Google launches Nano Banana 2 Lite image generator, cheaper and faster than predecessors

Google released Nano Banana 2 Lite on Tuesday, a new AI image generation model the company says is its fastest and cheapest. The model produces images in roughly four seconds and costs $0.034 per 1,000 outputs, making it suited for high-volume drafting and advertising content workflows.

According to Google, the Lite variant is a replacement for the original Nano Banana launched last summer, which the company now calls its legacy model. Nano Banana 2 Lite is available through Google AI Studio, the Gemini API, and the Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform.

Pricing and latency compared to previous versions

The Lite version sits below Nano Banana 2, which Google positions as a generalist workhorse for realistic imagery. Google says the new model is optimized for speed and volume rather than maximum image quality. Creative teams can iterate rapidly, producing dozens of draft images in quick succession before refining selections with higher-end tools.

• Image generation latency: approximately four seconds per output.
• Price: $0.034 per 1,000 images generated via API.
• Target use case: high-volume advertising mockups, concept drafts, and rapid prototyping.
• Availability: Google AI Studio, Gemini API, and Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform as of June 30, 2026.

Google expands video generation alongside image model update

Alongside the image model, Google announced a wider release of Gemini Omni Flash, a video generation and editing model first previewed at Google I/O earlier this year. Omni Flash costs $0.10 per second of video output and is now available via API. Google also showed Omni Product Studio, a demo app that takes static images generated by Omni and converts them into cinematic e-commerce videos.

Google recommended developers chain the two models: first produce a still using Nano Banana 2 Lite, then animate it with Gemini Omni Flash. The company said in a blog post that the combination allows builders to create "comprehensive, end-to-end multimedia experiences."

The release comes as AI companies continue investing in imagery tools despite consumer backlash over AI-generated content quality and the term AI slop. Google markets its image models as ad creation assistants. In a separate move, the company recently struck a $75 million deal with indie studio A24, drawing criticism from some creative communities.

Nano Banana 2 Lite entered general availability immediately on Tuesday. No future pricing changes or feature updates were announced.