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

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 vs Nano Banana 2 Lite

Preferred for text to image: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 · Preferred for image editing: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 · Lowest entry price: Nano Banana 2 Lite. 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 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 imageGrok Imagine Image 2.0Grok Imagine Image 2.0 1,317 (#6) · Nano Banana 2 Lite 1,249 (#15) — blind human votes
  • Preferred for image editingGrok Imagine Image 2.0Grok Imagine Image 2.0 1,439 (#5) · Nano Banana 2 Lite 1,313 (#26) — blind human votes
  • Lowest entry priceNano Banana 2 LiteGrok Imagine Image 2.0 from $0.04/image (1K, low) · Nano Banana 2 Lite from $0.034/image (1K)
  • Highest resolutionGrok Imagine Image 2.0Grok Imagine Image 2.0: 2K · Nano Banana 2 Lite: 1K
  • NewestGrok Imagine Image 2.0Grok Imagine Image 2.0 Aug 7, 2026 · Nano Banana 2 Lite Jun 30, 2026
  • Widest inputsSame inputsGrok Imagine Image 2.0: Text prompts, Reference images · Nano Banana 2 Lite: Text prompts, Reference images
  • Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 yes · Nano Banana 2 Lite yes
  • Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
  • Most API hostsNano Banana 2 LiteGrok Imagine Image 2.0: 3 · Nano Banana 2 Lite: 8
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 Lite specifications side by side
SpecificationGrok Imagine Image 2.0xAINano Banana 2 LiteGoogle
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,317 ±7#6 of 82 · 10,902 votes (best)1,249 ±6#15 of 82 · 17,813 votes
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,439 ±6#5 of 61 · 32,951 votes (best)1,313 ±5#26 of 61 · 65,660 votes
Price
Starting price$0.04/image 1K, low$0.034/image 1K (best)
Top price$0.08/image 2K, medium—
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
Highest resolution2K (best)1K
Largest image2K1K (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 images514 (best)
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API model ID—gemini-3.1-flash-lite-image
API hosts38 (best)
ReleasedAug 7, 2026Jun 30, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, Grok Imagine Image 2.0 or Nano Banana 2 Lite?

For text to image, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image 2.0 (Grok Imagine Image 2.0 1,317 (#6) · Nano Banana 2 Lite 1,249 (#15)). For image editing, voters prefer Grok Imagine Image 2.0 (Grok Imagine Image 2.0 1,439 (#5) · 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?

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 costs from $0.04/image (1K, low), up to $0.08/image (2K, medium); Nano Banana 2 Lite costs from $0.034/image (1K). 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 Lite?

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 Lite is an image model from Google (Jun 30, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

Grok Imagine Image 2.0 Aug 7, 2026; Nano Banana 2 Lite Jun 30, 2026.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: Grok Imagine Image 2.0 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

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