Google releases Nano Banana 2.1 image model (based on Gemini 3.6 Flash) at about half the per-image price of Nano Banana 2
On 6 Oct 2026 Google made Nano Banana 2.1 (gemini-nano-banana-2.1) generally available in the Gemini API, AI Studio and the Gemini app. Its model card says it is based on Gemini 3.6 Flash. Image output costs $30 per 1M tokens ($0.0336 per 1K image), half of Nano Banana 2's $60. Google deprecated the previous gemini-3.1-flash-image.
Key facts
- API id gemini-nano-banana-2.1, GA on 6 Oct 2026 (Gemini API changelog), stable id only
- Pricing: $1.50 per 1M input tokens, $7.50 text+thinking output, $30 per 1M image-output tokens = $0.0336 (1K), $0.0504 (2K), $0.113 (4K) per image; Batch half price; no free tier (Google pricing page; The Decoder gives a different 4K figure)
- Model card: 'Nano Banana 2.1 is based on Gemini 3.6 Flash'; knowledge cutoff March 2026
- Thinking levels minimal/medium/high, grounding with Google Web and Image Search, up to 14 reference images; fixes tiling artifacts in extreme panorama ratios
- Rolled out in the Gemini app, AI Mode in Search, Flow, Stitch, Google Ads and Gemini Enterprise (The Decoder)
What happened
Google shipped the successor to Nano Banana 2 straight to general availability. It cut the image-output price in half and built the model on its newer Gemini 3.6 Flash.
Why it matters
Nano Banana is Google's default fast image generation and editing model across its products and API. Halving the per-image price puts pressure on competing image APIs.
Changelog
- 2026-10-07: created (from the model file researched in the same run and the Oct 7 sweep)
Models
- Nano Banana 2.1 (Gemini Nano Banana 2.1) Google DeepMind · current
Related events
Sources (5)
- docsGemini API model page: gemini-nano-banana-2.1
- docsGemini API pricing
- docsGemini API changelog
- officialModel card: Nano Banana 2.1
- pressThe Decoder: Google's new image model Nano Banana 2.1 generates better images for less money
id: 2026-10-06-nano-banana-2-1 · updated 2026-10-07 · open in the interactive timeline