8.0/ 10 SCORE Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image) Pros
First-in-industry legible textual content in AI pictures
Excels at real looking and inventive kinds
Wide data base helps make real looking pictures
Cons
Factual errors like a chatbot
Thinking mannequin takes longer to generate
You cannot speak about AI picture technology with out together with Google’s nano banana fashions, for good purpose. The two variations, the unique (Gemini 2.5 Flash Image) and the brand new professional (Gemini 3 Pro Image), have solely been round for a few months, however they’ve rapidly redefined what’s doable with AI picture technology and enhancing. The professional model makes use of Gemini 3’s reasoning mannequin to energy outcomes. That means it takes a bit bit longer to generate, however the pictures are extra detailed. You may add swaths of legible textual content to your pictures, an {industry} first. The professional model is one of the best AI picture technology instrument CNET has ever examined, arms down. But that is not essentially a superb factor. Our testing revealed how straightforward it’s to create ultrarealistic pictures and infographics with incorrect info. The Gemini-made pictures lacked most of the most typical errors in AI-generated pictures, which is nice for creators. Yet it additionally implies that anybody who comes throughout the Gemini-created pictures on-line may have a more durable time deciphering in the event that they’re actual or AI. Google removes the sparkle-shaped watermark from some pictures, which does not assist. Although Google’s SynthID or invisible watermark is embedded in all AI-generated pictures, the detector know-how in Gemini is just too restricted to make a distinction. These aren’t new issues, however nano banana professional’s capabilities make them much more prevalent and troublesome to unravel.Whether you employ nano banana via Gemini or make the most of extra settings in Google’s AI Studio or Flow, it is simple to make use of the mannequin to create. Here’s all the pieces you could learn about nano banana professional primarily based on our testing. For extra, try one of the best AI picture mills and our AI necessities. Nano banana professional excels at realism and nice particulars, like on this picture of an iris. Created by Katelyn Chedraoui utilizing Gemini AIHow good are the photographs, and the way properly do they match prompts?Nano banana professional makes a few of the most spectacular AI pictures I’ve ever seen. Even after the shine wore off following my preliminary hands-on expertise, I used to be frequently awed by the nano banana professional all through my in-depth testing. For most of the pictures I generated, I would not be capable to instantly inform in the event that they had been actual or created with AI — a stunningly horrifying thought. While bouncing between being impressed and unnerved, one fact remained: Nano banana professional obliterates the road between actuality and AI. And that is the worst this mannequin will ever be. Check out how detailed the floor of this AI-generated girl’s pores and skin is. No plastic-y, AI slop look right here. This degree of realism and element is unmatched by different AI packages. Created by Katelyn Chedraoui utilizing Gemini AINano banana professional pictures made in Gemini mechanically generate as 16:9 panorama pictures; you will want to make use of AI Studio or Flow to alter the facet ratio or every other customization settings. Gemini is superb at adhering to your prompts, which means it provides you with what you ask for. You can try our information to writing one of the best AI picture immediate, or should you’re pressed for time, you may ask Gemini to enhance your immediate.Nano banana professional excels at realism. I requested for a picture of a rating exhibiting UNC-Chapel Hill profitable over Duke University. Gemini used the ESPN graphic format to characterize the ultimate rating and added logos from ESPN, ACC and the schools. The textual content is intelligible and the enduring shades of blue are spot-on, and it even added a mirrored image within the TV display to indicate a lamp lighting the scene. It’s these little particulars that make nano banana professional pictures actually extraordinary. Notice how correct the logos, colours and textual content are on this picture. Created by Katelyn Chedraoui utilizing Gemini AIThere are some limits to what Gemini can generate. For instance, Gemini had no drawback creating a picture primarily based on the music Mr. Brightside by The Killers, however once I requested for the same picture impressed by a Taylor Swift music, it refused to generate, stating it did not have entry to that content material. Never thoughts that Google Search actually has oodles of content material on Swift; Google is probably going aiming to keep away from any copyright infringement allegations. Gemini has by no means screamed Mr. Brightside by The Killers at a home get together, but it surely knew what lyrics I used to be referring to once I requested it as an example the “iconic chorus.” Created by Katelyn Chedraoui utilizing Gemini AIThe largest leap ahead is nano banana professional’s capacity to create legible textual content. AI artistic fashions have lengthy struggled with this — we used to have the ability to level to mangled textual content as apparent indicators {that a} picture or video was AI-generated. But nano banana professional is without doubt one of the most competent fashions I’ve ever examined, and it simply handles integrating clear textual content into imagery. It’s scarily good.While nearly all of the graphics I made with Gemini had been nearly flawless, I did discover a number of errors. Some had been so small you would not instantly discover, like with this Fourth Wing design. If you zoom in very intently, there is a nonsense phrase above “Fourth.” Hallucinations like these are annoying, however there is a larger drawback when the mannequin begins to make up info. Gemini appropriately recognized the tropes in Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing novel. Created by Katelyn Chedraoui utilizing Gemini AII requested Gemini to create a sequence of infographics in regards to the new iPhone 17, and CNET’s cell specialists noticed points instantly. Gemini could not distinguish between the options of the bottom and professional fashions, usually mixing them up. The AI could not appropriately render what the again of any iPhone 17 regarded like; CNET’s Patrick Holland stated one picture really regarded like an earlier mock-up of what individuals suspected the brand new iPhone may appear to be primarily based on the Google Pixel, which is why the AI model appears like a Pixel painted orange with Apple’s brand added. I requested Gemini to restrict its info to CNET’s personal specs comparability web page, and it nonetheless made a picture filled with false info. There’s lots of incorrect information on this AI-generated graphic in regards to the iPhone 17 Pro. For one, that is not remotely what the telephone appears like. Created by Katelyn Chedraoui utilizing Gemini AIBeyond the fast points, the extra urgent subject is how convincing the picture appears. If you do not have in-depth data of the subject you are asking Gemini to visualise, you won’t discover when the AI begins making stuff up. This is without doubt one of the most typical and regarding points with chatbots, and it is prone to persist as AI picture technology depends on chatbots’ data bases. Future mannequin updates may assist with this, however for now, you could hold a detailed eye on the data Gemini is together with in your pictures.Editing images with nano banana proMy largest criticism in regards to the unique nano banana mannequin was its picture enhancing, which did not work in the best way it was speculated to. I’m happy, and considerably unnerved, to report that the professional mannequin fixes most of those errors.Nano banana professional is nice at altering the background surroundings of images. I uploaded an image of my household we took earlier than attending a snowy soccer recreation at my sister’s school final yr. It was so chilly we did not get one other household shot that day, however Gemini was in a position to repair that. I informed Gemini to incorporate Appalachian State indicators within the again, and it appropriately assumed that meant we might’ve been in Kidd Brewer Stadium. Created by Katelyn Chedraoui utilizing Gemini AIThe professional end result was gorgeous — the stadium is a precise reproduction, the indicators are crystal clear and the snow appears very pure. I tricked quite a lot of members of the family with that picture on Thanksgiving. I gave the identical immediate to the unique mannequin, and there is not any doubt the professional’s picture was higher. I did attempt to obtain an analogous end result by importing a number of reference pictures of my household and asking Gemini to mix them, however the outcomes weren’t nearly as good — facial expressions took on a plastic-y AI look, the indicators within the background weren’t as clear, and so forth. To get one of the best outcomes with a number of reference pictures, it helps to make use of high-quality pictures with plain backgrounds, which I did not have.I additionally requested Gemini to relight my headshot. I requested for a hunter inexperienced background and a highlight on my face. You can see how the unique mannequin distorted the shadowed a part of my face and the way the highlight fully missed most of my face. The professional mannequin used far more pure lighting and appropriately lit up my face. The headshot created by the unique nano banana mannequin (left) is not as detailed or well-lit in comparison with the one made with the professional mannequin (proper). Created by Katelyn Chedraoui utilizing Gemini AIThe one edit that drove me barely bananas (sorry, could not resist) with the unique mannequin was attempting to take away reflections. Granted, eradicating reflections is a tough picture edit. The professional mannequin beat the unique in that it really eliminated the reflection, but it surely nonetheless compromised the nice particulars and distorted the faces. Apologies, Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Maybe the following nano banana will lastly cross this take a look at? The unique picture (left) has a significant reflection. The unique nano banana mannequin could not take away it and distorted the picture (center), whereas the professional mannequin did take away it but in addition distorted the nice particulars (proper). Created by Katelyn Chedraoui utilizing Gemini AIEditing images with Gemini’s nano banana professional is actually higher than with the unique mannequin. The conversational circulation is nice for individuals who like chatting to edit. But an entire lack of enhancing instruments means it is not nice for individuals who need any degree of hands-on management. Even the professional mannequin can solely deal with larger edits, and too many iterative edits dilute the standard of the picture. If you need extra granular management, it is price heading to Photoshop or Canva and utilizing their AI and instruments. This is one space the place it’s totally clear Google isn’t a artistic software program firm.Google’s unique mannequin vs. professionalNano banana professional is one of the best mannequin, however there are occasions when chances are you’ll not need to use it. The unique mannequin is far faster than the professional, and it could actually deal with any type of wholesale or bespoke AI picture technology properly. The professional mannequin ought to be the go-to selection for customers who want extra in-depth picture edits and those that must depend on Gemini’s world data for infographics. Here’s a fuller breakdown of the unique nano banana mannequin versus the brand new professional mannequin.Nano banana vs. Nano banana professional Original nano bananaNano banana proPrice Free, with choices to improveFree, with choices to upgradeSpeed 30 seconds or much less50-120 secondsHow to seek out Fast mannequin in GeminiThinking with Pro 3 mannequin in GeminiCreativity Yes, very artisticYes, extraordinarily artistic, greater than unique modelAbility to generate textual content? NoYes, however regulate infographics’ veracityWho ought to use this? Gemini customers who need fast picture generationAnyone who desires high-quality picture technology, picture enhancing How quick do pictures arrive?Nano banana professional makes use of a reasoning mannequin, which tends to take a bit bit longer to run. I discovered that my pictures had been generated in wherever from 50 to 120 seconds. Two minutes could be thought-about lengthy for different picture fashions, but it surely’s not unreasonable. If you need faster outcomes, change to the quick mannequin to make use of the unique nano banana mannequin.Final ideasNano banana professional is awe-inspiring. Some of the outcomes are superior — they’re grounded in actuality in a approach that opponents like Midjourney and OpenAI clearly aren’t. That’s why I stated that Nano banana professional is without doubt one of the finest AI picture mills CNET has ever examined. It’s additionally a deeply scary instrument: The outcomes are scarily good, and it is unnervingly able to creating nearly something. And scariest of all, simply because it could actually create clear textual content in pictures doesn’t suggest it could actually produce dependable sources of knowledge. It’s all one of the best elements of picture mills and the worst elements of chatbots.The professional mannequin is a strong instrument, a lot in order that I anticipate it should rapidly develop into a go-to for anybody excited about creating media with AI. Creators of all talent ranges will doubtless be capable to discover makes use of for it. But I fear that it’s going to additionally develop into a go-to instrument for unhealthy actors who can make the most of its fast and simple course of to create dangerous outcomes, ones that we cannot be capable to instantly establish as AI-generated. We’ve already seen how AI firms’ guardrails can fail. When pictures like those created with nano banana professional look convincing, we’re not going to be mechanically suspicious of their origins. That’s an issue, particularly with information-heavy designs like infographics. It does not matter that Gemini can create legible textual content if the data is incorrect. And once we’re idly scrolling via our social media feeds, we do not at all times scrutinize the posts we see or learn the nice print to see if the headlines try. It units the stage for lots of confusion, chaos and misinformation.In brief, nano banana professional is the way forward for generative media. But that future may very well be treacherous if we aren’t cautious. Watch this: How to Use Google’s Veo 3 AI Video Generator: It Helped Me Produce This Video
05:50 How CNET exams AI picture generatorsCNET takes a sensible strategy to reviewing AI picture mills. Our objective is to find out how good it’s relative to the competitors and which functions it serves finest. To try this, we give the AI prompts primarily based on real-world use instances, akin to rendering in a specific fashion, combining parts right into a single picture and dealing with lengthier descriptions. We rating the picture mills on a 10-point scale that considers elements akin to how properly pictures match prompts, creativity of outcomes and response velocity. See how we take a look at AI for extra.Nano banana professional pricing, availability and privatenessYou can use nano banana professional totally free within the Gemini app and net browser, however you will need to improve to one in all Google’s AI subscriptions for larger utilization limits. Those plans begin at $20 per 30 days and include a bunch of different providers, like extra Google storage. If you are a paying Gemini subscriber, I extremely suggest utilizing nano banana professional in Google’s AI Studio or Flow so you may make the most of the hands-on controls to customise your pictures.Google’s normal Gemini privateness coverage says it could actually use any info you give it, like reference pictures, for enhancing its AI merchandise. That’s why the corporate recommends you keep away from importing delicate or non-public info. Like all main AI firms, Google has a prohibited use coverage geared toward stopping the creation of unlawful and abusive materials.For extra, try our expert-backed methods to repair AI picture hallucinations and OpenAI’s Sora vs. Google’s Veo 3 AI video mills.