AI image model comparison
MAI-Image-2.6 vs Nano Banana
Image quality, cost per image, and editing features compared side by side. Or skip the guesswork and generate with both.
Microsoft
MAI-Image-2.6
MAI-Image-2.6 is an image generation and editing model from Microsoft AI, the precision tier of the MAI-Image-2.6 family alongside the faster [MAI-Image-2.6 Flash](/microsoft/mai-image-2.6-flash).
- Per image
- Not available
- Output / 1M
- $38
- Image Elo
- 1318
Gemini 2.5 Flash Image, a.k.a. "Nano Banana," is now generally available. It is a state of the art image generation model with contextual understanding.
- Per image
- $0.039
- Output / 1M
- $30
- Image Elo
- 1187
At a glance
Quick verdict
Which model wins on the things that matter most when you're making images.
Cheaper per image
Not available
Only one lists a per-image price
Better image quality
MAI-Image-2.6
1318 vs 1187 Elo in blind votes
Better at editing
Not available
Only one editing score is available
Newer release
MAI-Image-2.6
Released September 4, 2026
Quality
Image quality rankings
Elo ratings from Design Arena, where people vote between two anonymous images made from the same prompt. Higher is better.
Image generation
Nano Banana#10 · 55.6% wins1187Image editing
Nano BananaNot availableGraphic design
Nano Banana#10 · 56.9% wins1168Logos
Nano Banana#11 · 51.4% wins1170Pricing
MAI-Image-2.6 vs Nano Banana price per image
What each image actually costs, plus the underlying API rates. Cheaper option highlighted.
| Metric | Nano Banana | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024) | Not available | $0.039 |
| Image outputPer 1M image tokens | $38 | $30 |
| Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses | Not available | 1,290 |
| Prompt textPer 1M input tokens | $5 | $0.30 |
| Reference imagesPer 1M input image tokens | $5 | $0.30 |
What it costs in practice
Estimated totals at standard resolution.
Single image
1 image
Nano Banana$0.039Social media batch
50 images
Nano Banana$1.93Product catalog
1,000 images
Nano Banana$38.70Specs
Inputs, outputs, and limits
What each model accepts, what it gives back, and how long your prompt can be.
| Metric | Nano Banana | |
|---|---|---|
| Accepts | Image, Text | Image, Text |
| Produces | Image | Image, Text |
| Max prompt lengthText plus reference images | 4K tokens | 33K tokens |
| Reasoning step | No | No |
| Release date | September 4, 2026 | October 7, 2025 |
Features
Supported features
Creative controls available for each model.
| Metric | Nano Banana | |
|---|---|---|
| Image editingAccepts reference or source images | Supported | Supported |
| Text alongside imagesCan explain or caption what it made | Not supported | Supported |
| Thinks before drawingPlans the image with a reasoning step | Not supported | Not supported |
| Reproducible seedsSame seed, same image | Not supported | Supported |
| Temperature controlTrade consistency for variety | Supported | Supported |
Keep exploring
More on these models
Other head-to-heads, the full model page, and the alternatives list for each model.
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs Riverflow V2.5 Pro
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs MAI-Image-2.6 Flash
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs Nano Banana 2
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs Nano Banana Pro
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs MAI-Image-2.5
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs FLUX.2 Flex
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs FLUX.2 Pro
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs Seedream 4.5
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs Nano Banana 2 Lite
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs GPT-5.4 Image 2
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs GPT Image 2
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs GPT Image 2.5 Flare
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs Ming Image 0.1 Design
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs Nano Banana 2.1
- MAI-Image-2.6 vs GPT Image 1
Nano BananaView full model details- Nano Banana vs GPT Image 2.5 Sunburst
- Nano Banana vs Nano Banana 2
- Nano Banana vs Seedream 4.5
- Nano Banana vs Nano Banana 2 Lite
- Nano Banana vs Muse Image
- Nano Banana vs GPT-5.4 Image 2
- Nano Banana vs Riverflow V2.5 Pro
- Nano Banana vs GPT Image 2
- Nano Banana vs MAI-Image-2.6 Flash
- Nano Banana vs Seedream 5.0 Flash
- Nano Banana vs Nano Banana Pro
- Nano Banana vs Ming Image 0.1 Design
- Nano Banana vs FLUX.2 Flex
- Nano Banana vs FLUX.2 Pro
- Nano Banana vs Seedream 5.0 Pro
- Nano Banana vs Grok Imagine Image 2.0
- Nano Banana vs Seedream 5.0 Lite
- Nano Banana vs Recraft V4.1 Flash
- Nano Banana vs FLUX.3 Image
- Nano Banana vs Grok Imagine Image Quality
- Nano Banana vs Qwen Image 3
- Nano Banana vs FLUX.2 Max
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which makes better images, MAI-Image-2.6 or Nano Banana?
In blind votes on Design Arena, MAI-Image-2.6 has an image generation Elo of 1318 and Nano Banana has 1187, putting MAI-Image-2.6 ahead. Taste varies by style, so the best test is running your own prompts through both.
Can MAI-Image-2.6 and Nano Banana edit existing images?
Yes. Both accept reference images, so you can upload a photo and ask for changes like a new background, different lighting, or added text.
Can I use MAI-Image-2.6 and Nano Banana at the same time?
Yes. Shortcut Chat sends one prompt to multiple image models at once, so you can see MAI-Image-2.6 and Nano Banana results side by side and keep the one you like.
Why choose? Generate with both.
Send one prompt to MAI-Image-2.6 and Nano Banana at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.