Head-to-head comparison

GPT Image 2 vs. Nano Banana 2 Lite

Compare arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Text-to-image generation and image editing are never blended into an artificial overall score.

shared result series

shared sample prompts

2026-08-16

latest arena retrieval

First image modelSecond image model

Specifications and cost

General specifications and task-specific pricing

A model can have one price for generating new images and another for editing. Prices therefore remain tied to the corresponding arena configuration.

Specifications and pricing for GPT Image 2 and Nano Banana 2 Lite
Attribute	GPT Image 2	Nano Banana 2 Lite
Provider	OpenAI	Google
Released	April 2026	June 2026
Access	API, Web app	API, Web app
Lifecycle	No separate lifecycle notice	No separate lifecycle notice
Weights	Proprietary	Proprietary
Parameters	Not published	Not published
Maximum output	4K	1K
Arena configuration	High	Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image
Text-to-image price	$211 per 1,000 images	$33.6 per 1,000 images
Editing price	$211 per 1,000 images	$33.6 per 1,000 images
Technical source	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15

GPT Image 2Nano Banana 2 Lite

Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels

GPT Image 2$211

Nano Banana 2 Lite$33.6Lower price

Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels

GPT Image 2$211

Nano Banana 2 Lite$33.6Lower price

Independent preference tests

Shared arena benchmarks

Artificial Analysis and Arena derive scores from blind comparisons. Raters see outputs for the same prompt and choose the image they prefer. Separate series cover text rendering, photorealism, portraits, art, commercial design, and image editing. Confidence intervals indicate how certain a measured lead is.

12 shared result series

GPT Image 2Nano Banana 2 Lite

Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,370 EloHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,292 Elo

Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,258 EloHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,200 Elo

Arena Text to Image: 3D modelingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,360.375 arena pointsHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,225.619 arena points

Arena Text to Image: ArtBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,370.438 arena pointsHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,256.202 arena points

Arena Text to Image: CartoonBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,396.031 arena pointsHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,258.29 arena points

Arena Text to Image: Commercial designBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,389.556 arena pointsHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,250.568 arena points

Arena Text to Image: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,380.469 arena pointsHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,250.916 arena points

Arena Text to Image: PhotorealismBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,378.291 arena pointsHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,259.798 arena points

Arena Text to Image: PortraitsBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,428.866 arena pointsHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,248.247 arena points

Arena Text to Image: Text renderingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,424.046 arena pointsHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,275.354 arena points

Arena Image Editing: Multi-image editingBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,454.125 arena pointsHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,285.821 arena points

Arena Image Editing: OverallBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better

GPT Image 21,462.727 arena pointsHigher arena score

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,313.956 arena points

Arena benchmark scores for GPT Image 2 and Nano Banana 2 Lite
Benchmark	GPT Image 2	Nano Banana 2 Lite	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,370 EloHigher arena score Rank 1, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 13,336 ratings	1,292 Elo Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 13,652 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Image Editing Arena	1,258 EloHigher arena score Rank 2, 95% confidence interval: ±6, 18,142 ratings	1,200 Elo Rank 16, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 8,704 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Arena Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,360.375 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 1, 95% confidence interval: ±9.77, 6,635 ratings	1,225.619 arena points Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±14.48, 1,580 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Art	1,370.438 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 1, 95% confidence interval: ±8.48, 8,762 ratings	1,256.202 arena points Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±12.19, 2,304 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Cartoon	1,396.031 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 1, 95% confidence interval: ±6.88, 28,210 ratings	1,258.29 arena points Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±8.66, 6,273 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Commercial design	1,389.556 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 1, 95% confidence interval: ±6.61, 27,138 ratings	1,250.568 arena points Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±8.73, 5,912 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Overall	1,380.469 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 1, 95% confidence interval: ±4.62, 69,194 ratings	1,250.916 arena points Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±6.18, 16,419 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Photorealism	1,378.291 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 1, 95% confidence interval: ±6.62, 26,719 ratings	1,259.798 arena points Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±8.54, 6,768 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Portraits	1,428.866 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 1, 95% confidence interval: ±8.77, 13,521 ratings	1,248.247 arena points Rank 12, 95% confidence interval: ±10.65, 3,364 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Text rendering	1,424.046 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 1, 95% confidence interval: ±7.09, 26,226 ratings	1,275.354 arena points Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±9.1, 5,421 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Image Editing: Multi-image editing	1,454.125 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 1, 95% confidence interval: ±4.67, 72,134 ratings	1,285.821 arena points Rank 14, 95% confidence interval: ±4.86, 21,484 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Image Editing: Overall	1,462.727 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 1, 95% confidence interval: ±3.94, 184,189 ratings	1,313.956 arena points Rank 16, 95% confidence interval: ±4.91, 59,331 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16

Visual comparison

Sample images from documented runs

Our images complement preference data, but do not replace it. The prompt, request count, and selection rule match. Provider resolution, quality tier, randomness, and prompt processing remain visible limitations, so this is not a fully controlled laboratory test.

Largely standardized comparison protocol. Both models receive the same archived prompt, 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. These images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Anatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Character and detail — Nano Banana 2 Lite

Prompt and settings

Create a square cinematic full-body portrait of a fictional bicycle courier waiting under a transparent umbrella at a rainy tram stop in Hamburg at blue hour. She wears a mustard raincoat, navy trousers, red sneakers, a silver helmet, and carries a teal messenger bag. Keep both hands visible, render the bicycle correctly, use realistic wet-street reflections, and include no readable brand names.

GPT Image 2. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID openai/gpt-image-2, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:13 PM. Source
Nano Banana 2 Lite. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/flash-image-3.1-lite, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

GPT Image 2, image SHA 256: 82f6e2369ab4fb6efb0ef48feeff0d14f1d6087c64c35113a983456f0f0879ac

GPT Image 2, request SHA 256: db4ca97dc43effd578430b77f8ca559c7dd5cbe60e663ba9ecc2e89a33480b0d

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 6c7d17b2a84129cbeba7d52c8de703773e9296562d9d603688256d2717e65a0c

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: c8a36467199e361b900613c1db90cb99b0f552ddb7f7c7f2dd4aeb51ddb5ee1a

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Infographic — Nano Banana 2 Lite

Prompt and settings

Create a square German infographic titled SO FUNKTIONIERT PHOTOSYNTHESE. Show exactly four numbered steps in this order: 1 LICHT, 2 WASSER, 3 CO₂, 4 ZUCKER + SAUERSTOFF. Use a clean editorial science style with one plant cross-section, simple arrows, high contrast, legible labels, and no other text.

GPT Image 2. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID openai/gpt-image-2, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:14 PM. Source
Nano Banana 2 Lite. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/flash-image-3.1-lite, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

GPT Image 2, image SHA 256: 6c15466e258e2b14a8e862959cb6a67b4f7a23896ea5d42c5a5618d848847711

GPT Image 2, request SHA 256: ed741d3d120188b9286d3576e7dcd3ace9dd7792978d4d5426022f32ed7ca381

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 11d8b5ddf15becefa6e4e32fca21729ff7d57f561a10e3a2b4b6f5c7a0aed6ef

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: 0e6096a9f082a718e45fcf3733bf3ffc92cb6c9db66b8c2c73d6c764ea0b15c8

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Product photography — Nano Banana 2 Lite

Prompt and settings

Create a square premium product photograph of a brushed titanium wristwatch standing upright on dark green marble. The watch has a cream dial, thin black hands set to 10:10, twelve distinct hour markers, a realistic crown, and a dark brown leather strap. Soft window light from the left, controlled reflections, shallow depth of field, no text, no logo, no extra objects.

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

GPT Image 2, image SHA 256: 471c71b30618afb1a8a67ab8363308d67f99c65ef6740ca72417806d06d3c346

GPT Image 2, request SHA 256: 7b27ff2c9b64529a36bebf2d572c3448f26e68f3e9d1ac6a3f2b5ead8698f60f

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 30d9b09b92917eca84675448260a083ad368d9ea25376dabccac0f526f3a3ab7

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: cab5c6b0ea5c96eb96b640e581e0fe296421c7fffec3aad04f9394c978814ca1

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Typography and layout — Nano Banana 2 Lite

Prompt and settings

Create a square editorial poster for an imaginary night train called MONDFALTER. Show the exact German headline MONDFALTER and the exact subline BERLIN NACH LISSABON. Use a restrained midnight-blue and warm-cream palette, one stylized moth, strong Swiss-grid typography, generous negative space, and no additional words or logos.

GPT Image 2. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID openai/gpt-image-2, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:59 PM. Source
Nano Banana 2 Lite. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/flash-image-3.1-lite, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 PM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1, selection rule: first result.

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

GPT Image 2, image SHA 256: 434cf9939b9be2a2c2711e13d027c9438c47038bb32229ceeaf405d2e89d2afc

GPT Image 2, request SHA 256: 473a774dfe9f9b7bb597e9e8b63af4e770b6bc4e7f8bc90682636db3516e7353

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 9fab80fe1ad268b9ceceb4ef61ef1dd0e965dd3f28d377af7cf9cf201fdf47fa

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: 942506d572642220473dd80be80ff16950d6d11f31fab2b5c3145f3f2a9b2513

How to read this comparison

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

A higher arena score means this specific configuration was preferred more often in blind comparisons.

Typography, character consistency, local execution, licensing, and price may matter more to your workload than overall visual appeal.

Prices cover 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels using settings documented by Artificial Analysis. Subscriptions and special rates are excluded.

More matchups

Compare GPT Image 2 and Nano Banana 2 Lite with other important image models using the same benchmark and sample methodology.

View the complete image model comparison

GPT Image 2 vs. Nano Banana 2 Lite

Change image model selection

General specifications and task-specific pricing

Shared arena benchmarks

Sample images from documented runs

Character and detail

Infographic

Product photography

Typography and layout

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

Related image model comparisons