Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools vs Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview): Which AI Model Is Better?
Updated March 24, 2026· Based on independent benchmark data
Quick Verdict
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools leads in intelligence with a score of 57.2 vs 48.4.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools | Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence Score | 57.2 | 48.4 |
| Coding Score | 55.5 | 46.5 |
| Math Score | N/A | 95.7 |
| Speed (tok/s) | 117 tok/s | 119 tok/s |
| Latency (TTFT) | 21.91s | 21.66s |
| Input Price / 1M tokens | $2.00 | $2.00 |
| Output Price / 1M tokens | $12 | $12 |
| Context Window | 1.0M | 66K |
| Max Output Tokens | 66K | 33K |
| Input Modalities | Text + Audio + Image + Video + File | Image + Text |
| Output Modalities | Text | Image + Text |
| Free Tier | No | No |
Detailed Analysis
Intelligence & Quality
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools outperforms Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) on the Artificial Analysis intelligence index with a score of 57.2 compared to 48.4. For coding tasks, Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools has the edge with a coding score of 55.5 vs 46.5.
Speed & Latency
Both models deliver similar output speeds: Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools at 117 tok/s and Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) at 119 tok/s. Time to first token is 21.66s for Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) vs 21.91s for Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools, which affects perceived responsiveness in interactive applications.
Pricing
Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) is more affordable at $2.00/1M input tokens ($12/1M output), while Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools costs $2.00/1M input ($12/1M output). For a typical workload of 100 requests per day at 2,000 tokens each, Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools would cost approximately $12.00/month vs $12.00/month for Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) in input costs alone.
Context Window
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools offers a larger context window at 1.0M tokens compared to Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview)'s 66K. This means Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools can process roughly 524 pages of text in a single request vs 33 pages for Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview). For output length, Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools can generate up to 66K tokens per response vs 33K for Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview).
Best Use Cases
Choose Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools when you need higher intelligence (57.2), stronger coding performance (55.5), larger context window (1.0M).
Choose Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools if:
- ✓You need higher intelligence (score: 57.2 vs 48.4)
- ✓You prioritize coding performance (score: 55.5 vs 46.5)
- ✓You need a larger context window (1.0M vs 66K)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools better than Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) for coding?
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools scores higher on coding benchmarks (55.5 vs 46.5), making it the better choice for programming tasks.
Which is cheaper, Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools or Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview)?
Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) is cheaper at $2.00/1M input tokens vs $2.00/1M for Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools.
Is Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools faster than Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview)?
Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) is faster, producing output at 119 tok/s compared to Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools's 117 tok/s.
Can Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools process images?
Yes, Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools supports image input. Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) also supports images.
Which has a larger context window, Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools or Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview)?
Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools has a larger context window at 1.0M compared to Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview)'s 66K.
Should I use Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools or Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview)?
It depends on your priorities. Google: Gemini 3.1 Pro Preview Custom Tools scores higher on intelligence (57.2), but Google: Nano Banana Pro (Gemini 3 Pro Image Preview) may be better for specific use cases like budget-conscious projects or speed-critical applications.
Related Comparisons
Benchmark data by Artificial Analysis
Data last synced: March 24, 2026