Nano Banana 2.1, Google's successor to Nano Banana 2
Google's newest Flash-tier image model. Generate or edit with up to 8 reference images, aspect ratios from 1:8 to 8:1, and output up to 4K.
Key facts
| Developer | |
|---|---|
| Official model ID | gemini-nano-banana-2.1 |
| Released | 2026-10-06 |
| Availability on Banana Pie | Available now |
| Credits from | 25 credits / image |
| Reference images | Up to 8 |
Nano Banana 2.1 is the model Google names as the replacement for Nano Banana 2 (gemini-3.1-flash-image), released on 6 October 2026. In Banana Pie it costs fewer credits than Nano Banana 2 at every resolution, takes up to 8 reference images, and adds very wide and very tall formats down to 1:8 and 8:1. Our tests took between 18.3 and 126.4 seconds from submit to result, so it fits deliberate work better than rapid-fire iteration.
Strengths
- Room for multiple visual references
Support for up to 8 reference images lets you bring several visual inputs into the same generation or editing task.
- Selectable output resolution
A resolution setting with output up to 4K lets you choose the output size for your intended use.
- Very wide and very tall formats
Aspect ratios run from 1:8 to 8:1, including 4:1 and 1:4, so banners, scrolls and panoramas come out in their final shape instead of being cropped from a standard frame.
Limitations
- Allow time for reference-heavy tasks
Our multi-reference identity and garment transfer test took 126.4 seconds from submit to result, a meaningful wait when you need rapid back-and-forth revisions.
- Still images only
Nano Banana 2.1 produces images; choose a video model when your deliverable needs motion.
Choose Nano Banana 2.1 when
- You use Nano Banana 2 today and want Google's newer replacement at a lower credit cost.
- You need very wide or very tall formats such as 4:1, 8:1, 1:4 or 1:8 for banners, scrolls or panoramas.
- You want to bring several reference images into a generation or edit.
- You are exploring text changes, relighting or expanded framing for an existing image.
- You need output up to 4K.
Consider an alternative when
- You need video or animated output.
- Your budget requires a starting cost below 25 credits per generation.
- Your workflow depends on near-immediate revisions and cannot accommodate waits like the 126.4 seconds in our identity and garment transfer test.
Depending on the task, these can be a better fit: Nano Banana 2 · Nano Banana Pro
Real-world results
Same fixed prompts we run on every model - one published result per model, with prompts and settings you can inspect.
Prompt
A premium product photograph of exactly one transparent rectangular perfume bottle, half filled with amber liquid, standing upright on wet black stone. Light comes from the upper left, creating coherent refraction, a contact shadow, and one subtle reflection. No text, logo, plants, or extra objects.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 1:1
Prompt
Design a clean cream-colored vertical event poster. Show exactly four centered text lines and no other text: "MOONLIGHT MARKET", "月光市集", "18 OCT", and "RIVER HALL". Render "月光市集" in red and all other lines in black.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 2:3
Prompt
A photorealistic close-up of an adult potter shaping a clay bowl on a spinning wheel. Both hands are fully visible, each with five natural fingers touching the clay. No other people or hands. Soft window light.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 3:4
Prompt
On a matte gray table, exactly three red wooden cubes form a row on the left, exactly two blue glass spheres sit on the right, and one yellow ceramic mug stands centered behind them. The mug handle points right. No other objects or text.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Prompt
Create a vertical social ad for a fictional running shoe named AERO. Keep the top 15 percent empty. Directly below it, place the headline "RUN LIGHT" in the upper-left. Show exactly one silver shoe in the lower-right, an orange trail curving from the bottom-left, and a round badge reading "42 KM". No other shoes or text.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 9:16
Prompt
Create a clean horizontal pricing comparison graphic titled "CHOOSE YOUR PLAN". Use exactly three equal columns labeled "STARTER", "PRO", and "TEAM". Under each column, show exactly three aligned rows labeled "PROJECTS", "STORAGE", and "SUPPORT", followed by one blue button labeled "SELECT". White background, dark navy text, no additional columns or text.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Reference images
Prompt
Use Reference 1 as the base tabletop scene. Replace the red mug with the exact dark navy-blue mug from Reference 2 in the same position and orientation. Replace the folded white towel with the exact green-and-white striped napkin from Reference 3 in the same folded area. Replace the green pear with exactly one orange from Reference 4 in the same position. Replace the blue notebook with the exact mustard-yellow hardcover notebook from Reference 5 in the same position. Add exactly the two lemons from Reference 6 to the right of the mug. Preserve the wooden table, camera, framing, wood grain, lighting, shadows, and all other spatial relationships from Reference 1. Do not copy the white product backgrounds from References 2–6, duplicate any asset, or add other objects.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
Reference images
Prompt
Replace only the sign text with exactly "NIGHT OWL". Preserve the original font style, spacing, perspective, sign material, lighting, and everything else.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 3:2
Reference images
Prompt
Use the portrait in Reference 1 for the person and the isolated jacket in Reference 2 for the garment. Dress the person from Reference 1 in the exact jacket shown in Reference 2. Preserve the person's identity, face, expression, skin, hair, hands, pose, body proportions, background, framing, and lighting from Reference 1. Preserve the jacket's material, color, collar, buttons, pockets, and sleeve patch from Reference 2. Do not copy the ghost mannequin or white product background.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 3:4
Reference images
Prompt
Change the lighting to warm golden-hour sunlight entering from the left window. Do not move, add, remove, or redesign any object. Update highlights and shadows coherently.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Reference images
Prompt
Expand the canvas to a 16:9 landscape by naturally continuing the beach, ocean, and sky on both sides. Keep the complete original image centered without cropping, stretching, letterboxing, or modifying it.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
Reference images
Prompt
Place the sneaker on a wet outdoor basketball court at dusk. Preserve the exact sneaker shape, black geometric side mark, materials, stitching, sole geometry, and camera angle. Add physically coherent contact, reflections, and dusk lighting.
Settings
- Resolution: 1K
- Aspect Ratio: 1:1
Credits & pricing
Nano Banana 2.1 costs fewer credits than Nano Banana 2 at every resolution, and each step up in resolution costs more. The Generate button in Banana Pie shows the exact credit cost for your chosen settings before you generate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Nano Banana 2.1 cost?
Nano Banana 2.1 starts at 25 credits per generation in Banana Pie. The Generate button shows the exact credit cost for your chosen settings before you generate.
How many reference images can I use?
You can supply up to 8 reference images. This makes it an option for tasks that bring together product, person, garment or scene references.
Can I choose the output resolution?
Yes. Banana Pie offers a resolution setting for Nano Banana 2.1, with output up to 4K.
How long does a generation take?
Our tests took between 18.3 and 126.4 seconds from submit to result. In-image text replacement took 24.3 seconds, while multi-reference identity and garment transfer took 126.4 seconds.
What kinds of image edits can I explore?
Our tests include text replacement, scene relighting, outpainting, and product preservation across a scene change. Browse the test results on this page with their prompts and settings to see how the model handled each task.
How is Nano Banana 2.1 different from Nano Banana 2?
Google lists Nano Banana 2.1 as the replacement for Nano Banana 2 (gemini-3.1-flash-image). In Banana Pie it costs fewer credits at every resolution and adds 1:4, 4:1, 1:8 and 8:1 aspect ratios. Nano Banana 2 stays available for now, since Google has not announced a shutdown date for it.
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Hands-on articles
How we test & disclosure
We ran Nano Banana 2.1 on our fixed set of test prompts covering product materials and lighting, multilingual typography, anatomy and contact, counting and attributes, advertising layouts, UI graphics, reference-based edits, text replacement, identity and garment transfer, relighting, outpainting, and product scene changes. This page shows one result per scenario with its prompt and settings, plus the time from submit to result.
Banana Pie sells paid access to this model alongside other models in one studio. Our verdicts come from tests run through the same pipeline our users get.