Just launched · October 2026

Nano Banana 2.1 is here

Google's newest AI image model makes photos look more real and finally gets text right. Here's what it can do for your pictures, and the fastest way to try it.

By the Rizz AI team · Updated October 6, 2026

In short

Nano Banana 2.1 is Google's newest AI image model, released on October 6, 2026. It makes more realistic photos, follows instructions better and renders text (names, titles, signs) far more accurately than before.

The easiest way to use it on your own photos is Rizz AI: upload a selfie, tap a style, done. It's free on iPhone and Android.

What does Nano Banana 2.1 do better?

In short: your AI photos look more like real photos, and more like you.

Text that's actually readable

Your name on a movie poster, a magazine headline, a neon sign: 2.1 gets the letters right far more often, so the text trends finally work.

Photos that look more like you

Cleaner detail, more natural skin and lighting, and better at keeping your face recognizable when it changes your outfit or background.

It does what you asked

Ask for a specific outfit, place, pose and mood all at once, and 2.1 is much less likely to quietly skip part of it.

Ready for any post

More image sizes, from square posts to tall Stories and Reels covers, without awkward crops.

How do I use Nano Banana 2.1 on my phone?

Download Rizz AI, pick a style and upload a selfie. You don't need to write a prompt, because each style has already been tuned to keep your face looking like you.

1Download Rizz AI. Get Rizz AI free from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android).
2Pick a style. Browse 100+ styles like headshots, magazine covers, anime and 3D figurines.
3Upload a selfie. Choose a clear, front-facing photo from your gallery or take a new one.
4Generate and share. Tap generate. Nano Banana 2.1 creates your image in seconds, ready to download or share.

Prefer to write your own prompts? You can use Nano Banana 2.1 in Google's Gemini app too. Start with our 24 copy-paste Nano Banana 2.1 prompts.

Popular styles to try

A few of the 100+ styles you can create with Nano Banana 2.1 in Rizz AI:

What should I try first?

These trends show off what 2.1 does best:

Magazine covers and movie posters with your name in the title
Action figure in a box with labelled accessories
Professional headshots for LinkedIn that still look like you
Outfit swaps: see yourself in a new look
Anime, Ghibli-style and 3D figurine versions of your selfie

Nano Banana 2.1 quick facts

Made by: Google (part of Gemini)
Released: October 6, 2026
Replaces: Nano Banana 2, which Google retires on October 29, 2026
Where to use it: Rizz AI, Gemini app, Google Flow
Model ID (developers): gemini-nano-banana-2.1

Curious how it stacks up? See Nano Banana 2.1 vs Nano Banana 2.

FAQ

What is Nano Banana 2.1?

Nano Banana 2.1 is Google's newest AI image model, part of Gemini. It creates and edits images from text and photos, and was released on October 6, 2026 as the successor to Nano Banana 2.

When did Nano Banana 2.1 come out?

Nano Banana 2.1 was released on October 6, 2026. It first showed up in Google Flow a day earlier and then rolled out to the Gemini app, the Gemini API and Google Cloud.

What's new in Nano Banana 2.1?

Nano Banana 2.1 renders text in images more accurately, produces more realistic and detailed photos, follows complex instructions more closely, and supports more image sizes and aspect ratios than Nano Banana 2.

Is Nano Banana 2.1 free?

You can try Nano Banana 2.1 for free with limits in Google's Gemini app, or in Rizz AI, which is free to download on iPhone and Android.

How do I use Nano Banana 2.1 on iPhone or Android?

The quickest way is Rizz AI: download it free, pick a style, upload a selfie and tap generate. No prompt writing needed. You can also type your own prompts in Google's Gemini app.

Is Nano Banana 2.1 better than Nano Banana 2?

Yes. Nano Banana 2.1 is the direct upgrade, and Google is retiring Nano Banana 2 on October 29, 2026.

Which app uses Nano Banana 2.1?

Google's Gemini app and Google Flow use Nano Banana 2.1, as does Rizz AI, an independent AI photo app that runs Nano Banana 2.1 behind 100+ one-tap styles.

Is Rizz AI made by Google?

No. Rizz AI is an independent app built on Google's Gemini API. Nano Banana and Gemini are trademarks of Google LLC.