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Nano Banana Provs.MAI-Image-2.6

Which one is better?

In our own test both are on par. In the arena, MAI-Image-2.6 leads. Nano Banana Pro costs 3.4 times as much per image.

Test images

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

Nano Banana Pro: Typography and layout, first image from the fixed test run
Nano Banana Pro92 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 Pro 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 Pro: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:20 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 Pro image SHA 256: eed53dcc080d2710e6e890382f6273382a12e2c5b079b8813962bff0c92b5df7

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: d35364051eca0758b88795df477d282641f6ca6892e81b904352e3fd5489ae69

Infographic

Nano Banana Pro: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:20 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 Pro image SHA 256: 4ff7d3965d18e197f00647c35d6aed5a86a376c92779ee9e748c598aebafa51d

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: cdc9c16cd554a18da292c721b142e5d78dd042fdde2539f797612bfd9cd674ef

Product photography

Nano Banana Pro: together, 1024x1024, n=1, seed=provider random, provider default steps, generated Aug 14, 2026, 12:19 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 Pro image SHA 256: d50770f426cac7920c9ffdaf210db2f11cdc51a8cf0b7ef52e6cd26850b1de70

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: a66f522e0ff2012b95dc3bc123216de7807206c9e91dd7711cd78eb34a234beb

Typography and layout

Nano Banana Pro: 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 Pro image SHA 256: fc173de00b0df04772321167cfeabb55418d3d016081e7ebfb589c69a629b712

MAI-Image-2.6 image SHA 256: 48fa1551aee7dcd737179b5ae860d30562fbd234321b8d8ade334cb40291fb47

The numbers at a glance

Arena ratingfrom votes by users · higher is better
1,246

Nano Banana Pro

Rank 12 of 21

1,329

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 4 of 21

GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 100 · higher is better
66

Nano Banana Pro

Rank 35 of 108

68

MAI-Image-2.6

Rank 28 of 108

Price per imagedollars through the API · lower is better
$0.13

Nano Banana Pro

expensive

$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 Pro

Subscription
At Google from €4.99 a month (Google AI Plus, with limited credits). Through other providers from ≈ €6.34 a month (ElevenLabs Starter, with limited credits). 79 plans in Germany.
Via API
$0.13 per image, 100 images $13.40.

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.

KennzahlNano Banana ProMAI-Image-2.6
Ratings
Arena ratingfrom votes by users, higher is better1,2461,329
Arena rankRank 12 of 21Rank 4 of 21
Arena votesmore votes, a safer rating188,28834,596
GraduallyBenchour own rating, 0 to 1006668
GraduallyBench by task
Typography and layoutLegible text, hierarchy, and composition9262
Product photographyMaterials, reflections, and fine details7088
Character and detailAnatomy, clothing, and spatial consistency3763
InfographicNumbers, labels, and visual organization6561
API price
Per imagelower is better$0.13$0.039
100 images$13.40$3.89
Profile
ReleasedNovember 2025Jul 31, 2026
Weightsopen means: runs locallyproprietaryproprietary
Lifecycleno noticePreview in Microsoft Foundry
AccessAPI, Web appAPI
Parametersnot publishednot published
Largest output4K2,359,296 pixels
Plans in Germanynaming exactly this model79n/a

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

Sources: Nano Banana Pro 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 ProMAI-Image-2.6
Text to Image ArenaNano Banana Pro: 1,118MAI-Image-2.6: 1,167MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Image Editing ArenaNano Banana Pro: 1,109MAI-Image-2.6: 1,151MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Text to Image: 3D modelingNano Banana Pro: 1,233MAI-Image-2.6: 1,325MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Text to Image: Agentic image generationNano Banana Pro: 1,235MAI-Image-2.6: 1,314MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Text to Image: ArtNano Banana Pro: 1,224MAI-Image-2.6: 1,337MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Text to Image: CartoonNano Banana Pro: 1,243MAI-Image-2.6: 1,348MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Text to Image: Commercial designNano Banana Pro: 1,246MAI-Image-2.6: 1,332MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Text to Image: OverallNano Banana Pro: 1,246MAI-Image-2.6: 1,329MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Text to Image: PhotorealismNano Banana Pro: 1,261MAI-Image-2.6: 1,330MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Text to Image: PortraitsNano Banana Pro: 1,256MAI-Image-2.6: 1,339MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Text to Image: Text renderingNano Banana Pro: 1,271MAI-Image-2.6: 1,365MAI-Image-2.6 ahead
Image Editing: Agentic image generationNano Banana Pro: 1,410MAI-Image-2.6: 1,416level
Image Editing: OverallNano Banana Pro: 1,390MAI-Image-2.6: 1,427MAI-Image-2.6 ahead

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

All individual values with sources
RatingNano Banana ProMAI-Image-2.6Source
Text to Image Arena1,1181,167Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Image Editing Arena1,1091,151Artificial AnalysisRetrieved Nov 3, 2026
Text to Image: 3D modeling1,2331,325LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Agentic image generation1,2351,314LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Art1,2241,337LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Cartoon1,2431,348LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Commercial design1,2461,332LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Overall1,2461,329LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Photorealism1,2611,330LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Portraits1,2561,339LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Text to Image: Text rendering1,2711,365LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Agentic image generation1,4101,416LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026
Image Editing: Overall1,3901,427LMArenaRetrieved Oct 28, 2026

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