Head-to-head comparison

Nano Banana 2 Lite vs. FLUX.2 Max

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: 16
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 Nano Banana 2 Lite and FLUX.2 Max
Attribute	Nano Banana 2 Lite	FLUX.2 Max
Provider	Google	Black Forest Labs
Released	June 2026	December 2025
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	1K	4 Megapixel
Arena configuration	Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite Image	Max
Text-to-image price	$33.6 per 1,000 images	$70 per 1,000 images
Editing price	$33.6 per 1,000 images	$140 per 1,000 images
Technical source	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15

Nano Banana 2 LiteFLUX.2 Max

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite$33.6

FLUX.2 Max$70

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite$33.6

FLUX.2 Max$140

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.

Nano Banana 2 LiteFLUX.2 Max

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite81.5 / 100

FLUX.2 Max85.2 / 100

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite81.5 / 100

FLUX.2 Max56.8 / 100

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite17.3 / 100

FLUX.2 Max80.3 / 100

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite58 / 100

FLUX.2 Max29.6 / 100

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Capability benchmark scores for Nano Banana 2 Lite and FLUX.2 Max
Benchmark	Nano Banana 2 Lite	FLUX.2 Max
Gradually sample test: Typography and layout	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	Higher blind-rank score85.2 / 100 Mean rank: 5 (4 / 4 / 7) 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 score81.5 / 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	56.8 / 100 Mean rank: 12.67 (14 / 11 / 13) 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	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	Higher blind-rank score80.3 / 100 Mean rank: 6.33 (8 / 5 / 6) Five rubric scores Scene: 1.33 / 2 Wardrobe: 1.33 / 2 Anatomy: 1.33 / 2 Props: 1.33 / 2 Environment: 1.33 / 2
Gradually sample test: Infographic	Higher blind-rank score58 / 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	29.6 / 100 Mean rank: 20 (22 / 18 / 20) Five rubric scores Title: 1.67 / 2 Sequence: 1.33 / 2 Labels: 1 / 2 Diagram: 1 / 2 Clarity: 0.67 / 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.

12 shared result series

Nano Banana 2 LiteFLUX.2 Max

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,288 Elo

FLUX.2 Max1,226 Elo

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,203 Elo

FLUX.2 Max1,201 Elo

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,225.619

FLUX.2 Max1,161.008

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,256.202

FLUX.2 Max1,170.168

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,258.29

FLUX.2 Max1,169.225

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,250.568

FLUX.2 Max1,164.635

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,250.916

FLUX.2 Max1,161.939

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,259.798

FLUX.2 Max1,160.771

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,248.247

FLUX.2 Max1,156.957

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,275.354

FLUX.2 Max1,167.156

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,285.821

FLUX.2 Max1,249.954

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

Nano Banana 2 Lite1,314.254

FLUX.2 Max1,261.756

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Arena benchmark scores for Nano Banana 2 Lite and FLUX.2 Max
Benchmark	Nano Banana 2 Lite	FLUX.2 Max	Source
Text to Image Arena	Higher score1,288 Elo Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 14,084 ratings	1,226 Elo Rank 18, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 9,112 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-26
Image Editing Arena	No clear lead1,203 Elo Rank 19, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 9,413 ratings	1,201 Elo Rank 20, 95% confidence interval: ±7, 10,113 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: 3D modeling	Higher score1,225.619 Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±14.48, 1,580 ratings	1,161.008 Rank 24, 95% confidence interval: ±7.37, 11,589 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Art	Higher score1,256.202 Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±12.19, 2,304 ratings	1,170.168 Rank 23, 95% confidence interval: ±6.55, 16,564 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Cartoon	Higher score1,258.29 Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±8.66, 6,273 ratings	1,169.225 Rank 23, 95% confidence interval: ±5.36, 42,916 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Commercial design	Higher score1,250.568 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±8.73, 5,912 ratings	1,164.635 Rank 25, 95% confidence interval: ±5.03, 44,254 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Overall	Higher score1,250.916 Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±6.18, 16,419 ratings	1,161.939 Rank 22, 95% confidence interval: ±3.55, 117,464 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Photorealism	Higher score1,259.798 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±8.54, 6,768 ratings	1,160.771 Rank 24, 95% confidence interval: ±4.95, 50,664 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Portraits	Higher score1,248.247 Rank 12, 95% confidence interval: ±10.65, 3,364 ratings	1,156.957 Rank 27, 95% confidence interval: ±6.03, 26,790 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Text to Image: Text rendering	Higher score1,275.354 Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±9.1, 5,421 ratings	1,167.156 Rank 23, 95% confidence interval: ±5.27, 40,386 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Image Editing: Multi-image editing	Higher score1,285.821 Rank 14, 95% confidence interval: ±4.86, 21,484 ratings	1,249.954 Rank 19, 95% confidence interval: ±4.34, 136,078 ratings	LMArenaRetrieved 2026-08-26
LMArena Image Editing: Overall	Higher score1,314.254 Rank 17, 95% confidence interval: ±4.92, 59,307 ratings	1,261.756 Rank 27, 95% confidence interval: ±3.18, 353,119 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

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Character and detail

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.

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
FLUX.2 Max. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, steps=50, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-max, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:23 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 6c7d17b2a84129cbeba7d52c8de703773e9296562d9d603688256d2717e65a0c

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: c8a36467199e361b900613c1db90cb99b0f552ddb7f7c7f2dd4aeb51ddb5ee1a

FLUX.2 Max, image SHA 256: a0a2cef301582c47a8dca69ccd1c52212c37ca6c058d7185a880a7856713cd9e

FLUX.2 Max, request SHA 256: 0267e820f1d771485d5a0e44b93a6b996c2fb12f6547a199eb3c22d4cf8e21f3

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.

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

Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 11d8b5ddf15becefa6e4e32fca21729ff7d57f561a10e3a2b4b6f5c7a0aed6ef

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: 0e6096a9f082a718e45fcf3733bf3ffc92cb6c9db66b8c2c73d6c764ea0b15c8

FLUX.2 Max, image SHA 256: 9321457355d5a9630073632fb6441bf388da1c4ee8e5d58e58cd0603ce756a09

FLUX.2 Max, request SHA 256: 46911d2cf3eb49e0c0439477c802fc24910b2658b19d562a327af2e1b3f3faf1

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.

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

Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 30d9b09b92917eca84675448260a083ad368d9ea25376dabccac0f526f3a3ab7

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: cab5c6b0ea5c96eb96b640e581e0fe296421c7fffec3aad04f9394c978814ca1

FLUX.2 Max, image SHA 256: dd6ad8d1ec45154727d9ddf573ef10da5225899820055318d23bcd4e5a1e930c

FLUX.2 Max, request SHA 256: 3c90a7839c60af903a8abb6d7b2b4af4df1320aabffcc84361491964161bcf9e

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Typography and layout

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.

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
FLUX.2 Max. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, steps=50, model ID black-forest-labs/FLUX.2-max, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

Nano Banana 2 Lite, image SHA 256: 9fab80fe1ad268b9ceceb4ef61ef1dd0e965dd3f28d377af7cf9cf201fdf47fa

Nano Banana 2 Lite, request SHA 256: 942506d572642220473dd80be80ff16950d6d11f31fab2b5c3145f3f2a9b2513

FLUX.2 Max, image SHA 256: 3eb2daf01c749ee25d86c2e4f55d6d3d81cfb4590eb0343f9a4bb3d0a70d19bc

FLUX.2 Max, request SHA 256: 10a63b4db9e0b1529ab3d891fdb504c5716d30aff6a5cc7bd0312790105eba22

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 Nano Banana 2 Lite and FLUX.2 Max with other important image models using the same benchmark and sample methodology.

View the complete image model comparison

Nano Banana 2 Lite vs. FLUX.2 Max

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