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Nano Banana 2vs.FLUX 3 Image

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. FLUX 3 Image has no arena rating yet. FLUX 3 Image has no API price.

Same prompt, two images

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

Nano Banana 2: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run
Nano Banana 243 out of 100
FLUX 3 Image: Infographic, first image from the fixed test run
FLUX 3 Image59 out of 100

Result for “Infographic”:FLUX 3 Image ahead

Prompt given to both modelsCreate 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.

What the rating looks at: Numbers, labels, and visual organization.

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

Test protocol of the images

Both models receive the same archived prompt in 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. The images are a practical visual test, not a reconstruction of the arena configuration.

Character and detail

Nano Banana 2: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:15 PM. Source

FLUX 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:38 PM. Source

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

Nano Banana 2 image SHA 256: 5d3a70ed3fe3328484725565d9c91fb25fc7f745bd66872dae432444493a83de

FLUX 3 Image image SHA 256: 496cb58121a97575ae471aaed88c0570d0e24cd434d5f54f28535dbd7ce53f6d

Infographic

Nano Banana 2: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:15 PM. Source

FLUX 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:39 PM. Source

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

Nano Banana 2 image SHA 256: 66123dd4e8cd5d22ecdca9cca8e4c5853a8046370aa4861ffee807a8c122c769

FLUX 3 Image image SHA 256: 3a4bc8305d15194d5c2a3d8af72d0e032b46e665443b65f4d43604eb3bd19c7e

Product photography

Nano Banana 2: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:15 PM. Source

FLUX 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:38 PM. Source

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

Nano Banana 2 image SHA 256: 509871921c450f6f07ec28f91a380992db1b3017108fd5928fe0aa9670a1ecdc

FLUX 3 Image image SHA 256: 270abe3dfe41073daff4fa3c83c62d8a957f9d6d960c195050c709eb831699c6

Typography and layout

Nano Banana 2: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:59 PM. Source

FLUX 3 Image: openrouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.048000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 8:38 PM. Source

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

Nano Banana 2 image SHA 256: 06ae79c07d1604d3da3bbfa80bac73ac15c88af5cb8c013faaf5c9ea93092305

FLUX 3 Image image SHA 256: 67a219cf5a25c37ee31b05ca918a6b05df5d0675b61aace5fe1ba1244c24cde4

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,257

Nano Banana 2

Rank 8 of 22

n/a

FLUX 3 Image

not in the arena

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
55

Nano Banana 2

Rank 40 of 74

62

FLUX 3 Image

Rank 23 of 74

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.067

Nano Banana 2

fairly expensive

n/a

FLUX 3 Image

no API price

Ranks among the 22 image models with an arena rating and the 74 with a GraduallyBench run; prices compared with 28 models with an API price.

Nano Banana 2

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 ≈ €6.39 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 68 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.067 per image, 100 images $6.70.

FLUX 3 Image

Subscription
No Black Forest Labs subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €9.59 a month (Krea Basic, with limited credits). 20 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: API, Web app.
Weights
unknown.

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 1, 2026 · API prices from Oct 28, 2026 · Subscription database from Sep 29, 2026 (34 days old)

All data side by side

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

KennzahlNano Banana 2FLUX 3 Image
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,257n/a
Arena rankRank 8 of 22n/a
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating73,278n/a
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1005562
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition7874
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details3943
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency6273
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization4359
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.067n/a
100 images$6.70n/a
Profile
ReleasedFebruary 2026n/a
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryunknown
LifecyclePrevious generation to Nano Banana 2.1; Google recommends Nano Banana 2.1 for all new projects, the stable API has existed since May 28, 2026 and no shutdown is announced, the arena entry names the earlier pre-release configurationno notice
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, Web app
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output4Knot consistently published
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model6820

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

Sources: Nano Banana 2 model source, status source (verified Aug 15, 2026) · FLUX 3 Image model source (verified Nov 1, 2026)

Arena ratings by category

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

No shared arena score in the stored snapshot

The stored benchmark database contains no measurement for Nano Banana 2 and FLUX 3 Image from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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