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Nano Banana 2vs.Z-Image Turbo

Which one is better?

In our own test, Nano Banana 2 leads. Z-Image Turbo has no arena rating yet. Z-Image Turbo 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: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
Nano Banana 278 out of 100
Z-Image Turbo: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
Z-Image Turbo54 out of 100

Result for “Typography and layout”:Nano Banana 2 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

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

Z-Image Turbo: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=457367499, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:35 PM. Source

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

Nano Banana 2 image SHA 256: 5d3a70ed3fe3328484725565d9c91fb25fc7f745bd66872dae432444493a83de

Z-Image Turbo image SHA 256: 5297796931ae8a9259947d2ee85881444a6408266aa7c9bc45d365b56bd11fe1

Infographic

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

Z-Image Turbo: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=364147116, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:35 PM. Source

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

Nano Banana 2 image SHA 256: 66123dd4e8cd5d22ecdca9cca8e4c5853a8046370aa4861ffee807a8c122c769

Z-Image Turbo image SHA 256: 2a0bbce06ee9f7e009876b2d9abc02657f7be5535cd79ab7f37df0bf61b141a8

Product photography

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

Z-Image Turbo: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=453185405, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:35 PM. Source

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

Nano Banana 2 image SHA 256: 509871921c450f6f07ec28f91a380992db1b3017108fd5928fe0aa9670a1ecdc

Z-Image Turbo image SHA 256: 16330b5b71c71290aaa2994dd589e5e2088712d286fddcee8046e56c300f124e

Typography and layout

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

Z-Image Turbo: fal, requested 1024x1024, n=1, seed=249593273, prompt expansion disabled, estimated cost $0.010000, generated Nov 1, 2026, 9:35 PM. Source

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

Nano Banana 2 image SHA 256: 06ae79c07d1604d3da3bbfa80bac73ac15c88af5cb8c013faaf5c9ea93092305

Z-Image Turbo image SHA 256: 0a9ee8166b04fc677b96ca3f74d8fcf37657d812f81d3b94940092aa661dba50

The numbers at a glance

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

Nano Banana 2

Rank 8 of 22

n/a

Z-Image Turbo

not in the arena

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

Nano Banana 2

Rank 40 of 74

37

Z-Image Turbo

Rank 54 of 74

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

Nano Banana 2

fairly expensive

n/a

Z-Image Turbo

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.

Z-Image Turbo

Subscription
No Tongyi-MAI / Alibaba subscription includes this model. Through other providers from ≈ €12.78 a month (Recraft Basic, with limited credits). 3 plans in Germany.
Via API
No API price known. Access: API, local, Web app.
License
Open weights.

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 2Z-Image Turbo
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 1005537
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition7854
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details3928
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency6246
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization4321
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.067n/a
100 images$6.70n/a
Profile
ReleasedFebruary 2026Nov 26, 2025
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryopen
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, local, Web app
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output4K2K
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model683

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) · Z-Image Turbo 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 Z-Image Turbo from the same arena and category. Older model versions are not used as substitutes.

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