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Key Highlights

  • Pro-level quality + Flash-tier speed: Quality rivaling Nano Banana Pro, generation speed several times faster
  • Ultra-low pricing: APIyi only $0.03/image, 40% cheaper than Nano Banana Pro ($0.05/image)
  • 14 aspect ratios: New additions 1:4, 4:1, 1:8, 8:1 for long-form images and infographics
  • Image Search Grounding: Exclusive feature pulling visual context from Google Image Search
  • Thinking Mode: Configurable reasoning levels for more precise complex prompt handling

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Background

On February 26, 2026, Google officially released Nano Banana 2 (model ID: gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview), the latest flagship of the Nano Banana series. Unlike Nano Banana Pro which is based on Gemini 3 Pro, Nano Banana 2 is built on Gemini 3.1 Flash, dramatically improving generation speed and reducing costs while maintaining near-Pro-level quality. This means users no longer need to choose between “quality” and “price” — Nano Banana 2 delivers both.

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Detailed Analysis

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New Model

gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview

Nano Banana 2 Image GenerationImage generation model based on Gemini 3.1 Flash with Pro-level quality at Flash-tier speed. Supports 4K output, 14 aspect ratios, Image Search Grounding, Thinking Mode, and more.

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Comparison with Previous Versions

FeatureNano Banana 2Nano Banana ProNano Banana
Model IDgemini-3.1-flash-image-previewgemini-3-pro-image-previewgemini-2.5-flash-image
Quality⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pro-level⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Highest⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent
Speed🚀 Fastest🐢 Slower (~20s)⚡ Fast (~10s)
Max Resolution4K4K2K
Aspect Ratios141010
Image Search Grounding✅ Exclusive❌❌
Thinking Mode✅❌❌
Google Official 4K$0.151$0.151$0.039 (1K only)
APIyi Pricing$0.03$0.05$0.025
Key Numbers: Google’s official 4K pricing is $0.151/image, APIyi’s Nano Banana 2 is just $0.03/image — ~80% off official! 40% cheaper than Nano Banana Pro.

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Exclusive New Features

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🔍 Image Search Grounding

An exclusive Nano Banana 2 feature. By leveraging Google Image Search, the model can:
  • Reference real-world visual materials for more accurate image generation
  • Generate real landmarks, people, products that better match reality
  • Combine real-time data to generate weather charts, event posters, etc.
import requests

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.apiyi.com/v1beta/models/gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview:generateContent",
    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sk-your-api-key", "Content-Type": "application/json"},
    json={
        "contents": [{"parts": [{"text": "An illustrated view of the Shanghai Bund today"}]}],
        "generationConfig": {
            "responseModalities": ["TEXT", "IMAGE"],
            "imageConfig": {"aspectRatio": "16:9", "imageSize": "2K"}
        },
        "tools": [{"google_search": {}}]
    },
    timeout=300
).json()

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🧠 Thinking Mode

Configurable with minimal or high thinking levels for pre-generation reasoning:
  • minimal: Quick generation for simple prompts
  • high: Deep reasoning for complex compositions, precise text, multi-element scenes
response = requests.post(
    "https://api.apiyi.com/v1beta/models/gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview:generateContent",
    headers={"Authorization": "Bearer sk-your-api-key", "Content-Type": "application/json"},
    json={
        "contents": [{"parts": [{"text": "Design a tech company annual report cover with text '2026 Annual Report', dark blue gradient background, data visualization elements"}]}],
        "generationConfig": {
            "responseModalities": ["IMAGE"],
            "imageConfig": {"aspectRatio": "3:4", "imageSize": "4K"},
            "thinkingConfig": {"thinkingLevel": "high", "includeThoughts": True}
        }
    },
    timeout=300
).json()

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📐 14 Aspect Ratios

Four new ultra-tall/ultra-wide ratios:
New RatioUse Case
1:4Ultra-tall vertical images, mobile long-form
4:1Ultra-wide banners, website headers
1:8Extreme vertical, infographics
8:1Extreme horizontal, panoramic
Full supported ratios: 1:1, 1:4, 4:1, 1:8, 8:1, 2:3, 3:2, 3:4, 4:3, 4:5, 5:4, 9:16, 16:9, 21:9

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Additional Highlights

Accurate Text Rendering

Inherits Nano Banana Pro’s text rendering capabilities with multilingual clear text support. Perfect for posters, ads, and branded materials.

Multi-turn Editing

Supports iterative image editing through conversation. Upload an image and use chat instructions for background blur, object removal, style transfer, and more.

Subject Consistency

Maintains resemblance across up to 5 characters and 14 reference objects — ideal for series content and character IP creation.

Batch API

Supports Batch API (24-hour turnaround) with higher rate limits for large-scale image generation tasks.

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Practical Usage

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Quick Start

import requests
import base64

API_KEY = "sk-your-api-key"

response = requests.post(
    "https://api.apiyi.com/v1beta/models/gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview:generateContent",
    headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}", "Content-Type": "application/json"},
    json={
        "contents": [{"parts": [{"text": "A cute Shiba Inu sitting under cherry blossom trees, watercolor style"}]}],
        "generationConfig": {
            "responseModalities": ["IMAGE"],
            "imageConfig": {"aspectRatio": "16:9", "imageSize": "2K"}
        }
    },
    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-api-key", base_url="https://api.apiyi.com/v1")

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

print(response.choices[0].message.content)
OpenAI compatible mode uses the /v1/chat/completions endpoint, NOT /v1/images/generations.

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Migrating from Nano Banana Pro

Simply change the model name: 
# Nano Banana Pro (old)
model = "gemini-3-pro-image-preview"

# Nano Banana 2 (new) - cheaper and faster
model = "gemini-3.1-flash-image-preview"

# All other parameters remain the same

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Pricing & Availability

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Pricing Comparison

ModelAPIyi PricingGoogle Official 4KSavings
Nano Banana 2$0.03/image$0.151🔥 ~80% off official
Nano Banana Pro$0.05/image$0.151~67% off official
Nano Banana$0.025/image$0.039 (1K only)~36% off official
Nano Banana (gemini-2.5-flash-image) supports up to 2K only — no 4K option. The price shown is its 1K official pricing.
💰 4K HD for just $0.03! Google’s official 4K pricing is $0.151/image, APIyi offers it at only $0.03/image — ~80% off official! Combined with recharge bonuses, actual costs are even lower.

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Google Official Resolution Pricing Reference

ResolutionGoogle Official Price
512px$0.045
1K (default)$0.067
2K$0.101
4K$0.151

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Availability

  • ✅ APIyi (stable direct connection, first to launch) ⭐ Recommended
  • ✅ Gemini App (web and mobile, set as default image model)
  • ✅ Google AI Studio (marked as “New”)
  • ✅ Vertex AI (Preview access)

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Summary & Recommendations

Nano Banana 2 redefines image generation value — Pro-level quality, Flash-tier speed, ultra-low pricing. For the vast majority of users, it’s the best replacement for Nano Banana Pro.

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💡 Who Should Use It?

  • All image generation users: Near-Pro quality, 40% cheaper — there’s no reason not to switch
  • Special aspect ratio needs: 14 aspect ratios cover more scenarios
  • Real-time data needs: Image Search Grounding generates images with search context
  • Complex prompt users: Thinking Mode makes complex scene generation more precise

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🎯 Version Selection Guide

  • 🔥 First choice: Nano Banana 2 — Best value, suitable for 90% of use cases
  • 🎨 Ultimate quality: Nano Banana Pro — For professional scenarios demanding maximum fidelity
  • ⚡ Lowest cost: Nano Banana — $0.025/image for high-volume, budget-conscious needs
Sources:
  • Google Official Blog: Nano Banana 2 launch announcement blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/ai/nano-banana-2/
  • Google Developers Blog: blog.google/innovation-and-ai/technology/developers-tools/build-with-nano-banana-2/
  • Google AI Developer Docs: ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/image-generation
  • Google API Pricing: ai.google.dev/gemini-api/docs/pricing
  • Data retrieved: February 27, 2026