Current image-generation choices: October 1, 2026
The old three-way comparison is no longer a current purchasing shortlist: DALL·E 3 was removed from the OpenAI API on May 12, 2026. OpenAI's current DALL·E 3 model page recommends GPT-Image-2.5 Sunburst for generation and editing. That recommendation does not transfer old DALL·E 3 scores to the replacement. Removal date, current migration recommendation
| Option | Verified current position | Budget and workflow implications |
|---|---|---|
| Nano Banana Pro / Gemini 3 Pro Image | Standard image-output charge: $0.134 at 1K/2K; $0.24 at 4K | Input, text/thinking output and applicable grounding charges are additional; API pricing is not a consumer subscription allowance |
| Midjourney | V8.2 has been the default since July 24, 2026; V8.1/V8.2 support native 2048px HD | Basic $10, Standard $30, Pro $60, Mega $120 per month; billed by subscription and GPU usage rather than one universal image price |
| GPT-Image-2.5 Sunburst | Current OpenAI recommendation in place of retired DALL·E 3; accepts text and image inputs for creation and editing | Token-based API pricing and quality settings; estimate a representative job using current API pricing, not DALL·E 3's old per-image price |
Official references: Google API pricing, Midjourney versions, Midjourney plans, Sunburst model.
Torn between AI image generators? Find the right one for your budget and workflow.
Which should you trial?
For a metered API workflow requiring 4K output, price Nano Banana Pro using the resolution you will actually deliver. For an interactive subscription workflow, trial Midjourney with your own briefs and include GPU usage in the budget; Standard and above include Relax image generation, while Stealth is limited to Pro and Mega. For a new OpenAI image integration, evaluate the current GPT Image model rather than building against retired DALL·E endpoints.
There is no fresh head-to-head quality winner here. Compare all candidates using the same brief, required dimensions, editing steps and acceptance criteria. Measure cost per accepted image, including rejected generations and human repair time. Native 2K in current Midjourney also means the old claim that only Nano Banana Pro can provide useful high-resolution output is no longer a valid differentiator.
Do not mix Nano Banana model prices
The approximately $0.04 figure belongs to the original Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (Nano Banana), whose listed output price is $0.039. It is not Nano Banana Pro pricing. Google says that original API model shuts down on October 2, 2026 and directs developers to Gemini 3.1 Flash Image or Flash Lite Image. Check the exact model ID before budgeting or migrating. Google pricing and shutdown notice
Archived comparison results from December 4, 2025
The original article reported a 50+ prompt comparison involving Midjourney V7 and DALL·E 3. Its reported speed ranges were 8–12 seconds for Nano Banana Pro, 20–30 seconds for Midjourney V7 and 15–25 seconds for DALL·E 3. It reported text accuracy of 94–96%, approximately 71% and approximately 78%, respectively. The photorealism table listed FID scores of 12.4 for Nano Banana, 15.3 for Midjourney V7, 16.9 for Stable Diffusion 3 and 18.7 for DALL·E 3.
These figures are retained as the original article's dated claims, not newly validated benchmarks. The underlying prompt corpus, scoring method and raw outputs are not supplied here, and the original mixes Nano Banana with Nano Banana Pro. They cannot establish the quality or speed of Midjourney V8.2 or Sunburst. No historical result has been relabeled as a test of a newer model. Run a fresh, reproducible test before relying on a numerical ranking.
Founder of Spectrum AI Labs — testing AI tools and models, and writing up what actually ships.
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