Key facts
- Google released Nano Banana 2.1 on Oct. 6.
- The new AI model is available in the Gemini app, Google Search's AI Mode, Google Ads, and developer tools.
- Google's tests show Nano Banana 2.1 has a factuality score of 0.521, compared to 0.179 for Nano Banana 2.
- Nano Banana 2.1 scored 1,050 ELO Points in text-to-image tests, surpassing Nano Banana 2 (990) and Nano Banana Pro (935).
- Developer pricing for a standard 1K image is $0.0336, about half the price of Nano Banana 2.
- A 4K image costs $0.0756, also half the price of the previous version.
Google released Nano Banana 2.1 on October 6, the latest iteration of its AI model designed to generate and edit images from text prompts. The model is being rolled out across Google's ecosystem, including the Gemini app, Google Search's AI Mode, Google Ads, and developer tools like Google AI Studio, Flow, and Stitch.
Internal testing by Google indicates that Nano Banana 2.1 surpasses its predecessors, Nano Banana 2 and Nano Banana Pro. In text-to-image tests, Nano Banana 2.1 achieved 1,050 ELO Points, compared to 990 for Nano Banana 2 and 935 for Nano Banana Pro. Google's own factuality score for the new model was 0.521, significantly higher than Nano Banana 2's 0.179. Independent testing results were not yet available at launch.
Key upgrades in Nano Banana 2.1 include enhanced visual design, more precise mask-based editing capabilities, and improved subject consistency, which helps maintain the appearance of a person or object across multiple edits. The model can handle up to 14 reference images simultaneously, track up to four characters and ten objects, and output images at resolutions up to 4K with aspect ratios as wide as 8:1.
For developers, the pricing for a standard 1K image through Google's API has been reduced to $0.0336, approximately half the cost of Nano Banana 2. A 4K image is priced at $0.0756, also a 50% reduction. Batch processing of images receives an additional 50% discount. The original Nano Banana model was credited with the success of Gemini, driving it to the top of app store charts in September 2025.