# Nano Banana 2 Lite: the fastest, cheapest Nano Banana model

> Nano Banana 2 Lite is Google's fastest and cheapest image model in the Nano Banana family, officially Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite Image. Released on June 30, 2026, it makes a 1K image in about 4 seconds for $0.0336 in the API — half the price of Nano Banana 2. Resolution is 1K only. Nano Banana Lite is available in the AI2Face generator.

Developer: Google DeepMind · Released: 2026-06-30 · Updated 2026-10-02
URL: https://ai2face.com/models/nano-banana-2-lite

## Key facts

| | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Google DeepMind |
| Official name | Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite Image |
| Release date | June 30, 2026 |
| What it does | Generates and edits images fast from text and references |
| Resolution | 1K only (1024 × 1024 for a square) |
| Aspect ratios | 14, including 1:1, 3:2, 4:5, 9:16, 16:9, 21:9 |
| Speed | About 4 seconds per image, according to Google |
| API price | $0.0336 per 1K image, $0.0168 in batch mode |
| Thinking mode | minimal or high |
| In AI2Face | Yes, in the generator |

## What is Nano Banana 2 Lite

Nano Banana 2 Lite is an image generation model from Google DeepMind, officially Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite Image. Google introduced it on June 30, 2026, alongside the [Gemini Omni Flash](/models/gemini-omni) video model, and called it the fastest and most cost-efficient model in the [Nano Banana](/models/nano-banana) family.

Lite launched in Google AI Studio, the Gemini API and Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, and in consumer products — the Gemini app, AI Mode in Search, NotebookLM and Google Photos. In the Gemini app, it kicks in when the Flash-Lite model is selected and works without a subscription. In the API, Google offers it as the successor to the original Nano Banana (gemini-2.5-flash-image).

## What Nano Banana 2 Lite can do

**Speed.** According to Google, Lite returns a text-to-image result in about 4 seconds. That makes it handy wherever users wait for results in real time: in apps, builders and while iterating on ideas.

**Price.** $0.0336 per 1K image in the Gemini API — half the price of [Nano Banana 2](/models/nano-banana-2) ($0.067) and a quarter of [Nano Banana Pro](/models/nano-banana-pro) ($0.134). In batch mode, it's $0.0168.

**Conversational edits.** Lite supports interleaved generation and editing: you can refine an image over several messages in a row without starting the scene over.

![A flower shop with buckets of tulips, a bench and a bicycle: on the left in daytime, on the right the same shot on a rainy evening with reflections on wet cobblestones](https://ai2face.com/_astro/edit-steps.BX6n5Bjf_ZOeFFQ.jpg "An edit in one message: “make it a rainy evening.” The shop, flowers, bench and bicycle stay put. Nano Banana 2 Lite, 1K")

**Legible text.** Google promises “legible text,” and in our test Lite wrote the short Russian sign «КОФЕ С СОБОЙ» (coffee to go) without errors — you can see it in the gallery. Long text and infographics are better left to the bigger models.

**Small faces in a wide scene.** Google names small faces as a weak spot for Lite. We tested it on the same prompt with six people and a dog.

![Two versions of a picnic with six friends, a guitar, a fruit basket and a golden retriever in a city park at sunset](https://ai2face.com/_astro/picnic-compare.B2__obkI_1pVUtY.jpg "One prompt at 1K: Nano Banana 2 Lite on top, Nano Banana 2 below. In a shot like this, Lite's faces are just as good")

In a wide 1K shot, Lite did as well as Nano Banana 2: six distinct faces, a guitar, a basket, a dog — everything in place, no distortions. The difference shows up with more faces in the frame or when you need to upscale: Lite has no 2K or 4K.

## What Nano Banana 2 Lite is good for

- **Exploring ideas and drafts.** Ten composition options in a minute, then the final shot on Nano Banana 2 or Pro.
- **High-volume generation.** Hundreds of catalog illustrations, thumbnails, banner variations — where cost per image matters more than peak quality.
- **Interactive apps.** Interior try-ons, educational illustrations, games — Google cites these as typical use cases.
- **Stickers, icons, simple illustrations** — flat graphics don't need 4K.
- **Images for social media and messaging apps** that people view on a phone screen anyway.

## Nano Banana 2 Lite vs. alternatives

| | Nano Banana 2 Lite | [Nano Banana 2](/models/nano-banana-2) | [Nano Banana Pro](/models/nano-banana-pro) | [GPT Image](/models/gpt-image) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | Google | Google | Google | OpenAI |
| Resolution | 1K only | 0.5K – 4K | 1K – 4K | up to 3840 px |
| 1K API price | $0.0336 | $0.067 | $0.134 | per token |
| Google Search | no | yes, including image search | yes | no |
| Long text in images | weak | good | good | best |
| Arena rank (Sep 24, 2026) | not ranked | 9 of 80 | 14 of 80 | 1 of 80 |
| Best for | drafts, volume, speed | everyday work | final portraits and ads | layout and text |

For more on the bigger models, see our comparison [Nano Banana 2 vs. Pro](/blog/nano-banana-2-vs-pro), and for pricing across the family, [Nano Banana pricing and plans](/blog/nano-banana-cena).

## How to write prompts for Nano Banana 2 Lite

Lite understands the same prompts as Nano Banana 2, but with less headroom for complexity. To get it right on the first try:

- **One scene, one main subject.** The fewer must-have details, the fewer Lite will miss.
- **Keep text short and in quotes.** A two- or three-word sign works; a paragraph doesn't.
- **Don't ask for lighting changes in edits.** DeepMind names day-to-night changes and blending several photos as areas where artifacts can appear.
- **Use the high thinking mode** for complex scenes and minimal when speed matters.

For more ready-made prompts for the family, see our collection of [Nano Banana Pro prompts](/blog/nano-banana-pro-prompts) — most of them work on Lite too.

## How to use Nano Banana 2 Lite in AI2Face

In AI2Face, Nano Banana 2 Lite is available in the generator alongside Nano Banana 2, Pro, GPT Image and [Seedream](/models/seedream). A handy workflow: find the idea on Lite, then re-run the best version on a bigger model with the same prompt. The cost of each generation is shown before you run it, and you can pay by card or crypto. New accounts get welcome credits after signing up.

## Limitations

- **1K only.** For print, banners and large product images, you need Nano Banana 2 or Pro with 2K and 4K.
- **Fine details and faces.** DeepMind warns that Lite can get small faces, exact spelling and fine details wrong.
- **Complex edits.** Lighting changes, masks and blending several images sometimes look unnatural.
- **No Google Search.** Unlike Nano Banana 2, Lite doesn't pull current facts and images from Search.
- **Not on Arena** as of September 24, 2026 — there's no independent quality rating yet.
- **SynthID is always on:** every image carries an invisible watermark and C2PA metadata.

## Bottom line

Nano Banana 2 Lite isn't a replacement for Nano Banana 2 — it's a fast drafting tool: half the price, results in seconds, and nearly as good for simple scenes, illustrations and short text. Use it to explore ideas and for high-volume generation. For final images, print and complex text, switch to Nano Banana 2 or Pro — in AI2Face, that's one click and the same prompt.

## Generation examples

- A sticker: a corgi in a spacesuit floating among stars and planets on a dark navy background
  Prompt: `Cute flat vector sticker of a corgi in a small astronaut suit floating among stars and planets, thick white sticker outline, bold pastel colors, simple shapes, dark navy background, no text`
- A Scandinavian living room with an oak floor, a beige sofa, a travertine table and a monstera
  Prompt: `Interior design concept: Scandinavian living room with a light oak floor, a beige boucle sofa, a round travertine coffee table, a large monstera plant, linen curtains and soft afternoon sunlight, photorealistic architectural photo, no text`
- A street coffee kiosk in the morning with a «КОФЕ С СОБОЙ» (coffee to go) sign and steam rising from a cup
  Prompt: `Small street coffee kiosk at morning, a wooden sign above the window with the Russian text «КОФЕ С СОБОЙ» in bold white letters, steam from a cup on the counter, warm light, photorealistic, the sign text exactly as written, no other text`
- Breakfast from above: syrniki with berries, granola, figs, orange juice and a cappuccino
  Prompt: `Overhead flat lay food photo of a breakfast table: syrniki with sour cream and berries, a bowl of granola, sliced figs, a glass of orange juice and a cup of cappuccino on a light linen tablecloth, natural daylight, appetizing, no text`

## FAQ

### What is Nano Banana 2 Lite?

A lightweight image generation model from Google DeepMind, officially Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite Image. Google calls it the fastest and most cost-efficient model in the Nano Banana family.

### How is Nano Banana Lite different from Nano Banana 2?

Lite is faster and half the price: $0.0336 per 1K image versus $0.067. But it only does 1K, has no Google Search grounding and is weaker on small faces, exact text and complex edits.

### Can I use Nano Banana 2 Lite for free?

Yes, in the Gemini app: Lite runs when the Flash-Lite model is selected, no subscription needed. It has no free tier in the Gemini API. Gemini isn't available in every country; in AI2Face, Lite is available with welcome credits.

### What resolution does Nano Banana 2 Lite support?

1K only — 1024 × 1024 pixels for a square. The model doesn't support 2K or 4K: for those you need Nano Banana 2 or Pro.

### Will Lite replace the original Nano Banana?

Yes. In the Gemini API, Google recommends Nano Banana 2 Lite as the replacement for the original Nano Banana (gemini-2.5-flash-image) for fast, high-volume tasks.

## Sources

- https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/gemini-models/gemini-omni-flash-nano-banana-2-lite/
- https://deepmind.google/models/gemini-image/flash-lite/
- https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/models/gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image
- https://ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/pricing
- https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/14286560
- https://docs.cloud.google.com/gemini-enterprise-agent-platform/models/gemini/3-1-flash-lite-image