In the era of AI explosion, choosing a high-quality, accurate, and fast text-to-image model is of utmost importance for content creators. Google DeepMind has launched the Imagen series, with three notable versions: Imagen 3, Imagen 4, and Imagen 4 Ultra. So, what are the differences between these versions? Which model should you use to suit your needs? Let’s dive into the details with Yuto!
How to Use Imagen 4 for Free - Create Ultra-Realistic Images with Google’s AI
1. Overview of Imagen Versions
Imagen 3: Launched in 2024, it marks a significant leap forward for Google in AI image generation with high quality, impressive realism, and support for multiple styles. However, it still has limitations in text rendering and image generation speed.
Imagen 4: Released in May 2025, this version is a major upgrade over Imagen 3. It supports high resolution up to 2K, sharp text rendering, significantly faster image generation speed, and better handling of complex details.
Imagen 4 Ultra: The premium version, optimized for precision in interpreting prompts, making it extremely suitable for detailed, professional requirements or near-absolute fidelity needs.
2. Detailed Comparison Between Imagen 3, Imagen 4, and Imagen 4 Ultra
| Criteria | Imagen 3 | Imagen 4 | Imagen 4 Ultra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Late 2024 | May 2025 | May 2025 |
| Maximum Resolution | 1024×1024 (with upscale) | Up to 2K, supports multiple ratios | Equivalent to Imagen 4 |
| Detail Quality | Good, but not overly sharp | Major improvement, hyper-realistic details | Best, faithful to prompt |
| Text Rendering | Often blurry or incorrect | Accurate, clear, sharp | Extremely accurate to prompt |
| Image Generation Speed | Average, takes a few seconds | Has “Fast Variant” mode, 10x faster | Slower but high fidelity |
| Prompt Understanding | Good | Very good | Excellent – precise to every detail |
3. Key Highlights of Each Version
🔹 Imagen 3 – Basic but Powerful
- Suitable for beginners or simple creative needs.
- Capable of creating beautiful images in various artistic styles.
- Not ideal for typography or infographic requirements.
🔹 Imagen 4 – Comprehensive & Fast
- Ideal for professional design, advertising, and websites.
- Offers a great balance of image quality, speed, and text rendering.
- Reasonably priced, suitable for most individual users and small businesses.
🔹 Imagen 4 Ultra – Precision in Every Detail
- Designed for those who need ultra-accurate results based on prompts.
- Perfect for comics, event posters, and digital products requiring high detail.
- Higher cost, but worth every penny.
Testing Image Generation with the Same Prompt Across 3 Models
To verify the differences, I used the same prompt to generate images with all three models.
A beautiful Vietnamese girl in a short, alluring dress, standing on a Vietnamese street, holding a sign that reads:
Wishing you a happy day
→ The Imagen 4 Ultra model rendered the text quite accurately, Imagen 4 had slight errors in the text, while Imagen 3 failed to follow the prompt correctly.
A selfie of a young Vietnamese couple. The beautiful, charming girl in a short, seductive dress holds a sign that says
Forever with you
→ In this prompt, both Imagen 4 models failed to render the text accurately, while Imagen 3 produced a very realistic image.
A half-body portrait shot with a Canon 6D2 camera, 85mm F1.2 lens, of a beautiful 20-year-old Vietnamese girl wearing a Kimono, posing gracefully under cherry blossom trees in Japan during spring, with beautiful spring lighting
→ The Imagen 4 Ultra and Imagen 4 models generated images quite close to the prompt, while Imagen 3 didn’t adhere to it as well.
4. Which Model Should You Choose?
- 👉 You need absolute accuracy to the prompt: Imagen 4 Ultra
- 👉 You need speed + consistent quality: Imagen 4
- 👉 You want to explore creativity on a budget: Imagen 3
5. Conclusion
There is no “absolute best” model – only the one that best suits your purpose. Imagen 4 offers a balanced choice between speed, cost, and quality. If you’re a perfectionist with high demands for detail and accuracy, Imagen 4 Ultra is the perfect candidate. Meanwhile, if you’re working with a limited budget or just need simple illustrative images, Imagen 3 remains a formidable option.
I hope this article helps you choose the right AI image generation tool. Follow YutoIT.com to discover more AI tips and smart tech tricks!
