Google Releases Nano Banana 2.1: 4K Output and Arena Score Gains
Google updates its image generation model to version 2.1 with better Chinese rendering and lower API costs, though a watermark bug affects continuous editing.
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Google released the new image generation model Nano Banana 2.1 on October 10, focusing on upgrades in visual design, mask editing, and subject consistency.
According to data from the AI evaluation platform Arena, the model improved by an average of approximately 61.7 points across text-to-image, multi-image editing, and single-image editing compared to the previous generation. Text-to-image ranked fourth, just behind GPT models. Additionally, API prices for 1K and 2K images were halved, while 4K prices dropped by about 25%.
User tests indicate significant improvements in 4K photographic detail and Chinese text clarity in posters. However, testers discovered a watermark bug: as the number of edits increases, images may suffer from noise, color drift, and texture distortion, degrading quality during continuous editing. The model is now available on Gemini APP and Google AI Studio, with developers able to access it via the gemini-nano-banana-2.1 API.