters when you are running many requests. Pick GPT-5.4 Image 2 when the task needs a large context, a file attachment, a text answer next to the image, or structured output you can parse. Its reasoning and verbosity parameters also help when you want the model to work through a more involved prompt before producing the image.
Calling either model through api14 works the same way because the API is OpenAI-compatible. You send your request to the same endpoint with the same request shape, and the only thing you change is the model id: use microsoft/mai-image-2.6 for the Microsoft model or openai/gpt-5.4-image-2 for the OpenAI model. Parameters that a given model does not support should be left out, so keep the MAI-Image-2.6 call to its listed parameters and use the wider set only with GPT-5.4 Image 2. Switching between them is a one-line edit, which makes it easy to test both against your own workload.
There are still cases where MAI-Image-2.6 is the better pick even though GPT-5.4 Image 2 is larger. If your prompts are short, you only need an image returned, and input cost is the deciding factor, the Microsoft model does the job without the extra context and parameters you would not use. GPT-5.4 Image 2 remains the stronger choice when context length, file input, text output, structured outputs or reasoning controls are part of the requirement.
Switch with one string
Both models use the same endpoint and request shape. Change the model value from "microsoft/mai-image-2.6" to "openai/gpt-5.4-image-2" and prompts, streaming and tools keep working.
import OpenAI from "openai";
const client = new OpenAI({
baseURL: "https://api14.com/api/v1",
apiKey: process.env.API14_API_KEY,
});
const result = await client.images.generate({
"model": "openai/gpt-5.4-image-2",
"prompt": "A minimalist product photo of a ceramic mug on a wooden table",
"n": 1,
"aspect_ratio": "1:1"
});
import { writeFile } from "node:fs/promises";
await writeFile("image.png", Buffer.from(result.data[0].b64_json, "base64"));
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