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Head-to-head comparison

Nano Banana 2 Lite vs. Luma UNI 1 Max

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.

2

shared result series

4

shared sample prompts

2026-08-15

latest arena retrieval

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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 Luma UNI 1 Max
AttributeNano Banana 2 LiteLuma UNI 1 Max
ProviderGoogleLuma Labs
ReleasedJune 2026May 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, Web app
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticeNo separate lifecycle notice
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
ParametersNot publishedNot published
Maximum output1K2K
Arena configurationGemini 3.1 Flash Lite ImageMax
Text-to-image price$33.6 per 1,000 images$100 per 1,000 images
Editing price$33.6 per 1,000 images$100 per 1,000 images
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
Nano Banana 2 LiteLuma UNI 1 Max
Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Nano Banana 2 Lite$33.6Lower price
Luma UNI 1 Max$100
Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Nano Banana 2 Lite$33.6Lower price
Luma UNI 1 Max$100

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.

2 shared result series
Nano Banana 2 LiteLuma UNI 1 Max
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,292 EloHigher arena score
Luma UNI 1 Max1,226 Elo
Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana 2 Lite1,200 Elo
Luma UNI 1 Max1,219 EloHigher arena score
Arena benchmark scores for Nano Banana 2 Lite and Luma UNI 1 Max
BenchmarkNano Banana 2 LiteLuma UNI 1 MaxSource
Text to Image Arena
1,292 EloHigher arena score
Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 13,652 ratings
1,226 Elo
Rank 14, 95% confidence interval: ±10, 4,073 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Image Editing Arena
1,200 Elo
Rank 16, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 8,704 ratings
1,219 EloHigher arena score
Rank 12, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 6,178 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15

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
Luma UNI 1 Max, Character and detail
Luma UNI 1 Max
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
Luma UNI 1 Max. Provider fal.ai, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), model ID luma/agent/uni-1/v1/max, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:47 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

Luma UNI 1 Max, image SHA 256: 8034ca5627e1a256cdf1d06fc87b583d91d971d02edc9af7df52cd6721d3ea9c

Luma UNI 1 Max, request SHA 256: 81275c8abc4186d3dd5205d2f141c1ac6765e2217b9c7ea23caa622a232ab8a5

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Infographic
Nano Banana 2 Lite
Luma UNI 1 Max, Infographic
Luma UNI 1 Max
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.

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
Luma UNI 1 Max. Provider fal.ai, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), model ID luma/agent/uni-1/v1/max, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:49 PM. Source

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

Luma UNI 1 Max, image SHA 256: 36dea214eb680804d4fea089eec3d4f10a4bf7b7a71c7a80f92313a37e8c2f73

Luma UNI 1 Max, request SHA 256: b99624302d834bf44e21100914a69d38225d34be413ad69decf73e2ad3a70c71

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Product photography
Nano Banana 2 Lite
Luma UNI 1 Max, Product photography
Luma UNI 1 Max
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.

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
Luma UNI 1 Max. Provider fal.ai, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), model ID luma/agent/uni-1/v1/max, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:43 PM. Source

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

Luma UNI 1 Max, image SHA 256: 4890cdf8b858c5740124e3b2ba038b73f6a35decc7e3e3d920890462b6e89c2b

Luma UNI 1 Max, request SHA 256: 3f4a422b01687a8af7e9ef60e1b5a15251459af4c4ab6a6318a13f5b415a2b54

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Nano Banana 2 Lite, Typography and layout
Nano Banana 2 Lite
Luma UNI 1 Max, Typography and layout
Luma UNI 1 Max
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
Luma UNI 1 Max. Provider fal.ai, aspect ratio 1:1, n=1, seed=provider random, estimated cost $0.102000, source 2048x2048, stored 1024x1024 (Lanczos3 downscale), model ID luma/agent/uni-1/v1/max, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:40 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

Luma UNI 1 Max, image SHA 256: d2a6162d544def0a283ed62f939b33252636d296a21142111851ecdedd2989d3

Luma UNI 1 Max, request SHA 256: 31b38cf7833b7ed265ab47297533faea410b463cf427ee9c8bfc269ed47d0ddb

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.

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