Nano Banana 2.1 is Google’s update to Nano Banana 2. Its API model ID is gemini-nano-banana-2.1, it generates at 1K, 2K and 4K, and it costs half as much as Nano Banana 2 per 1K or 2K image. Google released it on October 6, 2026, and marked Nano Banana 2 as deprecated the same day.
We called the model through the Gemini API on October 13, 2026, to check what it accepts before adding it to Creator MAX, our Photoshop plugin. This article separates three kinds of claims: what Google documents, what our own API calls returned, and how the model works inside Photoshop.
What is Nano Banana 2.1?
The Gemini API changelog lists Nano Banana 2.1 as generally available from October 6, 2026. Google’s image generation guide calls it an update to Nano Banana 2 and recommends it for new projects. It keeps Flash-level speed and cost, according to Google.
The same changelog entry deprecates gemini-3.1-flash-image, the Nano Banana 2 model, without a shutdown date. Nano Banana 2 still works today. If you build a long-lived workflow on it, plan a move to 2.1.
Google’s current Nano Banana lineup:
- Nano Banana 2.1 (
gemini-nano-banana-2.1): the general-purpose model for generation and editing. - Nano Banana 2 Lite (
gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image): the fastest and cheapest, 1K only, not optimized for several reference images. - Nano Banana 2 (
gemini-3.1-flash-image): the previous general-purpose model, now deprecated. - Nano Banana Pro (
gemini-3-pro-image): Google’s premium option for the most complex visual tasks. - Nano Banana (
gemini-2.5-flash-image): legacy.
For a model-by-model comparison of the older four, see Nano Banana 2 Lite vs Nano Banana 2 vs Pro.
How much does Nano Banana 2.1 cost per image?
Google’s pricing page lists the following image-output equivalents. We include Nano Banana 2 and Pro from the same page for comparison.
| Model | API model ID | Resolution | Standard image output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nano Banana 2.1 | gemini-nano-banana-2.1 |
1K | $0.0336 |
| Nano Banana 2.1 | gemini-nano-banana-2.1 |
2K | $0.0504 |
| Nano Banana 2.1 | gemini-nano-banana-2.1 |
4K | $0.113 |
| Nano Banana 2 | gemini-3.1-flash-image |
1K | $0.067 |
| Nano Banana 2 | gemini-3.1-flash-image |
2K | $0.101 |
| Nano Banana 2 | gemini-3.1-flash-image |
4K | $0.151 |
| Nano Banana Pro | gemini-3-pro-image |
2K | $0.134 |
| Nano Banana Pro | gemini-3-pro-image |
4K | $0.24 |
At 1K and 2K, Nano Banana 2.1 costs half of what Nano Banana 2 costs. At 4K the saving is smaller, about 25 percent. At 1K it matches the Nano Banana 2 Lite price, while also offering 2K and 4K.
These figures cover image output only. Google bills input, thinking and Search separately:
| Token type | Standard price | Batch price |
|---|---|---|
| Input (text, image, video), per 1M tokens | $1.50 | $0.75 |
| Text and thinking output, per 1M tokens | $7.50 | $3.75 |
| Image output, per 1M tokens | $30.00 | $15.00 |
| Search grounding after 5,000 free requests a month | $14 per 1,000 requests |
The image output rate for Nano Banana 2 is twice as high per million tokens. There is no free tier for Nano Banana 2.1 on the pricing page.
What changed compared with Nano Banana 2?
Only differences we could confirm in Google’s documentation or in our own API calls:
| Nano Banana 2.1 | Nano Banana 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Output sizes | 1K, 2K, 4K | 0.5K, 1K, 2K, 4K |
| Image output rate | half of Nano Banana 2 per token | |
| Status | Google’s recommended model for new projects | deprecated October 6, 2026, no shutdown date |
| Thinking levels in Google’s guide | minimal, medium, high | minimal, high |
| Reference images in Google’s guide | up to 14 in total: 10 high-fidelity objects, 5 characters | up to 10 objects and 4 characters |
Both models support Google Search grounding, system instructions and editing with reference images. We have not run a structured quality comparison between the two, so this article makes no claim about which one produces better images.
What did our API tests show?
On October 13, 2026, we sent requests to gemini-nano-banana-2.1 and recorded what came back:
- Sizes. 1K, 2K and 4K all returned images. A 512 request was rejected, which matches Google’s note that 0.5K is not supported. A 4K request at a wide aspect ratio returned an image of 5504 by 3072 pixels.
- Extreme aspect ratios. The model accepted 1:4, 4:1, 1:8 and 8:1, in addition to the common ratios.
- Thinking. The
minimalandhighlevels were both accepted. With no level set, the model still produced thinking tokens, so a request without a thinking setting is billed for some text and thinking output. Google’s guide documentsmediumas the default level. - Grounding and instructions. Google Search grounding and system instructions were accepted.
- Editing with references. An edit with three input images worked.
How do you use Nano Banana 2.1 in Photoshop?
Photoshop does not call the Gemini API by itself, so you need a plugin, a script or a manual export and import. Our overview of Nano Banana Photoshop methods covers the options.
Disclosure: Bielfor builds Creator MAX. In Creator MAX 2.3.0, Nano Banana 2.1 is the default Google model for new installs and when you switch to the Google provider. If you already picked a model, the panel keeps your choice, and Nano Banana 2 stays in the list:
- Update Creator MAX to version 2.3.0 and open it from the Plugins menu.
- Open Settings and paste your Google Gemini API key. If you do not have one yet, follow our Google AI Studio API key guide.
- Check that Nano Banana 2.1 is selected in the model list.
- Make a selection on the canvas, type a prompt, and pick 1K, 2K or 4K. Thinking level, Google Search and reference images are optional.
- Press Submit. The result is pasted back as a new layer, cropped to your selection.
You pay Google directly at the rates above, with your own key. The panel shows a cost estimate while it generates and the real cost from Google’s response next to it.
One limit to know: Creator MAX accepts selections with an aspect ratio between 0.33 and 3.00. The 1:4, 4:1, 1:8 and 8:1 formats are available through the API, but not through a single Creator MAX selection. For a long banner, generate it in parts or use the API directly.
Should you switch from Nano Banana 2?
For new work, start with Nano Banana 2.1. Google recommends it, it costs less at every size the two models share, and Nano Banana 2 is deprecated. Keep Nano Banana 2 only if you depend on 0.5K output or want to finish a series with the model you started it on.
Nano Banana Pro remains the option for complex layouts and generated text, where Google positions it. At 2K it costs more than twice as much as 2.1, so test 2.1 first on the same file and switch only if the result needs it.
See Creator MAX if you want Nano Banana 2.1 inside Photoshop with your own Google key.
FAQ
What is the API model ID for Nano Banana 2.1?
The ID is gemini-nano-banana-2.1. It is listed in Google’s image generation guide and on the Gemini API pricing page.
Is Nano Banana 2.1 cheaper than Nano Banana 2?
Yes. Google’s image output rate for 2.1 is half the Nano Banana 2 rate per million tokens. Per image, that is half the price at 1K and 2K and about 25 percent less at 4K.
Does Nano Banana 2.1 support 512 pixel output?
No. Google lists 1K, 2K and 4K, and our 512 request was rejected by the API.
Is Nano Banana 2 being shut down?
Google deprecated it on October 6, 2026, and has not announced a shutdown date. It still works, but Google recommends Nano Banana 2.1 for new projects.
Can I use Nano Banana 2.1 in Photoshop without a subscription?
Yes, with a plugin that takes your own Gemini API key. Creator MAX 2.3.0 uses Nano Banana 2.1 as its default Google model, and you pay Google per image at the rates in the table above.