Head-to-head comparison

Nano Banana 2 vs. Grok Imagine Image Quality

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.

shared result series

shared sample prompts

2026-08-16

latest arena retrieval

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 and Grok Imagine Image Quality
Attribute	Nano Banana 2	Grok Imagine Image Quality
Provider	Google	xAI
Released	February 2026	April 2026
Access	API, Web app	API, Web app
Lifecycle	Stable API since May 28, 2026. The arena entry names the earlier preview configuration Status source	No separate lifecycle notice
Weights	Proprietary	Proprietary
Parameters	Not published	Not published
Maximum output	4K	2K
Arena configuration	Gemini 3.1 Flash Image Preview	Quality
Text-to-image price	$67 per 1,000 images	$50 per 1,000 images
Editing price	$67 per 1,000 images	$50 per 1,000 images
Technical source	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15	Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15

Nano Banana 2Grok Imagine Image Quality

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

Nano Banana 2$67

Grok Imagine Image Quality$50Lower price

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

Nano Banana 2$67

Grok Imagine Image Quality$50Lower price

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

Nano Banana 2Grok Imagine Image Quality

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

Nano Banana 21,323 EloHigher arena score

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,237 Elo

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

Nano Banana 21,249 EloHigher arena score

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,228 Elo

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

Nano Banana 21,258.705 arena pointsHigher arena score

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,207.187 arena points

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

Nano Banana 21,250.508 arena pointsHigher arena score

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,210.217 arena points

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

Nano Banana 21,266.735 arena pointsHigher arena score

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,227.232 arena points

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

Nano Banana 21,272.164 arena pointsHigher arena score

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,224.523 arena points

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

Nano Banana 21,263.056 arena pointsHigher arena score

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,228.14 arena points

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

Nano Banana 21,269.812 arena pointsHigher arena score

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,242.93 arena points

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

Nano Banana 21,266.805 arena points

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,271.787 arena pointsNo clear arena lead

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

Nano Banana 21,294.784 arena pointsHigher arena score

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,249.616 arena points

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

Nano Banana 21,385.051 arena pointsHigher arena score

Grok Imagine Image Quality1,362.394 arena points

Arena benchmark scores for Nano Banana 2 and Grok Imagine Image Quality
Benchmark	Nano Banana 2	Grok Imagine Image Quality	Source
Text to Image Arena	1,323 EloHigher arena score Rank 3, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 14,767 ratings	1,237 Elo Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 16,074 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Image Editing Arena	1,249 EloHigher arena score Rank 6, 95% confidence interval: ±7, 12,506 ratings	1,228 Elo Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 10,088 ratings	Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-08-15
Arena Text to Image: 3D modeling	1,258.705 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 3, 95% confidence interval: ±11.62, 2,907 ratings	1,207.187 arena points Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±9.22, 4,538 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Art	1,250.508 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±9.92, 4,154 ratings	1,210.217 arena points Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±7.93, 6,779 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Cartoon	1,266.735 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 8, 95% confidence interval: ±7.6, 10,445 ratings	1,227.232 arena points Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6.12, 18,027 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Commercial design	1,272.164 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 4, 95% confidence interval: ±7.4, 10,316 ratings	1,224.523 arena points Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6, 18,674 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Overall	1,263.056 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 5, 95% confidence interval: ±5.24, 27,910 ratings	1,228.14 arena points Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±4.23, 48,786 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Photorealism	1,269.812 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 6, 95% confidence interval: ±7.28, 11,229 ratings	1,242.93 arena points Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6.04, 20,413 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Portraits	1,266.805 arena points Rank 7, 95% confidence interval: ±9.15, 5,554 ratings	1,271.787 arena pointsNo clear arena lead Rank 6, 95% confidence interval: ±7.36, 10,165 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Text to Image: Text rendering	1,294.784 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 5, 95% confidence interval: ±7.73, 9,489 ratings	1,249.616 arena points Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±6.31, 16,688 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16
Arena Image Editing: Overall	1,385.051 arena pointsHigher arena score Rank 9, 95% confidence interval: ±4.07, 102,657 ratings	1,362.394 arena points Rank 12, 95% confidence interval: ±3.64, 155,532 ratings	ArenaRetrieved 2026-08-16

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

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Character and detail — Grok Imagine Image Quality

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. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/flash-image-3.1, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:15 PM. Source
Grok Imagine Image Quality. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.050000, model ID x-ai/grok-imagine-image-quality, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:34 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 985a75b38642a9f0e5e0c0e0c67f1b7f67780d42bd2168fa24e9a7a7a94b0da6

Nano Banana 2, image SHA 256: 5d3a70ed3fe3328484725565d9c91fb25fc7f745bd66872dae432444493a83de

Nano Banana 2, request SHA 256: 406e70dda817fa504900359d5c374ebb06fc8ea29f34c8a15f630e9a10489aec

Grok Imagine Image Quality, image SHA 256: b6cccae7af9a70af45a46b9e3264fa6971101e04979f7a0539e889ba6521250a

Grok Imagine Image Quality, request SHA 256: 5eb607f5dab8f6ef684eb315d3cae08e7d962bb6df6b77aaf88a64e0dc5665eb

Infographic

Numbers, labels, and visual organization

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Infographic — Grok Imagine Image Quality

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, image SHA 256: 66123dd4e8cd5d22ecdca9cca8e4c5853a8046370aa4861ffee807a8c122c769

Nano Banana 2, request SHA 256: 10e973caab6f314ec731d9d377b19f5d51f279e9e2962133c49682bfbba3fe3d

Grok Imagine Image Quality, image SHA 256: 03fbeae7859be72584048dfc23fba0651220ab44c707da66c386b77d90cc86f7

Grok Imagine Image Quality, request SHA 256: f576589c9e48139779b3876e26e751fa6282caa2363332dff24d10409696b3d7

Product photography

Materials, reflections, and fine details

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Product photography — Grok Imagine Image Quality

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, image SHA 256: 509871921c450f6f07ec28f91a380992db1b3017108fd5928fe0aa9670a1ecdc

Nano Banana 2, request SHA 256: 631ce921c9772c7c2109900c8662471564a871def8e70f50ce29ce83ab71daab

Grok Imagine Image Quality, image SHA 256: 0ea1e48f20bf61ff10414398b5248b0496c9040b3868c915580efd11d0dbaf11

Grok Imagine Image Quality, request SHA 256: 9320d8ca97077311b8f57251645ad46aa9fe084e77bbdfb99f5543d8db898855

Typography and layout

Legible text, hierarchy, and composition

Grok Imagine Image Quality, Typography and layout — Grok Imagine Image Quality

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. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/flash-image-3.1, generated Aug 14, 2026, 1:59 PM. Source
Grok Imagine Image Quality. Provider OpenRouter, aspect ratio 1:1, resolution 1K, n=1, seed=provider random, actual cost $0.050000, model ID x-ai/grok-imagine-image-quality, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:05 PM. Source

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

Prompt SHA 256: 2e012c3d14ee5dd02203a94f394ca80a5038cdebd6032b25a8b8a221f2255419

Nano Banana 2, image SHA 256: 06ae79c07d1604d3da3bbfa80bac73ac15c88af5cb8c013faaf5c9ea93092305

Nano Banana 2, request SHA 256: 6f1909c093d741b97bc2b4fe76e889009776dbe8635d2a14dbedd89bb4cae8fb

Grok Imagine Image Quality, image SHA 256: 84d88fb03bdbba672fc91268f4c120b17a19e4c9d637425aeca8ed44b2397d9f

Grok Imagine Image Quality, request SHA 256: 46fe1175225b4b1ddc97b59b3735541cd5b214e0226e1ef1f2c3cf02beaf8485

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 and Grok Imagine Image Quality with other important image models using the same benchmark and sample methodology.

View the complete image model comparison

Nano Banana 2 vs. Grok Imagine Image Quality

Change image model selection

General specifications and task-specific pricing

Shared arena benchmarks

Sample images from documented runs

Character and detail

Infographic

Product photography

Typography and layout

An Elo score is not a verdict on creativity

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