Model comparison
Seedream 5.5 vs MiniMax H3 Image
We ran the same six prompts on Seedream 5.5 and MiniMax H3 Image, in the same shape and at 2K. One try each, nothing picked or re-rolled. Here is how they compare.
Try Seedream 5.5The short answer
- Seedream 5.5 costs 1 credit at 2K. MiniMax H3 Image costs 1.5.
- Both spelled every word right on all six prompts.
- Seedream 5.5 followed the food prompt more closely. H3 Image left out the broth and the spring onion.
- Seedream 5.5 drew fuller, clearer icons on the infographic.
- Seedream 5.5 can return a PNG with a see-through background, and it takes up to 10 reference images against 8.
- H3 Image goes bigger: 4K at 16 megapixels for 4 credits. Seedream 5.5 stops at 2K.
At a glance
| Seedream 5.5 | MiniMax H3 Image | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | ByteDance | MiniMax |
| Price at 2K | 1 credit | 1.5 credits |
| Largest size | 2K, about 4 megapixels | 4K, 16 megapixels (4 credits) |
| Reference images | Up to 10 (1.5 credits at 2K) | Up to 8 |
| See-through background | Yes, as a PNG | No |
| Time per image in this test | 31 to 47 seconds | 6 to 7 minutes (all six sent at once, so they waited in line) |
Three signs in one photo
Both spelled all three signs right. Seedream 5.5 kept all three in full view, with warm golden light and dust in the air. H3 Image made the shop sign a dark painted board and let the chalkboard run off the bottom edge. Seedream 5.5 also slipped a small extra card onto the counter.
Photograph on a 35mm lens at eye level: a beautiful woman in her late twenties with long glossy chestnut hair, bright green eyes, flawless glowing skin and a radiant smile, in a fitted cream knit top and a mustard corduroy jacket, stands behind the counter of a small plant shop at golden hour, holding a terracotta pot with a fern. A hand painted wooden sign on the wall behind her reads "THE GREEN ROOM". A small chalkboard on the counter reads "REPOTTING EVERY SATURDAY". A paper tag tied to the pot reads "FERN 14". Low warm sun through the front window lighting her face, dust in the light, shelves of plants softly blurred, shallow depth of field, natural skin texture, the text must be exact, no other text anywhere.
Editorial portrait
Both look like real film photos. H3 Image pulls back to show more of the sweater and the misty water. Seedream 5.5 moves in tighter, with sharper hair and wool. Both did well.
Tight beauty editorial portrait on an 85mm lens at f/2: a strikingly handsome man in his early thirties with thick dark tousled hair, a sharp jawline, light stubble and warm hazel eyes, in a navy fisherman sweater, turns toward the camera with a slight confident smile on a harbor wall at dawn as sea mist drifts behind him, soft silver light with a faint warm glow from the left, individual hairs and wool fibers visible, natural skin texture, fine color negative film grain, magazine cover quality, no text.
Product shot with a label
Both wrote DEW NO. 5 cleanly and set the bottle on wet slate with mint beside it. H3 Image placed three droplets, as asked. Seedream 5.5 framed the label in a thin box. Both did well, and Seedream 5.5 costs less.
Studio product photograph on a 100mm macro lens: a frosted glass bottle of pale green skincare serum with a brushed gold cap stands on a wet slab of dark slate, three water droplets on the glass, one sprig of fresh mint beside it, hard rim light from the right, soft fill from the left, deep forest green gradient background, crisp reflections, advertising quality, photoreal. The label on the bottle reads "DEW NO. 5" in thin black capitals, the text must be exact, no other text.
Concert poster
Every line is spelled right on both. H3 Image framed the art in a square on a rust background. Seedream 5.5 filled the whole page with the sun and the rooftops. Both did well.
Flat vector concert poster in a mid-century style. Headline at the top reads "SUNDOWN SESSIONS" in tall cream geometric capitals. Below it a smaller line reads "LIVE JAZZ ON THE ROOF". Central illustration: a trumpet player in silhouette against a huge orange sun with city rooftops below. At the bottom a line reads "EVERY FRIDAY 8 PM" and under it "TICKETS AT THE DOOR". Palette of burnt orange, cream, teal and charcoal, subtle paper grain, the text must be exact, no other text anywhere.
Infographic
Both got the title and all four labels right. Seedream 5.5 draws the fuller icons: a scale of coffee, a kettle on a stove, a dripper over its carafe. H3 Image kept the icons plain, and its dripper has no carafe. Seedream 5.5 wrote 94 C with a degree sign.
Clean flat infographic on a cream background titled "HOW TO BREW POUR OVER COFFEE" in bold dark brown capitals at the top. Four numbered steps in a row, each with a simple icon and a short label under it: step 1 a scale icon with the label "WEIGH 20 G", step 2 a kettle icon with the label "HEAT TO 94 C", step 3 a dripper icon with the label "BLOOM 30 SEC", step 4 a cup icon with the label "POUR IN CIRCLES". Thin arrows between the steps, palette of dark brown, terracotta and sage green, the text must be exact, no other text anywhere.
Food photo
Seedream 5.5 wins this one. It made a real bowl of ramen, with broth, spring onion and chili oil. H3 Image left out the broth and used leafy greens in place of the spring onion. Neither shot straight down.
Overhead food photograph on a 50mm lens: a blue ceramic bowl of ramen with a soft egg cut in half, three slices of pork, spring onion, a sheet of nori and chili oil catching the light, wooden chopsticks resting on the rim, a small dish of pickles and a glass of iced tea beside it on a dark walnut table, steam rising, hard window light from the top left with long shadows, photoreal, no text.
Run your own test
Both models are on Pixel Dojo. Copy any prompt above and try it on each.