Nano Banana 2.1: Google’s new image model is here

An update to Nano Banana 2 with better quality, prompt adherence and text, at Flash-level speed and cost.

On 6 October 2026 Google made Nano Banana 2.1 generally available. It is Google’s latest high-efficiency image generation and conversational editing model, an update to Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image), and Google asks developers using that model to migrate.

Key facts

`gemini-nano-banana-2.1` reached general availability on 6 October 2026.
It is an update to Nano Banana 2 (`gemini-3.1-flash-image`), with Flash-level speed and cost efficiency.
`gemini-3.1-flash-image` is deprecated, with no shutdown date announced yet.
New wide and panoramic formats: 1:4, 4:1, 1:8 and 8:1, at 1K, 2K and 4K.

What happened

In the Gemini API release notes, Google announced that Nano Banana 2.1 is generally available. Google calls it its “latest high-efficiency image generation and conversational editing model”. It is an update to Nano Banana 2, also known as Gemini 3.1 Flash Image (`gemini-3.1-flash-image`).

According to Google, it keeps Flash-level speed and cost efficiency while improving visual quality, prompt adherence, character consistency across several turns of editing and text rendering. It also generates wide and panoramic images in the 1:4, 4:1, 1:8 and 8:1 aspect ratios, at 1K, 2K and 4K resolution.

At the same time, Google deprecated Gemini 3.1 Flash Image. There is no announced date for switching it off, but Google asks developers using Gemini 3.1 Flash Image to migrate to Nano Banana 2.1.

Why it matters

Image models are one of the main reasons people search for prompts: profile photos, product shots, posters, family pictures. Every new model improves quality, but it also changes how it reacts to words. A prompt that gave a great result last month may need a small adjustment today.

The good news is that the principles stay the same. Image models respond best to concrete descriptions: the subject, the style, the light, the framing and the mood. When you edit your own photo, the most important instruction is what must not change, for example the face, the pose or the colours of a logo.

How to try it

Our free prompt Turn your idea into a detailed image prompt helps you write that kind of description. In the brackets, write your idea in plain words, for example “a cosy autumn photo of my coffee shop window for Instagram”, plus where you will use it and the format (square, vertical, horizontal).

The prompt turns your idea into a detailed image request with subject, style, light, composition and things to avoid. Paste the result into Gemini or another image tool. If you are editing a real photo, add one line such as “keep the shop sign and the window frame exactly as they are”.

Check the result for three things: the main subject is right, the style matches what you asked, and nothing important has been changed. If something is off, change one detail at a time in the prompt rather than rewriting everything.

Note: image prompts on our site are ready to copy, but they cannot be tested in the same way as text prompts, because results depend on the image tool you use.

Try it

Turn your idea into a detailed image prompt

Frequently asked questions

What is Nano Banana 2.1?

It is Google's latest high-efficiency image generation and conversational editing model, an update to Nano Banana 2, generally available since 6 October 2026 under the name `gemini-nano-banana-2.1`.

What happens to Gemini 3.1 Flash Image?

It is deprecated. Google has not announced a shutdown date yet, but it asks developers to migrate to Nano Banana 2.1.

How do I write a good image prompt?

Describe the subject, style, light, framing and mood, say where the image will be used and, when editing a photo, state clearly which parts must stay exactly the same.

Sources