Nano Banana 2 Litevs.MAI-Image-2.6

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, MAI-Image-2.6 leads. MAI-Image-2.6 costs 1.2 times as much per image.

Test images

Same task, the first image of each. The task with the biggest difference is preselected.

Nano Banana 2 Lite: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — Nano Banana 2 Lite82 out of 100

MAI-Image-2.6: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run — MAI-Image-2.662 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:Nano Banana 2 Lite slightly ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

What the rating looks at: Legible text, hierarchy, and composition.

“Ahead”: better in all three rating rounds. “Slightly ahead”: a higher value, but not in every round.

Test protocol of the images

Each test attempt uses the same archived prompt and one request. The first output of that attempt counts. Repeats after technical test failures are disclosed for the affected images. 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

Nano Banana 2 Lite: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039287, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Nano Banana 2 Lite image SHA 256: 6c7d17b2a84129cbeba7d52c8de703773e9296562d9d603688256d2717e65a0c

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

Infographic

Nano Banana 2 Lite: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039317, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:42 AM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

Nano Banana 2 Lite image SHA 256: 11d8b5ddf15becefa6e4e32fca21729ff7d57f561a10e3a2b4b6f5c7a0aed6ef

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

Product photography

Nano Banana 2 Lite: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:21 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039292, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Nano Banana 2 Lite image SHA 256: 30d9b09b92917eca84675448260a083ad368d9ea25376dabccac0f526f3a3ab7

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

Typography and layout

Nano Banana 2 Lite: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 PM. Source

MAI-Image-2.6: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, provider default resolution, received 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.039252, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:41 AM. Source

Protocol gradually-image-comparison-v1. Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

Nano Banana 2 Lite image SHA 256: 9fab80fe1ad268b9ceceb4ef61ef1dd0e965dd3f28d377af7cf9cf201fdf47fa

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better

1,249

Nano Banana 2 Lite

Rank 11 of 21

1,329

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 4 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better

Nano Banana 2 Lite

Rank 21 of 108

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 28 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better

$0.034

Nano Banana 2 Lite

fairly cheap

$0.039

MAI-Image-2.6

fairly cheap

Ranks among the 21 image models with an arena rating and the 108 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.

Nano Banana 2 Lite

Subscription: Free to use at Google (Google AI Free, with limited credits), more from €4.99 a month (Google AI Plus, with limited credits). Through other providers from ≈ €6.34 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 51 plans in Germany.
Via API: $0.034 per image, 100 images $3.36.

MAI-Image-2.6

Subscription: n/a No plan in Germany names exactly this model.
Via API: $0.039 per image, 100 images $3.89.

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 3, 2026 · API prices from Nov 3, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (38 days old)

All data side by side

The better value is bold. For ratings only when the gap is clear.

Kennzahl	Nano Banana 2 Lite	MAI-Image-2.6
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better	1,249	1,329
Arena rank	Rank 11 of 21	Rank 4 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating	17,813	34,596
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100	71	68
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition	82	62
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details	87	88
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency	47	63
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization	66	61
API price
Per imagelower is better	$0.034	$0.039
100 images	$3.36	$3.89
Profile
Released	June 2026	Jul 31, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locally	proprietary	proprietary
Lifecycle	no notice	Preview in Microsoft Foundry
Access	API, Web app	API
Parameters	not published	not published
Largest output	1K	2,359,296 pixels
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model	51	n/a

API prices for one image at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels according to Artificial Analysis.

Sources: Nano Banana 2 Lite model source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · MAI-Image-2.6 model source, status source (verified Sep 24, 2026)

Arena ratings by category

From blind votes on LMArena. “Ahead” means the lead is clear.

Arena rating per categoryfrom votes by users · higher is betterNano Banana 2 LiteMAI-Image-2.6

Text to Image Arena1,1071,167ahead

Image Editing Arena1,0551,151ahead

Text to Image: 3D modeling1,2261,325ahead

Text to Image: Art1,2561,337ahead

Text to Image: Cartoon1,2561,348ahead

Text to Image: Commercial design1,2481,332ahead

Text to Image: Overall1,2491,329ahead

Text to Image: Photorealism1,2591,330ahead

Text to Image: Portraits1,2441,339ahead

Text to Image: Text rendering1,2741,365ahead

Image Editing: Overall1,3131,427ahead

Artificial Analysis from Nov 3, 2026 · LMArena from Oct 28, 2026

All individual values with sources

Rating	Nano Banana 2 Lite	MAI-Image-2.6	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,107	1,167	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena	1,055	1,151	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,226	1,325	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art	1,256	1,337	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon	1,256	1,348	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design	1,248	1,332	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall	1,249	1,329	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism	1,259	1,330	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits	1,244	1,339	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering	1,274	1,365	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall	1,313	1,427	LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

More comparisons with Nano Banana 2 Lite and MAI-Image-2.6

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Nano Banana 2 Litevs.MAI-Image-2.6

Test images

The numbers at a glance

Nano Banana 2 Lite

MAI-Image-2.6

All data side by side

Arena ratings by category

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