Ever really feel that bitter disappointment of unwrapping a much-hyped present solely to seek out it is not fairly what you anticipated? That sinking sensation when actuality does not match the advertising? Nicely, buckle up, as a result of Midjourney’s newest launch may simply take you on that emotional rollercoaster.
When Midjourney introduced their v7 mannequin, I waited with anticipation. In any case, that is the corporate that modified AI artwork technology — the title that grew to become synonymous with gorgeous, detailed, virtually magical picture technology. Their earlier iterations set benchmarks that left opponents scrambling to catch up.
And now, v7 promised to lift that bar even larger. Higher understanding of prompts. Enhanced photorealism. Improved context consciousness. Textual content technology that truly is sensible. The promotional supplies painted an image of an AI picture device that will make even probably the most expert photographers and artists do a double-take.
However does it ship on these lofty guarantees?
Let’s dive into what Midjourney v7 will get proper, the place it falls brief, and whether or not this extremely anticipated replace is definitely price your time and subscription {dollars}.
What’s Midjourney v7?
Midjourney is not simply one other AI picture generator — it is the device that made AI artwork mainstream. Since its launch in 2022, it is remodeled from an fascinating experiment to the gold normal for creating gorgeous, real looking photos from textual content prompts.

Midjourney v7 is their newest mannequin, launched in early April 2025 with guarantees of nice enhancements. The corporate claimed enhanced understanding of complicated prompts, higher composition, extra correct textual content rendering, and photorealistic high quality that will blur the road between AI technology and pictures.
On paper, it sounds unbelievable. In follow? Nicely, that is the place issues get sophisticated.
Midjourney v7 Pattern Outputs
Portraits
Immediate: portrait, a younger lady, glamour road medium format pictures, female, shot on cinealta, evening, pastel hues

Immediate: Leica M6 and the Leica Summicron-M 40mm f/1.8, younger man in his 20s wanting up the sky smiling, plain white shirt, on a phenomenal sunny day in a sunny day, smiling, sporting white linen, silhouette, coloured, Kodak Portra 400

Okay, first ideas: actually good, all issues thought of.
The factor is, I simply don’t assume it’s an enchancment. I consider it’s a sidegrade at greatest. One of many issues I’ve at all times praised about Midjourney is that it’s in a position to create extremely real looking photos, however these photos don’t really feel proper. It’s too clean, too good, too… AI.
Granted, that is primarily the primary iteration of their latest mannequin. However so far as first impressions go, Midjourney 7 is leaving a foul style.
Panorama
Immediate: a rugged shoreline eroded by relentless waves, towering cliffs that is been sculpted into dramatic arches and hidden coves, seabirds soar above, mist swirls alongside the horizon

Immediate: mount everest base camp, leica m6, panorama pictures

Some artifacts in these photos are blurring collectively (look intently on the tents) and to not point out that these simply look pretend. It’s bizarre — I’ve some points with their earlier model, however that is means worse. It’s like they took what’s working and broke it.
Film Stills
Immediate: previous 90s television present nonetheless, three pals speaking on a settee whereas consuming a beer

Immediate: movie nonetheless, again shot of a girl coming into a bar, symmetrical, muted colours, directed by orson welles

These two photos present lack of context understanding. The primary one is much less egregious, however you’ll be able to nonetheless see that these three males are simply the identical character with little modifications. Similar hair, identical jacket sample. To not point out that the one within the center is lacking his proper leg.
My immediate for the second picture specified that the girl is “coming into a bar.” Downside is, she’s already there.
Product Renders
Immediate: product pictures, a whiskey bottle together with a glass containing the whiskey, cottage core, stunning lighting, earthcore, ultra-detailed
Immediate: business pictures, a fragrance bottle, pastel blue background, dreamy, delicate lighting, centered, flowers to embellish the background
The primary one is de facto good, however shadows in the second are problematic. So far as high quality, it’s on par with their final mannequin, which isn’t good.
Mimicking Artwork Types
Immediate: a sundown on the seashore, vincent van gogh

One factor I’ll say about this new mannequin: it’s higher at imitating Vincent Van Gogh’s artwork fashion than its earlier iteration. At the very least we will see some enchancment on this regard.
Digital Artwork
Immediate: a God in his most artistic and his maddest, linocut print, silver hair, blue eyes, spiraling into ecstasy, shigeo fukuda, surreal interstellar background, indigo, stunning and colourful cosmos, minimalist

Immediate: a younger lady sitting on a grassy hill at dawn, midnight blue, gold, inexperienced, orange, pastel colours, clear line artwork painted by Ilya Kuvshinov, Ed Brubaker, Apollonia Saintclair, Jack Kirby, Brian Michael Bendis

Digital artwork is one factor that Midjourney has at all times performed properly, and I’m glad to see that the development’s nonetheless going that means. These are nice artworks that seem like it’s been performed by a human.
Let’s Discuss About Context and Textual content Era
Final month, OpenAI launched their new AI picture mannequin. Aside from improved creativity, it was largely thought of successful as a result of it was (no less than, for my part) the primary mannequin to point out true understanding of context, and textual content technology or including textual content to AI photos.
Let me offer you an instance from GPT-4o:
Immediate: A instructor in a classroom. He is in his 60s. He is sporting a checkered shirt. It is 7am. He is writing the next on the blackboard:
“Newton’s Legal guidelines of Movement”
“One: Objects keep nonetheless or transfer until influenced.”
“Two: Power equals mass instances acceleration”
“Three: Each motion has an equal reverse response.”

It’s not good, however contemplating the quantity of textual content I wished to incorporate, this was as near right as we’re going to get from a 2025 AI mannequin. This additionally reveals nice understanding of context since, even with out specifying it, they used “Newton’s Legal guidelines of Movement” because the header.
Now, let’s attempt to use the identical immediate in Midjourney 7.
Immediate: A instructor in a classroom. He is in his 60s. He is sporting a checkered shirt. It is 7am. He is writing the next on the blackboard:
“Newton’s Legal guidelines of Movement”
“One: Objects keep nonetheless or transfer until influenced.”
“Two: Power equals mass instances acceleration”
“Three: Each motion has an equal reverse response.”

No enchancment on this regard from Midjourney 7. It’s nonetheless simply gibberish, like a two-year previous attempting to write down by copying the letters.
The Backside Line
With these outcomes, I’m going to make a daring assertion: Midjourney 7 was launched as a response. It’s apparent that it’s not prepared, and the one purpose why it’s even being rolled out is as a result of OpenAI pressured them by releasing an AI picture mannequin that’s miles forward of any picture generator we’ve seen.
What’s notably irritating is that Midjourney had the time (it’s been a 12 months and a half since v6) and assets to get this proper. As an alternative, they rushed a half-baked product to market.
Look, I am not saying Midjourney v7 is horrible throughout the board. It has its moments, notably with digital artwork the place it continues to shine. However when a brand new model performs worse than its predecessor in key areas like photorealism and context understanding, we have to name it what it’s: a disappointment, no less than in comparison with OpenAI’s new mannequin.
The AI picture technology house is shifting at breakneck velocity, and Midjourney cannot afford to relaxation on their laurels — particularly not when their opponents are closing the hole. OpenAI has thrown down the gauntlet, and Midjourney’s hasty response merely is not ok.
Is Midjourney nonetheless the most effective AI picture turbines on the market? Completely. Is v7 the revolutionary improve we have been promised? Not even shut.