Google makes Nano Banana 2.1 generally available in the Gemini API

Archive entry: this covers an event from October 6, 2026, and we published it on November 8, 2026. The details come from sources dated at the time and may have changed since.

On October 6, 2026, Google made gemini-nano-banana-2.1 generally available in the Gemini API as an update to Nano Banana 2 (gemini-3.1-flash-image), according to the Gemini API changelog entry for October 6, 2026. The update improved image quality and text rendering while keeping Flash-level speed and cost.

What changed in the image model

• Speed and cost stayed at Flash level, so the update did not come with a price increase.
• Google listed improvements to image quality, prompt adherence, multi-turn character consistency and text rendering.
• Extreme aspect ratios were added: 1:4, 4:1, 1:8 and 8:1, each available at 1K, 2K and 4K.

What it meant for people who build with AI

For developers, the release upgraded Google's widely used image model without raising its price. The added ratios covered both extremes: 1:4 and 1:8 are tall, narrow frames, while 4:1 and 8:1 are wide, short ones. Better text rendering and multi-turn character consistency came without a change in speed or cost.

Deprecation of the earlier model name

At the same time, gemini-3.1-flash-image was deprecated, with no shutdown date announced. The changelog did not announce a deadline for moving to gemini-nano-banana-2.1.

Sources

• Gemini API changelog: October 6, 2026 (Google AI Studio (Gemini API changelog), October 6, 2026, official)

Written with AI assistance, strictly from the sources listed above. Before it went live, automated checks verified its dates, sources and every language edition.