# Nano Banana 2 vs Pro: which is better? A test on identical prompts

> Nano Banana 2 vs Pro: for most jobs Nano Banana 2 is enough. It ranks 9th on Arena against 14th for Pro, costs half as much in the API at 1K and follows formal requirements more precisely. Pro gives a livelier, more “authored” picture with richer detail, but more often adds things you didn't ask for. Both models are available in AI2Face.

Published 2026-10-02 · Updated 2026-10-02
URL: https://ai2face.com/blog/nano-banana-2-vs-pro

Nano Banana 2 came out three months after Pro, and it's now the model Gemini draws with by default, with or without a subscription. Both are successors to the original [Nano Banana](/models/nano-banana). So the main question is whether you can forget about Pro. We ran both models on identical prompts (an infographic in Russian, a portrait, a scene with six required objects) and put specs, API prices and blind-vote ranks in one table.

## Nano Banana 2 and Pro: specs

| | [Nano Banana 2](/models/nano-banana-2) | [Nano Banana Pro](/models/nano-banana-pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Official name | Gemini 3.1 Flash Image | Gemini 3 Pro Image |
| Released | February 26, 2026 | November 20, 2025 |
| Arena rank (Sept 24, 2026) | 9 of 80 | 14 of 80 |
| Resolution | 0.5K, 1K, 2K, 4K | 1K, 2K, 4K |
| Aspect ratios | 14, including 1:4, 4:1, 1:8, 8:1 | 10, from 21:9 to 9:16 |
| References | up to 14: 4 people and 10 objects | up to 14: 5 people and 6 objects |
| Features | Google Search, including image search | thinking mode: up to 2 drafts before the final image |
| In Gemini | without a subscription | only with a Google AI plan |

The Arena ranking is built on blind voting: users see two images from one prompt and pick the better one without knowing the models. Nano Banana 2 ranks five places above Pro.

## Text and infographics: both error-free, but different

The first test was a four-step infographic in Russian with the instruction “all text exactly as given, no other text”.

![Two “How to brew pu-erh” infographics: on the left a tidy table of four steps, on the right a 2×2 grid with timers and captions in quotation marks](https://ai2face.com/_astro/text-infographic.8DDHOeWp_DAUey.jpg "One prompt: Nano Banana 2 on the left, Nano Banana Pro on the right. Both wrote the Russian text without errors")

Both models wrote all the Russian text without a single typo. The difference is in how they treat the instruction:

- **Nano Banana 2** did exactly what was asked: a heading, four steps and not a single extra word.
- **Nano Banana Pro** drew richer illustrations but took the quotation marks from the prompt literally and wrapped every caption in them. It also added timers (“10 сек”, “20 сек”) and an “8X” label on its own.

For an infographic, a product card or any layout where an extra word is a defect, Nano Banana 2 is the safer choice. If the quotation marks in your prompt are only there for markup, take them out for Pro.

## Portrait: Pro is livelier, Nano Banana 2 is tidier

The second test was a street portrait of a girl with peonies in the rain, shot on an 85 mm lens.

![Two versions of a portrait of a girl with peonies under a clear umbrella at a flower market in the rain: on the left she smiles at the camera, on the right she looks away](https://ai2face.com/_astro/portrait.CLMD-LvI_Z1PQcvQ.jpg "One prompt: Nano Banana 2 on the left, Nano Banana Pro on the right")

Both models produced a photorealistic frame with wet hair, drops on the umbrella and believable skin. Nano Banana 2 put the subject straight to camera with a wide smile, which is closer to advertising and stock. Pro chose a reportage angle and a restrained half-smile: the frame looks taken by a photographer, not generated. For “looks like a real photo” portraits and [AI photoshoots](/blog/ii-fotosessiya), Pro has a small edge.

## Complex scene: both got the clock wrong

The third test was a bookshop that must contain exactly six objects: a cat on the counter, a red umbrella by a shelf, a globe on a stool, a ladder, a clock set to 3:15 and a green lamp.

![Two versions of a bookshop: in both, a black cat sleeps on the counter, with a globe, a red umbrella, a ladder, a green lamp and a wall clock](https://ai2face.com/_astro/complex-scene.C2L34nCH_Z1DO2l5.jpg "One prompt: Nano Banana 2 on the left, Nano Banana Pro on the right. Neither set the time to 3:15")

Both models found all six objects. But neither set the clock to 3:15: on Nano Banana 2 the hands show about 2:13, and on Pro exactly 3:00. Pro again added extras: a second green lamp under the ceiling and an umbrella on a hook rather than by the shelf. An exact time on a clock face is still a weak spot of the whole family, so allow 2–3 attempts or a fix with a second prompt for details like that.

## Speed and price

Google doesn't publish generation time in seconds, but it positions Nano Banana 2 as a Flash-speed model and Pro as a model with a thinking mode that can make up to two interim images before the final one.

Prices are from the Gemini API price list as of October 2, 2026, per image:

| Resolution | Nano Banana 2 | Nano Banana Pro |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5K | $0.045 | not available |
| 1K | $0.067 | $0.134 |
| 2K | $0.101 | $0.134 |
| 4K | $0.151 | $0.24 |

In batch mode both models cost half as much. At 1K, Nano Banana 2 is half the price of Pro, and at 4K about 1.6 times cheaper. For more on what Nano Banana costs in Google subscriptions and in AI2Face, see [Nano Banana pricing](/blog/nano-banana-cena).

## Where to use Nano Banana 2 and Pro

In the Gemini app, Nano Banana 2 works without a subscription and downloads in 1K. Pro opens only with a Google AI plan, and images download in 2K. There's also a third version, [Nano Banana 2 Lite](/models/nano-banana-2-lite): the fastest and cheapest, but 1K only. How to use the models for free is covered in the guide [Nano Banana free](/blog/nano-banana-besplatno).

In AI2Face both models are available in one generator: you can run one prompt on Nano Banana 2 and on Pro and compare the results, as in this article. The cost of each generation is shown before you start, you can pay by card, crypto or another convenient method, and credits from packs don't expire.

## Nano Banana 2 or Pro: which to pick for the job

| Job | Model | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Infographics, product cards, layouts with text | Nano Banana 2 | holds “nothing extra” more precisely, costs less |
| Drafts and finding an idea | Nano Banana 2 | faster, has 0.5K at $0.045 |
| A portrait that looks like a real photo | Nano Banana Pro | livelier angle and expression |
| An ad shot with mood | Nano Banana Pro | richer detail and light |
| A scene with people from photos | Pro for up to 5 people, Nano Banana 2 for up to 4 | Pro takes more people in references |
| 1:4 and 8:1 banners | Nano Banana 2 | Pro doesn't have these formats |
| Bulk generation of hundreds of images | Nano Banana 2 or Lite | price |

## Bottom line

Nano Banana 2 is the default model, and deservedly so: it ranks above Pro in the blind vote, costs half as much at 1K, follows formal requirements more precisely and handles unusual aspect ratios. Pro remains the tool for the final shot: portraits, ad frames and scenes where atmosphere and fine detail matter and an extra caption does no harm. A workable routine is to settle the composition and prompt on Nano Banana 2, then rerun the final frame on Pro. In AI2Face both models are in one window: try your own prompt on both at once with welcome credits.

## FAQ

### Which is better, Nano Banana 2 or Pro?

For most jobs, Nano Banana 2: it ranks higher on Arena (9th against 14th), costs less and follows the prompt more precisely. Pick Pro for final portraits and ad shots where atmosphere and detail matter.

### How does Nano Banana 2 differ from Pro?

Nano Banana 2 is Gemini 3.1 Flash Image (February 2026) and Pro is Gemini 3 Pro Image (November 2025). Nano Banana 2 adds 0.5K resolution, aspect ratios up to 1:8 and image search; Pro has a thinking mode and more people in references.

### Which model is cheaper?

Nano Banana 2. In the Google API a 1K image costs $0.067 against $0.134 for Pro, and 4K costs $0.151 against $0.24. In the Gemini app, Nano Banana 2 is available without a subscription and Pro only with a Google AI plan.

### Which model renders text in images better?

Both wrote the Cyrillic text in our test without errors. Nano Banana 2 followed the “no other text” requirement more precisely, while Pro added the labels “10 сек” and “8X” on its own.

### Which model should I choose for portraits?

Pro, if you want a lively, imperfect shot with mood. Nano Banana 2, if you want a polished, ad-style smile to camera and a cheaper series of similar portraits.

## Sources

- https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/pricing
- https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/image-generation
- https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/14286560
- https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/16275805
- https://arena.ai/leaderboard/text-to-image