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

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 vs Nano Banana 2.1

Preferred for text to image: Too close to call · Preferred for image editing: Too close to call · Lowest entry price: Nano Banana 2.1. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

  1. xAI

    Grok Imagine Image 2.0

    Released Aug 7, 2026

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,439
    • From$0.04/image
    • Max size2K
    Full specs Remove Grok Imagine Image 2.0

  2. Google

    Nano Banana 2.1

    Released Oct 6, 2026

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,427
    • From$0.034/image
    • Max size4K
    Full specs Remove Nano Banana 2.1

  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 imageToo close to callGrok Imagine Image 2.0 1,317 (#6) · Nano Banana 2.1 1,325 (#5) — blind human votes
  • Preferred for image editingToo close to callGrok Imagine Image 2.0 1,439 (#5) · Nano Banana 2.1 1,427 (#7) — blind human votes
  • Lowest entry priceNano Banana 2.1Grok Imagine Image 2.0 from $0.04/image (1K, low) · Nano Banana 2.1 from $0.034/image (1K)
  • Highest resolutionNano Banana 2.1Grok Imagine Image 2.0: 2K · Nano Banana 2.1: 4K
  • NewestNano Banana 2.1Grok Imagine Image 2.0 Aug 7, 2026 · Nano Banana 2.1 Oct 6, 2026
  • Widest inputsNano Banana 2.1Grok Imagine Image 2.0: Text prompts, Reference images · Nano Banana 2.1: Text prompts, Reference images, Video
  • Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 yes · Nano Banana 2.1 yes
  • Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
  • Most API hostsNano Banana 2.1Grok Imagine Image 2.0: 3 · Nano Banana 2.1: 5
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 vs Nano Banana 2.1 specifications side by side
SpecificationGrok Imagine Image 2.0xAINano Banana 2.1Google
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,317 ±7#6 of 82 · 10,902 votes1,325 ±9#5 of 82 · 5,290 votes (best)
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,439 ±6#5 of 61 · 32,951 votes (best)1,427 ±6#7 of 61 · 12,956 votes
Price
Starting price$0.04/image 1K, low$0.034/image 1K (best)
Top price$0.08/image 2K, medium$0.113/image 4K
Extra charges$0.01 per input image—
How it is billedPer imageBilled per token; Google’s listed cost per image.
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Resolutions1K · 1.5K · 2K1K · 2K · 4K
Highest resolution2K4K (best)
Largest image2K4K (about 16 MP)
Images per requestUp to 10 (best)Up to 1
Text in the reply—Yes
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)YesYes
Max reference images514 (best)
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API hosts35 (best)
ReleasedAug 7, 2026Oct 6, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Grok Imagine Image 2.0 or Nano Banana 2.1?

For text to image, voters rate them about the same (Grok Imagine Image 2.0 1,317 (#6) · Nano Banana 2.1 1,325 (#5)). For image editing, voters rate them about the same (Grok Imagine Image 2.0 1,439 (#5) · Nano Banana 2.1 1,427 (#7)). 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?

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 costs from $0.04/image (1K, low), up to $0.08/image (2K, medium); Nano Banana 2.1 costs from $0.034/image (1K), up to $0.113/image (4K). Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

What is the difference between Grok Imagine Image 2.0 and Nano Banana 2.1?

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 is an image model from xAI (Aug 7, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images. Nano Banana 2.1 is an image model from Google (Oct 6, 2026), taking text prompts, reference images and video and producing images.

Which is newer?

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 Aug 7, 2026; Nano Banana 2.1 Oct 6, 2026.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 yes; Nano Banana 2.1 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