ZMIME
Image model comparison · 2 models · Updated Nov 2, 2026

GPT Image 2.5 Flare vs Nano Banana 2 Lite

Preferred for text to image: GPT Image 2.5 Flare · Preferred for image editing: GPT Image 2.5 Flare · Newest: GPT Image 2.5 Flare. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

  1. OpenAI

    GPT Image 2.5 Flare

    Released Sep 8, 2026New

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,482
    • From—
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove GPT Image 2.5 Flare

  2. Google

    Nano Banana 2 Lite

    Released Jun 30, 2026

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,313
    • From$0.034/image
    • Max size1K
    Full specs Remove Nano Banana 2 Lite

  3. Add a model

    Make it a three-way comparison.

01 — At a glance

Where they differ

Quality is the arena score from blind, side-by-side human votes. Price, length and resolution come from each lab’s own listings.

  • Preferred for text to imageGPT Image 2.5 FlareGPT Image 2.5 Flare 1,401 (#2) · Nano Banana 2 Lite 1,249 (#15) — blind human votes
  • Preferred for image editingGPT Image 2.5 FlareGPT Image 2.5 Flare 1,482 (#2) · Nano Banana 2 Lite 1,313 (#26) — blind human votes
  • NewestGPT Image 2.5 FlareGPT Image 2.5 Flare Sep 8, 2026 · Nano Banana 2 Lite Jun 30, 2026
  • Widest inputsSame inputsGPT Image 2.5 Flare: Text prompts, Reference images · Nano Banana 2 Lite: Text prompts, Reference images
  • Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: GPT Image 2.5 Flare yes · Nano Banana 2 Lite yes
  • Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
  • Most API hostsNano Banana 2 LiteGPT Image 2.5 Flare: 4 · Nano Banana 2 Lite: 8
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

GPT Image 2.5 Flare vs Nano Banana 2 Lite specifications side by side
SpecificationGPT Image 2.5 FlareOpenAINano Banana 2 LiteGoogle
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,401 ±5#2 of 82 · 39,218 votes (best)1,249 ±6#15 of 82 · 17,813 votes
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,482 ±5#2 of 61 · 87,941 votes (best)1,313 ±5#26 of 61 · 65,660 votes
Price
Starting price—$0.034/image 1K
How it is billedBilled per token: $30 per million output image tokens.Billed per token; Google’s listed cost per image.
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Resolutions—1K
Highest resolution—1K
Largest image—1K (about 1 MP)
Images per requestUp to 10 (best)Up to 1
Text in the reply—Yes
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)YesYes
Max reference images16 (best)14
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API model ID—gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image
API hosts48 (best)
ReleasedSep 8, 2026Jun 30, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, GPT Image 2.5 Flare or Nano Banana 2 Lite?

For text to image, voters prefer GPT Image 2.5 Flare (GPT Image 2.5 Flare 1,401 (#2) · Nano Banana 2 Lite 1,249 (#15)). For image editing, voters prefer GPT Image 2.5 Flare (GPT Image 2.5 Flare 1,482 (#2) · Nano Banana 2 Lite 1,313 (#26)). Arena scores come from blind, side-by-side human votes on the same prompts; when the gap is inside both models’ error margins we call it a tie. Test your own prompts before you commit.

Which is cheaper?

Nano Banana 2 Lite costs from $0.034/image (1K). GPT Image 2.5 Flare has no published per-image price. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

What is the difference between GPT Image 2.5 Flare and Nano Banana 2 Lite?

GPT Image 2.5 Flare is an image model from OpenAI (Sep 8, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images. Nano Banana 2 Lite is an image model from Google (Jun 30, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

GPT Image 2.5 Flare Sep 8, 2026; Nano Banana 2 Lite Jun 30, 2026.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: GPT Image 2.5 Flare yes; Nano Banana 2 Lite yes.

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

No open weights. Both are available only through APIs and apps.

04 — Keep comparing

Related comparisons