Nano Banana 2 API is deprecated: how to move to Nano Banana 2.1
Google deprecated the Nano Banana 2 API model, gemini-3.1-flash-image, on October 6, 2026, and recommends gemini-nano-banana-2.1 instead. As of October 15, 2026, Google lists no shutdown date for Nano Banana 2, so existing calls still work. Switch the model ID now, check any 512px requests, and recheck your costs before Google sets a date.
Key takeaways
- 01Nano Banana 2 (gemini-3.1-flash-image) is deprecated, not shut down.
- 02Google has not announced a shutdown date. Some posts say October 29, 2026; Google’s deprecations page does not.
- 03The replacement is gemini-nano-banana-2.1.
- 04Nano Banana 2.1 makes 1K, 2K and 4K images. Move any 512px requests to 1K.
- 05Images cost about half as much. Input tokens cost more.
Is Nano Banana 2 shutting down?
Not yet. Google’s Gemini API changelog for October 6, 2026 says the gemini-3.1-flash-image model is deprecated, with no shutdown date announced, and tells developers to migrate to gemini-nano-banana-2.1. The deprecations page says the same.
Several articles repeat a shutdown date of October 29, 2026. Google’s own pages did not show that date when we checked on October 15, 2026. Google also notes that the dates it lists are only the earliest a model might be retired. Treat the deprecation as your notice to move, and watch the deprecations page for a firm date.
What is Nano Banana 2.1?
Nano Banana 2.1 is Google’s update to Nano Banana 2, released on October 6, 2026. Google describes it as its latest high-efficiency model for image generation and conversational editing, with the same Flash-level speed and better visual quality.
It also adds wide and tall aspect ratios: 1:4, 4:1, 1:8 and 8:1, at 1K, 2K and 4K.
Switch the model ID
For most integrations the change is one string. Replace gemini-3.1-flash-image with gemini-nano-banana-2.1 wherever you call the Gemini API, then run your usual prompts and compare the results before shipping.
- model: "gemini-3.1-flash-image"
+ model: "gemini-nano-banana-2.1"Check your 512px requests
Nano Banana 2 offered a 0.5K (512px) size. Nano Banana 2.1 lists only 1K, 2K and 4K. If your app asks for 512px thumbnails or previews, request 1K and resize the result yourself.
Nano Banana 2.1 API pricing
On Google’s pricing page, a standard 1K image costs $0.0336 with Nano Banana 2.1, against $0.067 with Nano Banana 2. A 2K image is $0.0504 against $0.101. A 4K image is $0.113 against $0.151. Batch requests cost half of those prices.
Input costs more. Standard input is $1.50 per million tokens on Nano Banana 2.1, against $0.50 on Nano Banana 2. If your requests carry several reference images or long prompts, work out your real cost per request before assuming the bill halves. Neither model has a free tier.
If you use the Magnt Image API
You do not need to change anything. magnt-image-1 already runs on Nano Banana 2.1, and the model name, request fields and responses stay the same. One Magnt key covers generation and editing, with 1K and 2K output as WebP.
