Google Unveils the Nuances of Its Nano Banana Image Models

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Key Takeaways

1Google has released a guide detailing the differences between its Nano Banana models, helping users choose the right tool.

2The Nano Banana 2 model is recommended for most projects, offering 95% of the capabilities of the Pro model at a lower cost.

3The image grounding feature of NB2 allows for searching real images on the web for better visual accuracy.

💡Why it matters — This clarification helps developers optimize their technology choices and reduce costs while maximizing the capabilities of image models.

Google Clarifies the Distinctions Between Nano Banana Models

Google has recently released a comprehensive guide aimed at clarifying the differences between the three models in its Nano Banana range. This initiative is designed to help developers and creators choose the model that best suits their specific needs.

Nano Banana 2: The Recommended Model

The Nano Banana 2, also known as Gemini 3.1 Flash Image, is highlighted by Google as the optimal choice for the majority of projects. It offers about 95% of the features of the more advanced model, the Nano Banana Pro, but at a significantly lower cost.

One of the major features of the NB2 is its image grounding capability. This functionality allows the model to search for specific images on the web to better understand and reproduce real-world objects, such as buildings or animal species, before generating them.

Model Comparison

In its guide, Google explains the distinctions between the different models in the Nano Banana range and the appropriate use cases for each. With three models available, the guide is designed to help users determine which is most suitable for their needs.

Nano Banana 2 is capable of handling most use cases while being more economical than the Pro model.
The Nano Banana Pro is recommended only for very complex requests or extreme logical requirements where the NB2 would not suffice. However, it remains the most powerful model in the range.
The older model, Nano Banana 1, although it is the cheapest and fastest, is no longer recommended for new projects. Google has not yet enforced a mandatory migration, allowing existing workflows to continue uninterrupted. For new projects requiring more nuance and advanced features like grounding, Google advises choosing the NB2. At a resolution of 512 pixels, the cost of the NB2 is comparable to that of the NB1.

Image Grounding Feature

One of the standout new features of the Nano Banana 2 is its visual grounding capability via Google Search. While the Pro model could already extract textual information from the web, the NB2 goes further by being able to search for real images online to understand what objects look like before generating them.

This feature is particularly effective for specific locations such as churches, bridges, or town squares, as well as for specific animal and plant species. For example, the guide mentions a church in Voiron, France, and the visual differences between two butterfly species. However, this image search is not applicable to people.

Resolution Options and Extreme Aspect Ratios

The Nano Banana 2 can generate images at a resolution of 512 pixels, which helps reduce costs and speed up the generation process, achieving cost levels similar to the Nano Banana 1. Google recommends a multi-step process: first, use the batch API, which offers a 50% discount, to generate several variants at 512px, then upscale the best composition to resolutions of 1K, 2K, or 4K.

The NB2 also supports extreme aspect ratios of 1:8 and 1:4 in both vertical and horizontal orientations. These formats are ideal for web banners, continuous scrolling content, or comic strip layouts in the Franco-Belgian style.

Model Comparison Table

| Model | Max. Input tokens | Max. Output tokens | Text grounding | Image grounding | Image references | Status January 2025 | |--------------------------|-------------------|--------------------|----------------|------------------|-------------------|---------------------| | Nano Banana 2 | 0.5K (512px), 1K, 2K, 4K | 1:1, 3:2, 2:3, 3:4, 4:3, 4:5, 5:4, 9:16, 16:9, 21:9, 1:4, 4:1, 1:8, 8:1 | Yes (web search) | Yes (image search) | Up to 14 reference images (PNG, JPEG, WebP, HEIC, HEIF) | Real-time web search | | Nano Banana Pro | 1:1, 3:2, 2:3, 3:4, 4:3, 4:5, 5:4, 9:16, 16:9, 21:9 | - | Yes (web search) | No | Up to 14 reference images (PNG, JPEG, WebP, HEIC, HEIF) | Real-time web search |

Recommendations on Reflection Mode

Google recommends keeping the reflection mode disabled by default for the Nano Banana. This feature, while it may enhance certain processes, primarily adds time and computational costs when generating normal images. It should only be activated in specific cases: when the model produces absurd results, during the creation of very complex infographics, or when image grounding is combined with spatial reasoning.