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Head-to-head comparison

Nano Banana Pro vs. Grok Imagine Image Quality

Compare shared capability tests, arena scores with documented retrieval dates, task-specific image pricing, and verified specifications. Research benchmarks, preference arenas, and our n = 1 samples remain separate.

shared result series
6
shared sample prompts
4
latest arena retrieval
2026-09-22

Change image model selection

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 Pro and Grok Imagine Image Quality
AttributeNano Banana ProGrok Imagine Image Quality
ProviderGooglexAI
ReleasedNovember 2025April 2026
AccessAPI, Web appAPI, Web app
LifecycleNo separate lifecycle noticeDeprecated: xAI retires the model slug on November 2, 2026; requests are then served by grok-imagine-image-2.0 (quality=low) Status source
WeightsProprietaryProprietary
ParametersNot publishedNot published
Maximum output4K2K
Arena configurationGemini 3 Pro ImageQuality
Text-to-image price$134 per 1,000 images$50 per 1,000 images
Editing price$134 per 1,000 images$50 per 1,000 images
Technical sourceModel sourceVerified 2026-08-15Model sourceVerified 2026-08-15
Nano Banana ProGrok Imagine Image Quality
Text to Image ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Nano Banana Pro$134
Grok Imagine Image QualityLower price$50
Image Editing ArenaUSD per 1,000 images at 1,024 × 1,024 pixels
Nano Banana Pro$134
Grok Imagine Image QualityLower price$50

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Prompt adherence and specialist tests

Shared capability benchmarks

Both checkpoints completed the same four Gradually sample tasks. For each task, 30 archived first outputs are ranked in three differently ordered, model-blind passes. The published 0-100 value normalizes the mean rank. It must still be read as an n = 1 sample per model. No exact shared result from the integrated research benchmarks is available for this pair.

Nano Banana ProGrok Imagine Image Quality
Gradually sample test: Typography and layoutMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
Nano Banana ProHigher blind-rank score89.7 / 100
Grok Imagine Image Quality83.9 / 100
Gradually sample test: Product photographyMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
Nano Banana ProHigher blind-rank score51.7 / 100
Grok Imagine Image Quality4.6 / 100
Gradually sample test: Character and detailMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
Nano Banana ProHigher blind-rank score39.1 / 100
Grok Imagine Image Quality18.4 / 100
Gradually sample test: InfographicMean of three blind ranks across all 30 first outputs, n = 1 each
Nano Banana ProHigher blind-rank score34.5 / 100
Grok Imagine Image Quality23 / 100

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Capability benchmark scores for Nano Banana Pro and Grok Imagine Image Quality
BenchmarkNano Banana ProGrok Imagine Image Quality
Gradually sample test: Typography and layout
Higher blind-rank score89.7 / 100
Mean rank: 4 (4 / 1 / 7)
Five rubric scores
Headline: 1.67 / 2
Subline: 1.67 / 2
Text control: 1.67 / 2
Visual brief: 1.67 / 2
Layout: 1.67 / 2
83.9 / 100
Mean rank: 5.67 (2 / 9 / 6)
Five rubric scores
Headline: 1.67 / 2
Subline: 1.67 / 2
Text control: 1.67 / 2
Visual brief: 1.67 / 2
Layout: 1.67 / 2
Gradually sample test: Product photography
Higher blind-rank score51.7 / 100
Mean rank: 15 (3 / 21 / 21)
Five rubric scores
Subject: 1.67 / 2
Time: 1.33 / 2
Watch details: 1.67 / 2
Photography: 1.67 / 2
Exclusions: 1.67 / 2
4.6 / 100
Mean rank: 28.67 (28 / 29 / 29)
Five rubric scores
Subject: 1 / 2
Time: 1.67 / 2
Watch details: 1.67 / 2
Photography: 1 / 2
Exclusions: 1.33 / 2
Gradually sample test: Character and detail
Higher blind-rank score39.1 / 100
Mean rank: 18.67 (5 / 22 / 29)
Five rubric scores
Scene: 1 / 2
Wardrobe: 1 / 2
Anatomy: 1 / 2
Props: 1 / 2
Environment: 1 / 2
18.4 / 100
Mean rank: 24.67 (28 / 25 / 21)
Five rubric scores
Scene: 1 / 2
Wardrobe: 1 / 2
Anatomy: 1 / 2
Props: 1 / 2
Environment: 1 / 2
Gradually sample test: Infographic
Higher blind-rank score34.5 / 100
Mean rank: 20 (19 / 21 / 20)
Five rubric scores
Title: 1.67 / 2
Sequence: 1.67 / 2
Labels: 0.67 / 2
Diagram: 1.67 / 2
Clarity: 1 / 2
23 / 100
Mean rank: 23.33 (27 / 22 / 21)
Five rubric scores
Title: 1.67 / 2
Sequence: 1.67 / 2
Labels: 0.67 / 2
Diagram: 1.67 / 2
Clarity: 0.33 / 2

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

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 ProGrok Imagine Image Quality
Text to Image ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana ProHigher score1,100 Elo
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,043 Elo
Image Editing ArenaBlind preference from the same prompt, higher is better
Nano Banana ProNo clear lead1,096 Elo
Grok Imagine Image Quality1,081 Elo

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Arena benchmark scores for Nano Banana Pro and Grok Imagine Image Quality
BenchmarkNano Banana ProGrok Imagine Image QualitySource
Text to Image Arena
Higher score1,100 Elo
Rank 10, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 15,977 ratings
1,043 Elo
Rank 17, 95% confidence interval: ±7, 17,693 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22
Image Editing Arena
No clear lead1,096 Elo
Rank 13, 95% confidence interval: ±8, 13,170 ratings
1,081 Elo
Rank 15, 95% confidence interval: ±9, 6,225 ratings
Artificial AnalysisRetrieved 2026-09-22

Key to the marks:better valuebetter, but not conclusivetie

Visual comparison

Sample images

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
Nano Banana Pro, Character and detail
Nano Banana Pro
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 Pro. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/gemini-3-pro-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:20 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 Pro, image SHA 256: eed53dcc080d2710e6e890382f6273382a12e2c5b079b8813962bff0c92b5df7

Nano Banana Pro, request SHA 256: 12c91e972a7256b1386b22420c0c84e30b85ac6e07830eea944755e5bd9742fc

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
Nano Banana Pro, Infographic
Nano Banana Pro
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.

Nano Banana Pro. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/gemini-3-pro-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:20 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: ed65cb4e6a51e2336f8b149ad4cbb16e020f07d527ad94362e719d2dcf91d94f

Nano Banana Pro, image SHA 256: 4ff7d3965d18e197f00647c35d6aed5a86a376c92779ee9e748c598aebafa51d

Nano Banana Pro, request SHA 256: a69a5193f107aac4f7532f021fc4306c0907470f40f984d0b263728e292d8f1b

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
Nano Banana Pro, Product photography
Nano Banana Pro
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.

Nano Banana Pro. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/gemini-3-pro-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:19 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: c67fd71e91304458a2feef5c91efa8677260fab0c0099a29a2c52cb579f5b2f3

Nano Banana Pro, image SHA 256: d50770f426cac7920c9ffdaf210db2f11cdc51a8cf0b7ef52e6cd26850b1de70

Nano Banana Pro, request SHA 256: 92d73f9638fa47ea30f0ceefdeb5eb2ca7d4a018b4b4835463bd0ea29d0495cf

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
Nano Banana Pro, Typography and layout
Nano Banana Pro
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 Pro. Provider Together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, model ID google/gemini-3-pro-image, generated Aug 14, 2026, 2:00 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 Pro, image SHA 256: fc173de00b0df04772321167cfeabb55418d3d016081e7ebfb589c69a629b712

Nano Banana Pro, request SHA 256: d686c572b086aa9f5d019886e8182c8f41c5d35bfb43bc6b6937feccba8a73eb

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.

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