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Key Takeaways

  • The Lite of Nano Banana 2: Google released Nano Banana 2 Lite (gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image) on June 30 — the lightweight, economy version of Nano Banana 2 (gemini-3.1-flash-image)
  • Faster generation: ~4 seconds per image, about 2.7x faster than Nano Banana 2 — built for high concurrency, low cost, and fast iteration
  • ~40% of official on metered: APIYI metered pricing is $0.10 input / $12 output per 1M tokens — about 40% of Google’s official rate (60% off)
  • $0.025 per call: per-call billing at $0.025 (before discount), versus ~$0.034 per image official
  • 1K canvas + 14 aspect ratios: focused on 1K resolution (no 2K/4K), 14 aspect ratios, with an invisible SynthID watermark
Tentative pricing: the model just launched and the current price is provisional — it may be adjusted. We’ll announce any changes separately; the live platform price always prevails.

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Background

On June 30, 2026, as part of an update to its Gemini image and video lines, Google released Nano Banana 2 Lite (model ID: gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image). It’s the lightweight version of Nano Banana 2 (gemini-3.1-flash-image), positioned as the fastest, most cost-effective tier in Google’s creative model family. Unlike quality-topping Nano Banana Pro or the quality-and-speed Nano Banana 2, Lite centers on speed and cost: ~4 seconds per image, ideal for fast creative validation, high-throughput developer pipelines, and per-image-cost-sensitive batch work. APIYI has brought gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image online right away, supporting both metered and per-call billing, with metered pricing at about 40% of official — great for cost-sensitive image generation.

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Deep Dive

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New Model

gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image

Nano Banana 2 Lite image generationThe lightweight, economy version of Nano Banana 2 — ~4s per image, ~2.7x faster than Nano Banana 2. Focused on 1K canvas, 14 aspect ratios, with an invisible SynthID watermark. Built for high concurrency, low cost, and fast iteration.

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Same-Family Comparison

FeatureNano Banana 2 LiteNano Banana 2Nano Banana Pro
Model IDgemini-3.1-flash-lite-imagegemini-3.1-flash-imagegemini-3-pro-image
PositioningFastest / cheapestQuality + speedPeak quality
Max resolution1K4K4K
Generation speed🚀 ~4s⚡ fast🐢 slower
Aspect ratios141410
APIYI metered~40% of official~28% of official—
Quick pick: for max value / fast batch generation, choose Lite; for 2K/4K or higher quality, choose Nano Banana 2 or Pro.

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Technical Specs

ParameterSpec
Model IDgemini-3.1-flash-lite-image
Resolution1K (no 2K/4K)
Aspect ratios14 (1:1, 4:1, 1:4, 16:9, 9:16, etc.)
Speed~4s per image
WatermarkInvisible SynthID
API formatsGoogle-native / OpenAI-compatible
ChannelsGoogle AI Studio, Gemini API, Vertex / GEAP, APIYI

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Real-World Use

  1. Fast creative validation: 4s per image — great for iterating on prompts and screening directions
  2. High-concurrency batch generation: low per-image cost for scaled asset production
  3. Cost-sensitive in-product embedding: embed image generation in your app with controlled per-image cost
  4. When 1K is enough: social images, thumbnails, draft previews that don’t need 4K

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Quick Start

import requests
import base64

API_KEY = "sk-your-apiyi-key"

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.apiyi.com/v1beta/models/gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image:generateContent",
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}", "Content-Type": "application/json"},
    json={
        "contents": [{"parts": [{"text": "A Shiba Inu under cherry blossoms, watercolor style"}]}],
        "generationConfig": {
            "responseModalities": ["IMAGE"],
            "imageConfig": {"aspectRatio": "16:9", "imageSize": "1K"}
        }
    },
    timeout=300
).json()

img_data = response["candidates"][0]["content"]["parts"][0]["inlineData"]["data"]
with open("output.png", "wb") as f:
    f.write(base64.b64decode(img_data))
print("Image saved")

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OpenAI-compatible mode

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(api_key="sk-your-apiyi-key", base_url="https://api.apiyi.com/v1")

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image",
    stream=False,
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "An autumn landscape painting with red leaves and birds in the distance"}]
)

print(response.choices[0].message.content)

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Migrating from Nano Banana 2

Just change the model name; keep other parameters (note Lite is 1K only): 
# Nano Banana 2 (4K optional)
model = "gemini-3.1-flash-image"

# Nano Banana 2 Lite (faster, cheaper, 1K only)
model = "gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image"

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Pricing & Availability

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Pricing

Metered (token-based, ~40% of official):
ItemAPIYIGoogle officialDiscount
Input$0.10 / 1M tokens$0.25 / 1M tokens~40%
Output$12.00 / 1M tokens$30.00 / 1M tokens~40%
Per-call:
ItemAPIYI (before discount)Google official
Per image (1K)$0.025 / call~$0.034 / image
Choosing a billing mode: set it via “Billing model” when creating a token:
  • Pay-as-you-go / Pay-as-you-go Priority → metered
  • Pay-per-request / Pay-per-request Priority → per-call
  • ⚠️ Do not select Hybrid billing.
The model just launched and the current price is provisional — it may be adjusted. We’ll announce any changes separately; the live platform price always prevails.

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Stack with Top-up Promotions

Combine with APIYI top-up bonus promotions to further lower real cost: docs.apiyi.com/faq/recharge-promotions.

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Where to Get It

APIYI platform:
  • Site: apiyi.com
  • Google-native: https://api.apiyi.com/v1beta/models/gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image:generateContent
  • OpenAI-compatible: https://api.apiyi.com/v1
  • Model name: gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image

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Summary & Recommendation

Nano Banana 2 Lite takes “fast” and “cheap” to a new level: ~4s per image and metered pricing at ~40% of official, focused on the 1K canvas — ideal for high-concurrency, low-cost, fast-iteration work. For 2K/4K or higher quality, switch to Nano Banana 2 or Nano Banana Pro. Core strengths:
  • Faster: ~4s per image, ~2.7x faster than Nano Banana 2
  • Cheaper: metered ~40% of official, per-call $0.025 (before discount)
  • Enough: 1K + 14 aspect ratios covers most everyday generation
Sources:
  • Google blog: Nano Banana 2 Lite announcement blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/gemini-models/gemini-omni-flash-nano-banana-2-lite/
  • Google API pricing: ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/pricing
  • Google DeepMind model page: deepmind.google/models/gemini-image/flash-lite/
  • Data retrieved: July 1, 2026