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

MAI-Image-2.6 vs Nano Banana 2.1

Preferred for text to image: Too close to call · Preferred for image editing: MAI-Image-2.6 · Newest: MAI-Image-2.6. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

  1. Microsoft

    MAI-Image-2.6

    Released Oct 13, 2026New

    • Text to image
    • Image editing
    • Arena1,427
    • From—
    • Max size—
    Full specs Remove MAI-Image-2.6

  2. Google

    Nano Banana 2.1

    Released Oct 6, 2026New

    • 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 callMAI-Image-2.6 1,329 (#4) · Nano Banana 2.1 1,325 (#5) — blind human votes
  • Preferred for image editingMAI-Image-2.6MAI-Image-2.6 1,427 (#6) · Nano Banana 2.1 1,427 (#7) — blind human votes
  • NewestMAI-Image-2.6MAI-Image-2.6 Oct 13, 2026 · Nano Banana 2.1 Oct 6, 2026
  • Widest inputsNano Banana 2.1MAI-Image-2.6: Text prompts, Reference images · Nano Banana 2.1: Text prompts, Reference images, Video
  • Image editingBoth edit imagesTakes a reference image as input: MAI-Image-2.6 yes · Nano Banana 2.1 yes
  • Self-hostingNo open weightsBoth are available only through APIs and apps
  • Most API hostsNano Banana 2.1MAI-Image-2.6: 1 · Nano Banana 2.1: 5
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

MAI-Image-2.6 vs Nano Banana 2.1 specifications side by side
SpecificationMAI-Image-2.6MicrosoftNano Banana 2.1Google
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,329 ±5#4 of 82 · 34,596 votes (best)1,325 ±9#5 of 82 · 5,290 votes
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,427 ±5#6 of 61 · 76,933 votes1,427 ±5#6 of 61 · 76,933 votes
Price
Starting price—$0.034/image 1K
Top price—$0.113/image 4K
How it is billed—Billed per token; Google’s listed cost per image.
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Resolutions—1K · 2K · 4K
Highest resolution—4K
Largest image—4K (about 16 MP)
Images per request—Up to 1
Text in the reply—Yes
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)YesYes
Max reference images—14
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API hosts15 (best)
ReleasedOct 13, 2026Oct 6, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, MAI-Image-2.6 or Nano Banana 2.1?

For text to image, voters rate them about the same (MAI-Image-2.6 1,329 (#4) · Nano Banana 2.1 1,325 (#5)). For image editing, voters prefer MAI-Image-2.6 (MAI-Image-2.6 1,427 (#6) · 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?

Nano Banana 2.1 costs from $0.034/image (1K), up to $0.113/image (4K). MAI-Image-2.6 has no published per-image price. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

What is the difference between MAI-Image-2.6 and Nano Banana 2.1?

MAI-Image-2.6 is an image model from Microsoft (Oct 13, 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?

MAI-Image-2.6 Oct 13, 2026; Nano Banana 2.1 Oct 6, 2026.

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: MAI-Image-2.6 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

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