The arrival of Midjourney V7 has generated significant buzz within the AI art community, especially given the mixed reception of V6. After more testing than I’d care to admit, I’ve found that V7 largely feels like a refinement of V6 rather than the revolutionary leap forward many were hoping for. This update would have been impressive six months ago, but in today’s rapidly advancing AI landscape, it comes across as somewhat underwhelming, and OpenAI is not the only one releasing new models.
What’s New in Midjourney V7?
V7 introduces several improvements that address some of the limitations users experienced with V6, but these enhancements feel more iterative than transformative. It’s the kind of update that makes you say, “Okay, that’s nice,” rather than “Wow, this changes everything.” It addresses some issues, but introduces none of the features users are asking for.
Omni Reference: Marginal Improvement to Character Consistency
The headline feature of V7 is the new omni reference capability, designed to maintain consistent character and object portrayal across multiple images. This directly addresses one of the most significant pain points in V6, where users frequently complained about inconsistent interpretations of prompts and character designs.
While this feature shows promise, initial testing suggests it works best in controlled scenarios rather than complex, multi-character compositions where consistency issues often arise. It’s like giving a toddler crayons and expecting them to color inside all the lines, occasionally it happens, but not often.
Prompt Adherence Improvements
Midjourney claims V7 will successfully handle approximately 70% of the prompts that V6 struggled with. This means better adherence to specific details and more accurate interpretations of user instructions. However, as the initial rollout is an alpha version, we can expect some rough edges that will need refinement post-launch.
In my testing, V7 does show improvement in accurately rendering detailed descriptions, but still falls short when handling complex spatial relationships or unusual aesthetic combinations. Vibe coding only goes so far if the results aren’t correct.
Midjourney V6 vs V7: Key Differences
V7 addresses some key limitations of V6 but maintains the same overall approach and aesthetic.
Processing Speed Enhancements
V7 promises faster generation times compared to V6, which should be welcome news for users who found the previous version’s rendering speeds frustrating. In practice, the speed improvements are noticeable but come with higher system requirements, potentially limiting accessibility for users on older hardware. It won’t matter if you have to buy an expensive computer to effectively use it.
The tradeoff between speed and resource consumption is a common theme in AI advancement, but it’s worth considering whether the performance gains justify the increased hardware demands, especially for casual users. People with older GPUs or integrated graphics cards will suffer.
Image Quality and Detail
Midjourney claims V7 produces more detailed and vibrant images with enhanced realism. While there is a noticeable improvement in certain details like facial features and textures, the overall aesthetic remains distinctly “Midjourney” – maintaining that slightly surreal, artistic quality that defines the platform.
For users who specifically seek the Midjourney aesthetic, this consistency might be welcome. However, for those hoping for more photorealistic or technically precise outputs, the improvements may not be substantial enough to warrant excitement. It is clear that artistic aesthetic is still being prioritized but that is not necessarily a good or bad thing that is just a choice that they have made.
The Timing Problem: A Missed Opportunity
Perhaps the most significant issue with V7 isn’t what it includes, but when it’s arriving. The AI image generation space has changed rapidly, with competitors with DALL-E 3 and Stable Diffusion showing improvements rapidly.
Had V7 been released six months ago, its improvements would have felt more impressive against the competition at that time. Instead, it feels like Midjourney is behind in innovation because as this field advances its competitors are becoming more powerful at a more rapid rate.
This timing issue is particularly relevant for professional users who need reliable, accurate image generation. While Midjourney maintains its artistic images, its utility for applications using images for commercial intent remains limited compared to some alternatives. If you want to see what true advancement looks like in AI image Generation see Runway’s Gen-4, which clearly shows the contrast.
User Feedback and Market Position
Community response has been lukewarm. While many users appreciate the improvements some technical improvements, the most common sentiment is that the update doesn’t address some of the usability issues that would make Midjourney more practical.
Features that users have asked for include:
- Better background editing capabilities
- Improved font and text handling
- More precise control over composition elements
- Better inpainting and outpainting tools
Instead of focusing on these enhancements, V7 seems to refine the existing Midjourney workflow. This approach will likely not resonate with users seeking more functional control over the images they create.
The “Midjourney Vibe” vs. Practical Utility
Is Midjourney V7 designed for practical things, or is it simply improving the style? Based on the features and improvements in V7, it appears Midjourney is continuing to prioritize its artistic style. Some users specifically choose Midjourney but this places the platform differently from the competition that emphasizes precision.
For those who value artistic interpretation and are less concerned with accuracy, V7 offers refinements. For people requiring control for commercial applications, the improvements may not address their main problems.
How V7 Compares to Other AI Image Generators
To put Midjourney V7 in perspective, it’s worth comparing it to other leading AI image generators:
- DALL-E 3 – Offers superior text rendering and better literal interpretation of prompts, but with less artistic flair than Midjourney
- Stable Diffusion – Provides greater customization options and more technical control, though often requiring more technical knowledge
- Adobe Firefly – Focuses on commercial applications with robust editing capabilities, though with a more limited stylistic range
While each platform has its strengths, Midjourney’s position seems clear: it excels at creating good-looking artistic images with a distinctive style, but technical precision is lacking compared to some of the alternative platforms.
Is V7 Worth the Upgrade?
Whether adopting V7 depends on what you are trying to accomplish:
Who Should Upgrade to V7:
- Users who like the Midjourney aesthetic but want better consistency
- Those who found the previous version’s speed frustrating
- Artists looking for more detailed and vibrant outputs in the same style
Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere:
- Technical users requiring more control
- Professionals seeking photorealistic outputs for commercial applications
- People who don’t like Midjourney’s style
For many existing Midjourney users, V7 will refine a tool they already enjoy. However, those hoping that V7 would address more fundamental problems may be disappointed.
The Future of AI Image Generation
Midjourney V7 is a sign of where AI image generation is going. As the technology develops, we’re seeing platforms go in different directions rather than converging on one perfect solution as seen with AI agents. Some platforms are improving on their artistic and good-looking features. Others are focusing more on technical precision. This diversification benefits people by providing tailored tools.
Looking forward, we can expect more diversification. The next breakthroughs will likely come from new approaches rather than updates to existing models.
Final Thoughts: A Mediocre Update
Midjourney V7 refines the platform’s existing features, but it doesn’t change Midjourney itself. For users who like the the style, the improvements in consistency and detail will be good improvements to a tool that they already enjoy.
However, for those hoping that V7 would address the problems of the platform, this update may be disappointing. The timing of the release further diminishes its impact.
Ultimately, Midjourney V7 is neither bad nor good – it’s simply what was expected. If Midjourney can maintain relevance is another question. For now, V7 wants to improve the existing but not change how it generates images.
