GPT Image 2.5 Sunburstvs.Nano Banana 2.1
Which one is better?
In our own test both are on par. Nano Banana 2.1 has no arena rating yet. Nano Banana 2.1 has no API price.
Same prompt, two images
Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.
Result for “Infographic”:GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst slightly ahead
What the rating looks at: Numbers, labels, and visual organization.
“Ahead”: better in all three rating rounds. “Slightly ahead”: a higher value, but not in every round.
Test protocol of the images
Both models receive the same archived prompt in exactly one request, and the first result counts. Files are normalized to 1,024 × 1,024 pixels without cropping. Provider resolution, randomness, quality tier and prompt processing can still differ. The images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.
Character and detail
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:51 PM. Source
Nano Banana 2.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.036408, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:40 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: 2bcd5e2358dbf9e2f11336ebf6c4a4a15e0a9a10261dd74378d40985ac68ec6d
Nano Banana 2.1 image SHA 256: f89e3f52678670058ce0e1e9b0b5b6ec084e25a212491b5025e76d7525fb8707
Infographic
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:52 PM. Source
Nano Banana 2.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.036560, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:40 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: 7dab94e5588be73aefe08f23f9d56ced4e2ddb2b29f754db41b057025cf34847
Nano Banana 2.1 image SHA 256: ce5c4b7af2575ccf9964cfeea2e4f0bb75cdad21aea29c4201e693fa307e435b
Product photography
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:51 PM. Source
Nano Banana 2.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.036546, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:39 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: c648276704e06f7925f2325e8ffff0d9d0a9bd6c5bb4866785abac92ce97ff9a
Nano Banana 2.1 image SHA 256: 289b144f7d5348e9324d229e5508d5698c09035f2cbdea474845a84b852e859e
Typography and layout
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst: openai, 1024x1024, quality high, n=1, generated Sep 28, 2026, 8:50 PM. Source
Nano Banana 2.1: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.036497, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:39 PM. Source
Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst image SHA 256: fd6a3767ba8253869cb94d5346f025541dac924c2190df2c37b366b182986cf8
Nano Banana 2.1 image SHA 256: d27b58baa4115177a46fae2d71e258c5f4de9243fc66df93983ef6127df2f320
The numbers at a glance
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
Rank 1 of 22
Nano Banana 2.1
not in the arena
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
Rank 4 of 74
Nano Banana 2.1
Rank 11 of 74
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
expensive
Nano Banana 2.1
no API price
Ranks among the 22 image models with an arena rating and the 74 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.
GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
- Subscription
- No OpenAI subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €6.39 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 62 plans in Germany.
- Via API
- $0.21 per image, 100 images $21.07.
Nano Banana 2.1
- Subscription
- At Google from €4.99 a month (Google AI Plus, with limited credits). Through other providers from €6.83 a month (Poe Basic, with limited points). 42 plans in Germany.
- Via API
- No API price known. Access: API, Web app.
- Weights
- unknown.
Subscriptions only count plans that name exactly this model. Subscription prices include VAT, API prices are in dollars.
Arena rating (LMArena) from Oct 28, 2026 · GraduallyBench from Nov 1, 2026 · API prices from Oct 28, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (34 days old)
All data side by side
The better value is bold. For ratings only when the gap is clear.
| Kennzahl | GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst | Nano Banana 2.1 |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | ||
| Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better | 1,427 | n/a |
| Arena rank | Rank 1 of 22 | n/a |
| Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating | 40,323 | n/a |
| GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 | 77 | 69 |
| GraduallyBench by task | ||
| Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition | 48 | 60 |
| Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details | 93 | 80 |
| Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency | 74 | 67 |
| InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization | 91 | 71 |
| API price | ||
| Per imagelower is better | $0.21 | n/a |
| 100 images | $21.07 | n/a |
| Profile | ||
| Released | Sep 8, 2026 | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Weightsopen means: runs locally | proprietary | unknown |
| Access | API | API, Web app |
| Parameters | not published | not published |
| Largest output | 3,840 × 2,160 pixels | not consistently published |
| Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model | 62 | 42 |
API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.
Sources: GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst model source (verified Sep 24, 2026) · Nano Banana 2.1 model source (verified Nov 1, 2026)
Arena ratings by category
From blind votes on LMArena. “Ahead” means the lead is clear.
No shared arena score in the stored snapshot
The stored benchmark database contains no measurement for GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst and Nano Banana 2.1 from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.
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