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

Nano Banana 2.1 vs MAI-Image-2.6

Preferred for text to image: Too close to call · Preferred for image editing: Nano Banana 2.1 · Newest: MAI-Image-2.6. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. Add a model

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

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

Nano Banana 2.1 vs MAI-Image-2.6 specifications side by side
SpecificationNano Banana 2.1GoogleMAI-Image-2.6Microsoft
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to image arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,325 ±9#5 of 82 · 5,290 votes1,329 ±5#4 of 82 · 34,596 votes (best)
Image editing arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,427 ±6#7 of 61 · 12,956 votes1,427 ±6#7 of 61 · 12,956 votes
Price
Starting price$0.034/image 1K—
Top price$0.113/image 4K—
How it is billedBilled per token; Google’s listed cost per image.—
Output
ProducesImagesImages
Resolutions1K · 2K · 4K—
Highest resolution4K—
Largest image4K (about 16 MP)—
Images per requestUp to 1—
Text in the replyYes—
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Reference images (editing)YesYes
Max reference images14—
Access
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
API hosts5 (best)1
ReleasedOct 6, 2026Oct 13, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

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

For text to image, voters rate them about the same (Nano Banana 2.1 1,325 (#5) · MAI-Image-2.6 1,329 (#4)). For image editing, voters prefer Nano Banana 2.1 (Nano Banana 2.1 1,427 (#7) · MAI-Image-2.6 1,427 (#6)). 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 Nano Banana 2.1 and MAI-Image-2.6?

Nano Banana 2.1 is an image model from Google (Oct 6, 2026), taking text prompts, reference images and video and producing images. MAI-Image-2.6 is an image model from Microsoft (Oct 13, 2026), taking text prompts and reference images and producing images.

Which is newer?

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

Which can edit an existing image?

Takes a reference image as input: Nano Banana 2.1 yes; MAI-Image-2.6 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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