Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) vs GPT-5.2 Codex
Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) (2026) and GPT-5.2 Codex (2025) compare a standalone API model against a coding-specialized model. Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) ships a 131k-token context window, while GPT-5.2 Codex ships a not-yet-sourced context window. On pricing, Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) costs $0.50/1M input tokens versus $1.75/1M for the alternative. This page treats the result as workflow and deployment fit, not a universal model winner.
Treat this as a product-type comparison: Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) is standalone API model, while GPT-5.2 Codex is coding-specialized model. Choose based on workflow fit before reading any benchmark or price row as decisive.
Decision scorecard
Local evidence first| Signal | Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) | GPT-5.2 Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Standalone API model | Coding-specialized model |
| Best for | reasoning-heavy apps and multimodal apps | custom coding agents, code generation, and tool loops |
| Decision fit | Long context and Vision | Coding, Agents, and Vision |
| Context window | 131k | — |
| Cheapest output | $60/1M tokens | $14/1M tokens |
| Provider routes | 1 tracked | 1 tracked |
| Shared benchmarks | 0 rows | 0 rows |
Decision tradeoffs
- Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) has the larger context window for long prompts, retrieval packs, or transcript analysis.
- Local decision data tags Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) for Long context and Vision.
- GPT-5.2 Codex has the lower cheapest tracked output price at $14/1M tokens.
- GPT-5.2 Codex uniquely exposes Function calling, Tool use, and Code execution in local model data.
- Local decision data tags GPT-5.2 Codex for Coding, Agents, and Vision.
Monthly cost at traffic
Estimate token spend from the cheapest tracked input and output route or tier on this page.
Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image)
$15,400
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Google AI Studio
GPT-5.2 Codex
$4,900
Cheapest tracked route/tier: Vercel AI Gateway
Estimated monthly gap: $10,500. Batch, cache, alternate speed tiers, and negotiated pricing are excluded from this local estimate.
Switch friction
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) and GPT-5.2 Codex; plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- GPT-5.2 Codex is $46/1M tokens lower on cheapest tracked output pricing before cache, batch, or negotiated discounts.
- GPT-5.2 Codex adds Function calling, Tool use, and Code execution in local capability data.
- No overlapping tracked provider route is sourced for GPT-5.2 Codex and Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image); plan for SDK, billing, or endpoint changes.
- Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) is $46/1M tokens higher on cheapest tracked output pricing, so quality gains need to justify the spend.
- Check replacement coverage for Function calling, Tool use, and Code execution before moving production traffic.
Specs
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2026-05-28 | 2025-12-18 |
| Context window | 131k | — |
| Parameters | — | — |
| Architecture | decoder only | decoder only |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary |
| Knowledge cutoff | 2025-01 | 2025-08 |
Pricing and availability
| Pricing attribute | Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) | GPT-5.2 Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Input price | $0.50/1M tokens | $1.75/1M tokens |
| Output price | $60/1M tokens | $14/1M tokens |
| Providers |
Capabilities
| Capability | Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) | GPT-5.2 Codex |
|---|---|---|
| Vision | Yes | Yes |
| Multimodal | Yes | Yes |
| Reasoning | Yes | Yes |
| Function calling | No | Yes |
| Tool use | No | Yes |
| Structured outputs | No | No |
| Code execution | No | Yes |
| IDE integration | No | No |
| Computer use | No | No |
| Parallel agents | No | No |
Benchmarks
No shared benchmark rows are currently sourced for this pair.
Deep dive
The capability footprint differs most on function calling: GPT-5.2 Codex, tool use: GPT-5.2 Codex, and code execution: GPT-5.2 Codex. Both models share vision, multimodal input, and reasoning mode, so the practical split is not just feature count. Use those differences to decide whether the page is about raw model quality, agentic coding support, multimodal ingestion, or predictable structured API behavior.
For cost, Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) lists $0.50/1M input and $60/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider, while GPT-5.2 Codex lists $1.75/1M input and $14/1M output tokens on the cheapest tracked provider. A 70/30 input-output blend puts GPT-5.2 Codex lower by about $12.93 per million blended tokens. Availability is 1 providers versus 1, so concentration risk also matters.
Choose Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) when vision-heavy evaluation and lower input-token cost are central to the workload. Choose GPT-5.2 Codex when coding workflow support are more important. For production, rerun your own prompts through the exact provider, region, and tool stack you plan to ship. This keeps the decision grounded in measurable tradeoffs instead of brand-level assumptions.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) or GPT-5.2 Codex?
GPT-5.2 Codex is cheaper on tracked token pricing. Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) costs $0.50/1M input and $60/1M output tokens. GPT-5.2 Codex costs $1.75/1M input and $14/1M output tokens. Provider discounts or batch pricing can still change the final bill.
Is Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) or GPT-5.2 Codex open source?
Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) is listed under Proprietary. GPT-5.2 Codex is listed under Proprietary. License labels affect whether you can self-host, redistribute weights, or rely only on hosted APIs, so confirm the upstream license before deployment.
Which is better for vision, Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) or GPT-5.2 Codex?
Both Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) and GPT-5.2 Codex expose vision. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Which is better for multimodal input, Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) or GPT-5.2 Codex?
Both Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) and GPT-5.2 Codex expose multimodal input. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Which is better for reasoning mode, Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) or GPT-5.2 Codex?
Both Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) and GPT-5.2 Codex expose reasoning mode. The better choice depends on benchmark fit, context budget, pricing, and whether your provider route exposes the same capability surface.
Where can I run Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) and GPT-5.2 Codex?
Nano Banana 2 (Gemini 3.1 Flash Image) is available on Google AI Studio. GPT-5.2 Codex is available on Vercel AI Gateway. Provider coverage can affect latency, region availability, compliance posture, and fallback options.
Continue comparing
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31. Data sourced from public model cards and provider documentation.