Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) vs Nano Banana 2.1
Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) costs 5.0x less per output token than Nano Banana 2.1 ($1.50 vs $7.50 per million). Updated October 22, 2026; 5 benchmarks have a result for both.
Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) or Nano Banana 2.1: which to pick
Neither model has a coding score yet, so the two cannot be ranked on coding.
Pick Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) for output tokens 5.0x cheaper ($1.50 vs $7.50 per million) and work measured by Design Arena: images or Design Arena: graphic design, where it leads.
- Shared results
- 5
- Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) only
- 0
- Nano Banana 2.1 only
- 0
- Like-for-like categories
- 1 of 9
Only benchmarks that tested both models count toward a pick; a result only one model has is shown but not compared.
Which one for your work
Each card is decided by one number both models carry. Where only one has it, the card says so and makes no call.
Coding
Vibe Coding Index, six public coding benchmarks
No call
Neither has a coding score yet.
One side not measured
Image generation
Design Arena: images
Nano Banana 2.1
Nano Banana 2.1 leads, 1291 against 1236.
Same board, both measured
Long documents
Listed context window
No call
Both take 66K tokens.
Listed by OpenRouter
Everyday cost
1K input + 500 output tokens
Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image)
Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) $0.0010, Nano Banana 2.1 $0.0053 per turn.
List prices
At a glance
- Coding index
- Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) not benchmarked, Nano Banana 2.1 not benchmarked.
- Widest category
- Image generation, 11.4 points apart on average over 5 shared benchmarks.
- Widest single gap
- LMArena Image Edit: Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) 1313 against Nano Banana 2.1 1426, 18.9 points apart on a 0 to 100 scale.
- Output price
- Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) $1.50 against Nano Banana 2.1 $7.50 per million output tokens, 5.0x apart.
- Context window
- Both take 66K tokens.
Benchmark by benchmark
First the score: boards each model leads, per category, where both have a result. Then every board, a category to a fold; bars are each result on a 0 to 100 scale, so compare the two in a row, not one row with another.
| Category | Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) | Bars | Nano Banana 2.1 | Ties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image generation | 0 | 5 | ||
| All shared boards | 0 | 5 |
CodingNot comparableSix of these boards feed the Vibe Coding Index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) | Nano Banana 2.1 | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 43 boards here | |||
IntelligenceNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) | Nano Banana 2.1 | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 2 boards here | |||
Agentic workNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) | Nano Banana 2.1 | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 42 boards here | |||
ReasoningNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) | Nano Banana 2.1 | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 23 boards here | |||
MathNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) | Nano Banana 2.1 | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 14 boards here | |||
KnowledgeNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) | Nano Banana 2.1 | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 20 boards here | |||
Web designNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) | Nano Banana 2.1 | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 9 boards here | |||
GeneralNot comparablePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index0 boards, none shared
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) | Nano Banana 2.1 | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neither model has a result on 48 boards here | |||
Image generationLike-for-likePublic boards, shown as published, kept out of the index05
| Benchmark | Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) | Nano Banana 2.1 | Leader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Arena: images | 1236 | 1291 | Nano Banana 2.1 |
| Design Arena: graphic design | 1249 | 1333 | Nano Banana 2.1 |
| Design Arena: logos | 1214 | 1277 | Nano Banana 2.1 |
| LMArena Text to Image | 1250 | 1328 | Nano Banana 2.1 |
| LMArena Image Edit | 1313 | 1426 | Nano Banana 2.1 |
What each workload costs
Three fixed token mixes at each model's listed price, so per-token rates become a bill.
Chat turn
1K input + 500 output tokens
Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) costs less
Repository review
50K input + 3K output tokens
Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) costs less
Agent loop
200K input + 10K output tokens
Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) costs less
Listed OpenRouter rates, without cache or batch discounts. A workload that does not fit a model's context window would need splitting.
Specification differences
The leading value in a row is marked; a row with a missing value names no leader. Our two rows are marked in red.
| Specification | Google Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) | Google Nano Banana 2.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | ||
| Weights | No public weights listed | No public weights listed |
| Released | June 30, 2026 | October 6, 2026 |
| Context window | 66K | 66K |
| Input $/Mtok | $0.25 | $1.50 |
| Output $/Mtok | $1.50 | $7.50 |
| Coding index | Not benchmarked | Not benchmarked |
| Independent measurements behind it | 0 | 0 |
| Cost per solved task | Not computable | Not computable |
| Source | OpenRouter listing | OpenRouter listing |
Questions
Is Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) better than Nano Banana 2.1 for coding?
Neither model has a coding score yet, so the two cannot be ranked on coding. Pick Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) for output tokens 5.0x cheaper ($1.50 vs $7.50 per million) and work measured by Design Arena: images or Design Arena: graphic design, where it leads.
Which is cheaper, Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) or Nano Banana 2.1?
Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) costs $0.25 per million input tokens and $1.50 per million output tokens; Nano Banana 2.1 costs $1.50 and $7.50. Cost per solved task is known for neither of them.
Which has the bigger context window, Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) or Nano Banana 2.1?
Neither: both take 66K tokens.
How many benchmarks is the Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image) vs Nano Banana 2.1 comparison based on?
5 benchmarks have a result for both models as of October 22, 2026. Nano Banana 2 Lite (Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image)'s coding index rests on 0 independent benchmarks and Nano Banana 2.1's on 0. Where only one model has a result, the page says so instead of naming a winner.