Seedream 4.0
ByteDance Seed · Sep 2025 · Proprietary (API only) · site
ByteDance's closed-weights flagship — unified generation + editing with native 4K output.
What it is
Seedream 4.0 is ByteDance Seed's image flagship, announced in September 2025. Unlike the other entries on this list, it's closed-weights and API-only. It merges generation and editing into a single unified architecture, supports text-to-image up to 4K resolution, and handles batch multi-input/multi-output workflows. ByteDance cites top rankings on their internal MagicBench and on the third-party Artificial Analysis Image Arena at release.
Method
Text → Image
Max res
4K
Speed
Standard (5–15s)
Generated with Seedream 4.0
No public samples for Seedream 4.0 yet.
Honest take
Strengths & limitations
Strengths
- +Native 4K output — higher than most open competitors
- +Unified generation + editing architecture
- +Batch multi-in / multi-out processing
- +High ranking on Artificial Analysis Image Arena at release
Limitations
- −Closed weights — API-only, no self-hosting or fine-tuning
- −Pricing and availability not publicly documented on the landing page
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