Head-to-head comparison

MAI-Image-2.5 vs. Nano Banana 2 Lite

Compare shared capability tests, arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Research benchmarks, preference arenas, and our n = 1 samples remain separate.

shared result series: 15
shared sample prompts: 4
latest arena retrieval: 2026-08-26

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 MAI-Image-2.5 and Nano Banana 2 Lite
Attribute	MAI-Image-2.5	Nano Banana 2 Lite
Provider	Microsoft AI	Google
Released	June 2026	June 2026
Access	API, Web app	API, Web app
Lifecycle	Preview in Microsoft Foundry Status source	No separate lifecycle notice
Weights	Proprietary	Proprietary
Parameters	20 billion	Not published
Maximum output	1,048,576 pixels	1K
Arena configuration	No separate configuration named	Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image
Text-to-image price	$48.1 per 1,000 images	$33.6 per 1,000 images
Editing price	$48.1 per 1,000 images	$33.6 per 1,000 images
Technical source	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15

MAI-Image-2.5Nano Banana 2 Lite

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

MAI-Image-2.5$48.1

Nano Banana 2 Lite$33.6

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

MAI-Image-2.5$48.1

Nano Banana 2 Lite$33.6

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Prompt adherence and specialist tests

Shared capability benchmarks

Every matchup includes the same four Gradually sample tasks. For each task, one archived first output from every model is ranked in three differently ordered, model-blind passes. The published 0-100 value normalizes the mean rank. It must still be read as an n = 1 sample per model. No exact shared result from the integrated research benchmarks is available for this pair.

MAI-Image-2.5Nano Banana 2 Lite

Gradually sample test: Typography and layoutMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

MAI-Image-2.593.8 / 100

Nano Banana 2 Lite81.5 / 100

Gradually sample test: Product photographyMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

MAI-Image-2.586.4 / 100

Nano Banana 2 Lite81.5 / 100

Gradually sample test: Character and detailMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

MAI-Image-2.524.7 / 100

Nano Banana 2 Lite17.3 / 100

Gradually sample test: InfographicMean of three blind ranks across all 28 first outputs, n = 1 each

MAI-Image-2.565.4 / 100

Nano Banana 2 Lite58 / 100

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Capability benchmark scores for MAI-Image-2.5 and Nano Banana 2 Lite
Benchmark	MAI-Image-2.5	Nano Banana 2 Lite
Gradually sample test: Typography and layout	Higher blind-rank score93.8 / 100 Mean rank: 2.67 (2 / 3 / 3) Five rubric scores Headline: 1.67 / 2 Subline: 1.67 / 2 Text control: 1.67 / 2 Visual brief: 1.33 / 2 Layout: 1.33 / 2	81.5 / 100 Mean rank: 6 (3 / 6 / 9) Five rubric scores Headline: 1.67 / 2 Subline: 1.67 / 2 Text control: 1.67 / 2 Visual brief: 1.33 / 2 Layout: 1.33 / 2
Gradually sample test: Product photography	Higher blind-rank score86.4 / 100 Mean rank: 4.67 (1 / 5 / 8) Five rubric scores Subject: 1.33 / 2 Time: 1.33 / 2 Watch details: 1.33 / 2 Photography: 1.33 / 2 Exclusions: 1.33 / 2	81.5 / 100 Mean rank: 6 (8 / 1 / 9) Five rubric scores Subject: 1.33 / 2 Time: 1.33 / 2 Watch details: 1.33 / 2 Photography: 1.33 / 2 Exclusions: 1.33 / 2
Gradually sample test: Character and detail	Higher blind-rank score24.7 / 100 Mean rank: 21.33 (21 / 21 / 22) Five rubric scores Scene: 1.33 / 2 Wardrobe: 1 / 2 Anatomy: 1 / 2 Props: 0.33 / 2 Environment: 1.33 / 2	17.3 / 100 Mean rank: 23.33 (23 / 19 / 28) Five rubric scores Scene: 1.33 / 2 Wardrobe: 1.33 / 2 Anatomy: 0.67 / 2 Props: 1 / 2 Environment: 0.33 / 2
Gradually sample test: Infographic	Higher blind-rank score65.4 / 100 Mean rank: 10.33 (11 / 10 / 10) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1 / 2 Labels: 1 / 2 Diagram: 1.67 / 2 Clarity: 1 / 2	58 / 100 Mean rank: 12.33 (15 / 11 / 11) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1 / 2 Labels: 1 / 2 Diagram: 1.67 / 2 Clarity: 1 / 2
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

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.

11 shared result series

MAI-Image-2.5Nano Banana 2 Lite

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

MAI-Image-2.51,303 Elo

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,288 Elo

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

MAI-Image-2.51,257 Elo

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,203 Elo

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

MAI-Image-2.51,246.107

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,225.619

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

MAI-Image-2.51,277.636

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,256.202

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

MAI-Image-2.51,270.066

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,258.29

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

MAI-Image-2.51,260.487

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,250.568

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

MAI-Image-2.51,256.13

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,250.916

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

MAI-Image-2.51,253.013

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,259.798

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

MAI-Image-2.51,259.199

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,248.247

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

MAI-Image-2.51,282.791

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,275.354

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

MAI-Image-2.51,401.279

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,314.254

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Arena benchmark scores for MAI-Image-2.5 and Nano Banana 2 Lite
Benchmark	MAI-Image-2.5	Nano Banana 2 Lite	Source
Text to Image Arena	No clear lead1,303 Elo Rank 6, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 14,800 ratings	1,288 Elo Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 14,084 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-26
Image Editing Arena	Higher score1,257 Elo Rank 4, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 11,305 ratings	1,203 Elo Rank 19, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 9,413 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: 3D modeling	No clear lead1,246.107 Rank 5, 95% confidence interval: ±9.6, 4,252 ratings	1,225.619 Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±14.48, 1,580 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Art	Higher score1,277.636 Rank 3, 95% confidence interval: ±8.37, 6,571 ratings	1,256.202 Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±12.19, 2,304 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Cartoon	No clear lead1,270.066 Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±6.37, 17,440 ratings	1,258.29 Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±8.66, 6,273 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Commercial design	No clear lead1,260.487 Rank 6, 95% confidence interval: ±6.3, 17,261 ratings	1,250.568 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±8.73, 5,912 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Overall	No clear lead1,256.13 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±4.57, 44,940 ratings	1,250.916 Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±6.18, 16,419 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Photorealism	1,253.013 Rank 10, 95% confidence interval: ±6.3, 17,468 ratings	No clear lead1,259.798 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±8.54, 6,768 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Portraits	No clear lead1,259.199 Rank 10, 95% confidence interval: ±7.61, 8,541 ratings	1,248.247 Rank 12, 95% confidence interval: ±10.65, 3,364 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Text rendering	No clear lead1,282.791 Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±6.6, 15,799 ratings	1,275.354 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±9.1, 5,421 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Image Editing: Overall	Higher score1,401.279 Rank 5, 95% confidence interval: ±3.56, 170,301 ratings	1,314.254 Rank 17, 95% confidence interval: ±4.92, 59,307 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Visual comparison

Sample images

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

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.

MAI-Image-2.5. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048508, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 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

MAI-Image-2.5, image SHA 256: ca1c58688ae4601975d7e1f7b58bb43a0a999e736f610d9f51cd11e06284bced

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: 40fc54cbcee64f9045c44e702e013b649a0d8bbd7f8e2390d839bc38ee183b90

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 6c7d17b2a84129cbeba7d52c8de703773e9296562d9d603688256d2717e65a0c

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: c8a36467199e361b900613c1db90cb99b0f552ddb7f7c7f2dd4aeb51ddb5ee1a

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

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.

MAI-Image-2.5. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048538, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:26 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

MAI-Image-2.5, image SHA 256: eaf00a906231e8859f98ef5dc2cce7e8017797819aea453305a4ef0e970d4dbf

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: bbedc701e9933a8d6ed0fbb2a6fbb7214214fad9d32d9ae80a114a7254a0bcf1

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 11d8b5ddf15becefa6e4e32fca21729ff7d57f561a10e3a2b4b6f5c7a0aed6ef

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: 0e6096a9f082a718e45fcf3733bf3ffc92cb6c9db66b8c2c73d6c764ea0b15c8

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

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.

MAI-Image-2.5. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048513, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:25 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: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

MAI-Image-2.5, image SHA 256: 67d4930b711fac61482231c4bc270cfcdb41c1b0daf653045781fb2126e237dd

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: 071e156eeb3e65e6744b7c6b675ffcb32b551dcfc1033a55e30e9561c0bd78a9

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 30d9b09b92917eca84675448260a083ad368d9ea25376dabccac0f526f3a3ab7

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: cab5c6b0ea5c96eb96b640e581e0fe296421c7fffec3aad04f9394c978814ca1

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

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.

MAI-Image-2.5. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default 1K resolution, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048473, model ID microsoft/mai-image-2.5, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:03 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

MAI-Image-2.5, image SHA 256: 4c8a60555b57b8c3b5ebaa131371d1bba9d31bfafe7aaa772554969f7c28cb08

MAI-Image-2.5, request SHA 256: f14577273bd6b0980f49e13988b01555bb55dc824317b201b5fab3d2ef72e666

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 MAI-Image-2.5 and Nano Banana 2 Lite with other important image models using the same benchmark and sample methodology.

View the complete image model comparison

MAI-Image-2.5 vs. Nano Banana 2 Lite

Change image model selection

General specifications and task-specific pricing

Shared capability benchmarks

Shared arena benchmarks

Sample images

Character and detail

Infographic

Product photography

Typography and layout

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

Related image model comparisons