Google released Nano Banana 2.1 on 6 October 2026 as an update to Nano Banana 2. It runs on Gemini 3.6 Flash, outputs up to 4K, takes up to 14 reference images and ships everywhere from the Gemini app to Google Ads. It makes stills, not video, and here is what that means for a short-form calendar.
Nano Banana 2.1 is Google's image generation and editing model, released on 6 October 2026 as gemini-nano-banana-2.1. It is built on Gemini 3.6 Flash, updates Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image, now deprecated with no shutdown date), outputs images at 1K, 2K or 4K, accepts up to 14 reference images (up to 4 characters and 10 objects) and adds wide and panoramic aspect ratios. API pricing is $0.0336 per 1K image, $0.0504 per 2K and $0.113 per 4K, half that on batch. It does not generate video.
For marketers the point is cheap, consistent stills at volume: one product and one character can carry a whole week of slideshow frames and thumbnails.
| Maker | |
|---|---|
| Released | 6 October 2026 (Gemini API changelog and model card). Model ID gemini-nano-banana-2.1. Updates Nano Banana 2 (gemini-3.1-flash-image), which is deprecated with no shutdown date announced |
| Base model | Gemini 3.6 Flash, knowledge cutoff March 2026 |
| Type | Image output (with text); no video generation |
| Inputs | Text, image, video and PDF |
| Resolution | 1K (default), 2K and 4K |
| Aspect ratios | Standard ratios plus wide and panoramic 1:4, 4:1, 1:8 and 8:1; full list not published on the model page |
| References | Up to 14 reference images: character consistency for up to 4 characters and object fidelity for up to 10 objects |
| Pricing (API) | $1.50 per 1M input tokens; $0.0336 per 1K image, $0.0504 per 2K and $0.113 per 4K. Batch: $0.0168, $0.0252 and $0.0567. No free API tier |
| Access | Gemini app, Google AI Studio, Gemini API, Google Search AI Mode, Google Ads, Google Flow and Google Stitch |
| Watermark | SynthID on 2.1 output not stated on the model card or model page; not verified |
Versus Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image): a newer base model (Gemini 3.6 Flash), 4K output, up to 14 reference images and new panoramic aspect ratios, with search grounding and thinking supported in the API. Google positions it as the efficient counterpart to Gemini 3 Pro Image. The old gemini-3.1-flash-image model is deprecated but has no announced shutdown date.
In the Gemini app, Flow, Stitch, Search AI Mode and Google Ads for end users, and as gemini-nano-banana-2.1 in Google AI Studio and the Gemini API for developers, with Batch API support. There is no free API tier.
The number that matters is cost per frame. At about three cents for a 1K image and under two cents on batch, a full week of slideshow frames, meme templates and thumbnail variants costs less than a coffee, which changes how many angles a team can afford to test.
Reference handling is the other half. Holding up to 4 characters and 10 objects across a batch is what lets one product shot and one presenter carry a series without drift, which is exactly what image-native formats on TikTok and Instagram need.
It is image-only. For motion, pair it with a video model, and use 2.1 for the slideshow and meme formats that still earn reach on their own.
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Generate product frames, meme templates and cover images with Nano Banana 2.1, then build them into Fastlane slideshows and memes, schedule weeks ahead and publish natively to TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts with signups and sales attributed to each post.
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Google's image generation and editing model, released 6 October 2026 as gemini-nano-banana-2.1. It is built on Gemini 3.6 Flash and updates Nano Banana 2.
On the Gemini API, $0.0336 per 1K image, $0.0504 per 2K and $0.113 per 4K, with batch at half those rates. Input is $1.50 per million tokens. There is no free API tier.
1K by default, with 2K and 4K options, plus wide and panoramic aspect ratios such as 4:1 and 8:1.
Nano Banana 2 (gemini-3.1-flash-image) is deprecated as of 6 October 2026, but Google has not announced a shutdown date. New work should use gemini-nano-banana-2.1.
No. It outputs images and text only. For video from Google, see Gemini Omni or Veo 3.1.
Specs verified against the sources above on November 1, 2026. Model access and pricing change often; check the maker's page before you build on any number here.
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