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 introduced the Imagen series, with three noteworthy versions: Imagen 3, Imagen 4, and Imagen 4 Ultra. So, what are the differences between these versions? Which model should you choose 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 and impressive realism, supporting 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, delivers sharp text rendering, significantly faster image generation, and excels at rendering complex details.
Imagen 4 Ultra: The premium version, optimized for precision in interpreting prompts, making it ideal for detailed, professional requirements or near-perfect fidelity.
2. Detailed Comparison of 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, ultra-realistic details | Best, highly faithful to prompt |
| Text Rendering | Often blurry or incorrect | Accurate, clear, and sharp | Extremely precise with prompt |
| Image Generation Speed | Average, takes a few seconds | Has a “Fast Variant” mode, 10x faster | Slower but with 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 generating beautiful images in various artistic styles.
- Not ideal for typography or infographic requirements.
🔹 Imagen 4 – Comprehensive & Fast
- Ideal for professional design, advertising, and websites.
- Strikes a great balance between image quality, speed, and text rendering.
- Reasonably priced, suitable for most individual users and small businesses.
🔹 Imagen 4 Ultra – Precision in Every Detail
- Perfect for those who need ultra-accurate results based on prompts.
- Great for comics, event posters, or digital products requiring high detail.
- Higher cost, but worth every penny.
Testing Image Generation with the Same Prompt Across 3 Models
To test the differences, I used the same prompt and generated images with all three models.
Prompt:
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.
Prompt:
A selfie of a young Vietnamese couple. The girl is beautiful and charming in a short, sexy dress, holding 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.
Prompt:
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
→ Both Imagen 4 Ultra and Imagen 4 generated fairly accurate images, while Imagen 3 didn’t adhere closely to the prompt.
Prompt:
A street scene in a Vietnamese city, with a sugarcane juice cart nearby, a sign reading
Super Clean Sugarcane Juice,and a beautiful 20-year-old Vietnamese girl selling it
→ It seems that the Imagen 3 model still only understands English prompts.
4. Which Model Should You Choose?
- 👉 You need absolute precision with prompts: Imagen 4 Ultra
- 👉 You need speed + consistent quality: Imagen 4
- 👉 You want to explore creativity on a budget: Imagen 3
5. Conclusion
There’s no single “best” model – only the one that best fits 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. On the other hand, 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 pick the right AI image generation tool for your needs. Follow YutoIT.com to discover more AI tips and smart tech tricks!
