Grok Imagine 2.0 from xAI and Nano Banana Pro from Google, run on the same six prompts. Which one is better depends on the prompt, so the images are the comparison; the facts below are what differs regardless of prompt.
| Grok Imagine 2.0 | Nano Banana Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | xAI | |
| Credits per megapixel | 2 | 5 |
| Refinement | Yes | Yes |
| Native aspect ratios | 7 of 10 | 10 of 10 |
| Listed strengths | Realism | Reasoning |
Unedited, at 1 megapixel, with the exact prompt each pair was given. How we ran the test.
What to look for: skin texture, natural light and a believable shallow depth of field.
“Close-up portrait of an elderly fisherman with a weathered face and grey stubble, wearing a yellow raincoat, soft overcast light from a window, shallow depth of field, 85mm photograph”
What to look for: both lines of text spelled correctly and placed on the sign, not floating beside it.
“A vintage enamel sign on a brick wall that reads "FRESH BREAD DAILY" in bold red serif letters, with "since 1962" in smaller script below, morning sunlight”
What to look for: glass, metal and water rendered convincingly in one studio setup.
“A frosted glass perfume bottle with a brass cap on wet black slate, droplets on the glass, soft rim light, reflections on the stone, studio product photography”
What to look for: exactly three red cubes on the sphere, with the cone on the left and the cylinder on the right.
“Three red cubes stacked on top of a blue sphere, a green cone to the left and a yellow cylinder to the right, on a black and white checkerboard floor, soft studio lighting”
What to look for: a consistent watercolor-and-ink style rather than a photo with a filter.
“Children's book illustration of a fox in a knitted scarf reading a book under a large mushroom in light rain, soft watercolor and ink, warm palette”
What to look for: mixed light sources, wet reflections and several subjects in one frame.
“A narrow street in Tokyo at night after rain, neon signs reflecting in puddles, a cyclist with an umbrella passing a lit ramen shop, cinematic”
Sending one prompt to several models at once is part of the Basic and Pro plans.
