Rapid image iteration
Flash-oriented latency makes it practical to generate, evaluate, and refine several versions during an interactive creative session.
Independent tool overview
Nano Banana 2 at a glance
Nano Banana 2, officially Gemini 3.1 Flash Image, is Google's mainstream image generation and conversational editing model, combining fast output with 0.5K-to-4K resolution, strong text rendering, reference consistency, and web grounding.
Visit the official Nano Banana 2 site ↗
- Official model
- Gemini 3.1 Flash Image
- Model code
- gemini-3.1-flash-image
- Resolution range
- 512px to 4K
- Context window
- 131,072 input tokens
Overview
What Nano Banana 2 is
Nano Banana 2 is Google's product name for Gemini 3.1 Flash Image. It is the company's general-purpose image model for users and developers who want a stronger balance of quality, latency, and cost than the premium Nano Banana Pro model.
The model accepts text, images, and PDFs and can return images and text. It supports 512px, 1K, 2K, and 4K output, wide and tall aspect ratios, conversational editing, multilingual text rendering, subject consistency, and grounding with both Google Web Search and Image Search.
Google made Nano Banana 2 the default image model across several products, including Gemini and Flow, while retaining Nano Banana Pro as a specialized option for maximum fidelity and factual accuracy. Developers can use stable model code gemini-3.1-flash-image through the paid Gemini API.
Use cases
Who Nano Banana 2 is best for
The strongest fit depends on the job you need the product to complete, not the size of its feature list.
High-volume developer workflows
The lower per-image API price is designed for applications and pipelines that generate more assets than a premium model would economically support.
Text-heavy graphics
Improved multilingual rendering supports marketing mockups, cards, diagrams, posters, and localized image edits.
Consistent subjects and objects
Use multiple reference assets for storyboards, campaigns, and compositions that need recurring people, characters, or products.
Capabilities
Core Nano Banana 2 features
Fast conversational creation
Nano Banana 2 is tuned for quick generation and multi-turn edits so users can refine an image through focused follow-up requests.
Four output sizes
The API supports 0.5K, 1K, 2K, and 4K images, ranging from inexpensive previews to higher-resolution production assets.
Expanded aspect ratios
Alongside common social and display formats, the model supports extreme 1:4, 4:1, 1:8, and 8:1 layouts.
Web and Image Search grounding
The model can use current text and image search results to inform generation, subject details, diagrams, and factual visual content.
Multilingual text rendering
It can render legible copy inside images and translate or localize existing designs for supported languages.
Reference consistency
Google says it can maintain the resemblance of up to five characters and the fidelity of up to 14 objects in one workflow.
SynthID and C2PA provenance
Google combines embedded SynthID watermarking with a broader effort to attach interoperable C2PA Content Credentials.
Process
How the Nano Banana 2 workflow works
Step 1
Choose consumer or API access
Use Nano Banana 2 in an eligible Google product for interactive work or model code gemini-3.1-flash-image for an application.
Step 2
Specify the output format
Define the subject, exact text, references, style, aspect ratio, and output resolution before generating.
Step 3
Start economical, then upscale
Use 0.5K or 1K for early concepts and reserve 2K or 4K output for selected versions that need extra resolution.
Step 4
Make narrow follow-up edits
Change one element at a time and restate any people, products, text, or layout that must remain consistent.
Step 5
Run a human QA pass
Verify text, numbers, identities, products, source facts, rights, and platform requirements before publishing or automating distribution.
Cost
Nano Banana 2 pricing and free plan
Nano Banana 2 is included in supported Google products under their own access rules and quotas; Google currently lists it as a zero-credit default for Flow users. The Gemini API has paid Standard and Batch rates with no listed free tier for this image model.
Google product access
Included subject to product limits
Available across products including Gemini, Search, Flow, Ads, AI Studio, Antigravity, and Vertex AI, with availability and quotas varying by surface and plan.
- Default image model in the Gemini app
- Zero-credit image generation for all Flow users at launch
- Check the relevant Google product for current quotas
Gemini API Standard
$0.045 to $0.151 per image
On-demand pricing varies with the selected output resolution.
- $0.045 per 0.5K image
- $0.067 per 1K image
- $0.101 per 2K image
- $0.151 per 4K image
- $0.50 per 1M text or image input tokens and $3 per 1M text or thinking output tokens
Gemini API Batch
$0.022 to $0.076 per image
Lower-cost asynchronous pricing for workloads that can use the Batch API.
- $0.022 per 0.5K image
- $0.034 per 1K image
- $0.050 per 2K image
- $0.076 per 4K image
- $0.25 per 1M input tokens and $1.50 per 1M text or thinking output tokens
Pricing checked . Check current pricing at the source ↗
Assessment
Nano Banana 2 strengths and limitations
Where it stands out
- Covers concept previews and 4K production output in the same model.
- Costs substantially less per generated image than Nano Banana Pro at current API rates.
- Combines fast iteration with subject consistency and improved text rendering.
- Web and Image Search grounding can improve current or visually specific requests when sources are checked.
- Stable API model code and Batch support make it suitable for repeatable developer workflows.
What to consider
- Nano Banana Pro remains the better fit for the most demanding fidelity, factual accuracy, and precision-control tasks.
- The Gemini API lists no free tier for gemini-3.1-flash-image.
- Generated text, charts, localized copy, identities, and grounded facts can still be wrong and require review.
- The model does not support function calling, structured output, caching, code execution, URL context, or the Live API.
- Search grounding beyond the shared monthly allowance adds a separate per-request cost.
- Availability and quotas differ among Gemini, Search, Flow, AI Studio, Ads, Antigravity, and Vertex AI.
Compare
Nano Banana 2 alternatives
The right alternative depends on the specific output, workflow, controls and budget your project requires.
Design
Nano Banana Pro
Choose Nano Banana Pro for Google's premium image model when maximum fidelity, factual accuracy, and creative control outweigh cost and speed.
Explore Nano Banana Pro →Design
Ideogram
Consider Ideogram for a dedicated design product with strong text-centric image generation and brand-oriented workflows.
Explore Ideogram →Content Creator
ChatGPT Images
Consider ChatGPT Images for conversational generation and editing inside the broader ChatGPT assistant.
Explore ChatGPT Images →Questions
Nano Banana 2 FAQs
What is Nano Banana 2?
Nano Banana 2 is Google's Gemini 3.1 Flash Image model, designed for fast, cost-efficient image generation and conversational editing with output from 512px to 4K.
Is Nano Banana 2 the same as Nano Banana Pro?
No. Nano Banana 2 is the faster, lower-cost general-purpose model. Nano Banana Pro remains Google's premium choice for the most complex, high-fidelity, and fact-sensitive visual tasks.
How much does the Nano Banana 2 API cost?
Standard API image prices range from $0.045 for 0.5K to $0.151 for 4K. Batch prices range from $0.022 to $0.076 per image, depending on resolution.
Can Nano Banana 2 generate 4K images?
Yes. It supports 0.5K, 1K, 2K, and 4K output, plus common and extreme aspect ratios.
Can Nano Banana 2 use reference images?
Yes. Google says it can maintain the resemblance of up to five characters and the fidelity of up to 14 objects in a workflow. Results still need visual review.
Does Nano Banana 2 use web search?
It supports grounding with both Google Web Search and Image Search. The Gemini API includes 5,000 shared Gemini 3.x search requests per month, then charges $14 per 1,000 requests.
Bottom line
Our Nano Banana 2 verdict
Nano Banana 2 is the sensible default in Google's image family for most interactive and high-volume work. It delivers a strong mix of speed, resolution, reference consistency, and text rendering at less than Nano Banana Pro's API cost. Use Pro only when the extra fidelity and control justify it, and keep human review in the loop for every factual, branded, identity-sensitive, or text-heavy asset.
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