What Is Nano Banana 2.1?
Google officially documents Gemini Nano Banana 2.1 as an image generation and editing model. Its stable API ID is gemini-nano-banana-2.1.
The search phrase “gemini nano banana 2.1” refers to this documented Google model. It is distinct from Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) and Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image).
Release and Availability
The stable Gemini API model is documented and available. Initial launch date: Not publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed. Google’s model card was published October 6, 2026; that is a document date, not proof of the initial launch. Consumer Gemini plan access is separate from API billing.
Image Generation Features
Generate images from text and reference inputs. Specify the intended composition, aspect ratio and output use; assess the actual result before publishing.
Image Editing Features
Use conversational editing to revise an existing image. Preserve the relevant image context between turns and describe the specific change you want. This is an editing workflow, not a guarantee of exact pixel preservation.
Supported Resolutions
The API reference supports 1K (default), 2K and 4K. API token limits below are taken from the API reference; broader model-card limits should not be assumed to apply to an API request.
| Detail | Official reference / unknown |
|---|---|
| Official API ID | gemini-nano-banana-2.1 · Source reviewed |
| Initial release date | Not publicly confirmed in the sources reviewed · Source reviewed |
| Model card published | October 6, 2026 (not used as the release date) · Source reviewed |
| API input limit | 131,072 tokens · Source reviewed |
| API output limit | 32,768 tokens · Source reviewed |
| Image resolution | 1K default; 2K and 4K supported · Source reviewed |
| Input / output | Text, image, video and PDF input; image and text output · Source reviewed |
| Parameters and weight license | Not publicly confirmed · Source reviewed |
API Access
Use gemini-nano-banana-2.1. Batch processing is supported; the model reference does not offer Flex or Priority support. Do not substitute an unofficial gateway model identifier.
Pricing
Official USD prices per million tokens: standard input $1.50, text/thinking output $7.50, image output $30. Batch: $0.75, $3.75 and $15 respectively. No free API tier is listed for this model. No model-specific promotional expiry was found in the reviewed pricing section.
The following are Google’s listed image-output equivalents, not complete request costs. Input, thinking and any separately billed tools add to the bill. The standard 4K figure preserves Google’s displayed rounding.
| Output resolution | Standard image output (USD) | Batch image output (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1K | $0.0336 | $0.0168 |
| 2K | $0.0504 | $0.0252 |
| 4K | $0.113 | $0.0567 |
Nano Banana 2.1 vs Pro — Brief Comparison
Both support image workflows; test the same prompt and source image before choosing. API cost alone does not establish output quality. These standard image-output equivalents exclude other billed tokens.
| Model | 1K / 2K image output (USD) | 4K image output (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Nano Banana 2.1 | $0.0336 / $0.0504 | $0.113 |
| Nano Banana Pro | $0.134 / $0.134 | $0.24 |
Limitations
Generated images can contain errors. Review text, identity consistency and editing fidelity. Parameter count and a downloadable weight license: Not publicly confirmed. Consumer subscription prices should not be substituted for developer API rates.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nano Banana 2.1 API model ID?
Google documents gemini-nano-banana-2.1. The model name and API source are linked above.
Is each generated image a flat-price request?
No. Image-output equivalents vary by resolution and billing tier. Other billed input and text/thinking tokens can add to the total.
Go straight to the source
Reviewed Oct 8, 2026. Official statements, third-party results and arithmetic estimates are attributed separately. Unknowns reflect the sources reviewed on this date. No inference benchmarks were run by this site.