AI image model comparison
MAI-Image-2.6 vs Nano Banana Pro
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
Nano Banana Pro is Google’s most advanced image-generation and editing model, built on Gemini 3 Pro.
- Per image
- $0.13
- Output / 1M
- $120
- Image Elo
- 1244
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 1244 Elo in blind votes
Better at editing
MAI-Image-2.6
1254 vs 1252 Elo on edits
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 Pro#5 · 62.1% wins1244Image editing
Nano Banana Pro#4 · 66% wins1252Graphic design
Nano Banana Pro#5 · 65.8% wins1250Logos
Nano Banana Pro#6 · 61% wins1240Pricing
MAI-Image-2.6 vs Nano Banana Pro price per image
What each image actually costs, plus the underlying API rates. Cheaper option highlighted.
| Metric | Nano Banana Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per imageEstimated, ~1 megapixel (1024×1024) | Not available | $0.13 |
| Image outputPer 1M image tokens | $38 | $120 |
| Tokens per imageHow many image tokens one ~1MP image uses | Not available | 1,120 |
| Prompt textPer 1M input tokens | $5 | $2 |
| Reference imagesPer 1M input image tokens | $5 | $2 |
What it costs in practice
Estimated totals at standard resolution.
Single image
1 image
Nano Banana Pro$0.13Social media batch
50 images
Nano Banana Pro$6.72Product catalog
1,000 images
Nano Banana Pro$134.40Specs
Inputs, outputs, and limits
What each model accepts, what it gives back, and how long your prompt can be.
| Metric | Nano Banana Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Accepts | Image, Text | Image, Text |
| Produces | Image | Image, Text |
| Max prompt lengthText plus reference images | 4K tokens | 131K tokens |
| Reasoning step | No | Always on |
| Release date | September 4, 2026 | June 18, 2026 |
Features
Supported features
Creative controls available for each model.
| Metric | Nano Banana Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 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 Nano Banana
- 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 Banana ProView full model details- Nano Banana Pro vs Riverflow V2.5 Pro
- Nano Banana Pro vs MAI-Image-2.6 Flash
- Nano Banana Pro vs Nano Banana 2
- Nano Banana Pro vs MAI-Image-2.5
- Nano Banana Pro vs FLUX.2 Flex
- Nano Banana Pro vs FLUX.2 Pro
- Nano Banana Pro vs Seedream 4.5
- Nano Banana Pro vs Nano Banana
- Nano Banana Pro vs Seedream 5.0 Pro
- Nano Banana Pro vs Grok Imagine Image 2.0
- Nano Banana Pro vs FLUX.3 Image
- Nano Banana Pro vs Grok Imagine Image Quality
- Nano Banana Pro vs FLUX.2 Max
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Which makes better images, MAI-Image-2.6 or Nano Banana Pro?
In blind votes on Design Arena, MAI-Image-2.6 has an image generation Elo of 1318 and Nano Banana Pro has 1244, 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 Pro 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 Pro 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 Pro 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 Pro at the same time. See both images side by side and keep the one you like.