Qwen Image 3.0 vs Nano Banana 2.1: Which Writes Chinese Better?

Short answer: Both write Chinese reliably. In three same-prompt tests, Qwen Image 3.0 and Nano Banana 2.1 spelled every Chinese and English word correctly. Pick Qwen Image 3.0 for Chinese posters and labels where you want bold, high-contrast type and a flat $0.0358 at 2K, plus 1–3 reference images for edits. Pick Nano Banana 2.1 for more styled, atmospheric scenes, 4K output, up to 10 references, and, until November 8, a lower price ($0.018 at 2K in HiAPI's Programmers' Day sale). Both are live on HiAPI: try Qwen Image 3.0 on its model page.

The differences at a glance

	Qwen Image 3.0 (Standard)	Nano Banana 2.1
Maker	Alibaba	Google
Model id	qwen-image-3.0/text-to-image, /image-to-image	gemini-nano-banana-2.1
Price at 1K / 2K	$0.0358 / $0.0358	$0.022 / $0.036
Sale price (to Nov 8)	—	$0.011 / $0.018
4K	No	$0.058 ($0.029 on sale)
Reference images	1–3, separate edit entry	Up to 10, same id
Aspect ratios	8 (1:1 to 21:9)	14 plus auto
Prompt rewriting	prompt_extend, on by default	No
negative_prompt, seed	Yes	No

Live HiAPI prices, checked October 18, 2026. Qwen Image 3.0 Pro is $0.0497 at 1K and $0.0993 at 2K.

Same prompt, side by side

Each test ran once per model at 2K, with Qwen's prompt_extend off so both saw the exact same words.

Test 1: a Chinese drinks poster

一张秋季饮品海报，3:4 竖版。画面中央是一杯透明玻璃杯装的桂花拿铁，奶泡上撒着金色桂花，
背景是浅米色纸张质感和几枝桂花。顶部大标题逐字写“秋日限定”，下方副标题写“桂花拿铁”，
底部小字写“10月18日—11月30日”。标题用优雅的中文宋体，层级清楚，留白充足，柔和的
自然光，商业海报质感。除以上文字外不要其他文字。

Qwen Image 3.0:

Generate this on Qwen Image 3.0 →

qwen-image-3.0/text-to-image, 3:4, 2K, $0.0358.

Nano Banana 2.1:

Generate this on Nano Banana 2.1 →

gemini-nano-banana-2.1, 3:4, 2K, $0.036 ($0.018 on sale).

What's visibly different: all three lines are correct on both. Qwen sets a large, bold title on a plain cream background, with osmanthus sprigs in the corners. Nano Banana 2.1 stages a fuller scene, with a layered latte on a wooden table, leaf shadows on the wall and a lighter title.

Test 2: a tea box label with small type

Product photograph of a square kraft-paper tea box on a slate surface,
front-facing. The front label reads, in Chinese, the large title “云雾绿茶”
and below it the smaller line “净含量 100 克 · 浙江产区”, plus the English
line “CLOUD MIST GREEN TEA” at the bottom. A few loose tea leaves and a
celadon cup beside the box, soft top light, crisp label print, clean
e-commerce composition. No other text.

Qwen Image 3.0:

Generate this on Qwen Image 3.0 →

qwen-image-3.0/text-to-image, 1:1, 2K, $0.0358.

Nano Banana 2.1:

Generate this on Nano Banana 2.1 →

gemini-nano-banana-2.1, 1:1, 2K, $0.036 ($0.018 on sale).

What's visibly different: both rendered the small line "净含量 100 克 · 浙江产区" correctly, the hardest part of the test. Qwen's label is denser and higher-contrast, with a rule between the lines. Nano Banana 2.1 leaves more white space on the label and uses a lighter title, a softer, more premium look.

Test 3: a bilingual shop sign in a photo

Street photograph of a small independent bookstore at dusk on an old lane,
wide 16:9 framing. A dark wooden signboard above the door reads exactly
“山海书店” in large Chinese characters with “MOUNTAIN & SEA BOOKS” in small
English capitals beneath. Warm light from the shop window, stacks of books
visible inside, a bicycle leaning on the wall, wet stone pavement. No other
readable signs.

Qwen Image 3.0:

Generate this on Qwen Image 3.0 →

qwen-image-3.0/text-to-image, 16:9, 2K, $0.0358.

Nano Banana 2.1:

Generate this on Nano Banana 2.1 →

gemini-nano-banana-2.1, 16:9, 2K, $0.036 ($0.018 on sale).

What's visibly different: both signs are correct in both languages. Qwen added a second bicycle the prompt didn't ask for. Nano Banana 2.1 kept one bicycle and added a stool, potted plants and pedestrians down the lane, a busier and more lived-in street.

Which to choose

• Chinese posters, packaging and labels with bold type: Qwen Image 3.0, $0.0358 at 2K, and turn prompt_extend off for exact copy.
• Atmospheric scenes and lifestyle shots: Nano Banana 2.1 built fuller sets in every test.
• 4K or more than 3 reference images: Nano Banana 2.1.
• negative_prompt or a fixed seed: Qwen Image 3.0.
• Lowest price until November 8: Nano Banana 2.1 at $0.018 for 2K. After the sale, 2K costs about the same on both ($0.036 vs $0.0358).

Switching between them

Both run on POST /v1/tasks. The differences are the model id and the reference-image field:

	Qwen Image 3.0	Nano Banana 2.1
Generate	qwen-image-3.0/text-to-image	gemini-nano-banana-2.1
Edit	qwen-image-3.0/image-to-image with image_urls (1–3)	Same id with image_input (up to 10)
Size	aspect_ratio + resolution (1K/2K)	aspect_ratio + resolution (1K/2K/4K)

FAQ

Which one renders Chinese text better?

In these three tests, neither made a mistake, including a small net-weight line. The difference was style: Qwen's type is bolder and higher-contrast.

Should I turn off prompt_extend on Qwen?

For exact text, yes. It rewrites your prompt by default, which helps short prompts but can change wording.

Does Qwen Image 3.0 Pro do better?

Pro adds layout density and detail at $0.0497 for 1K. See the same-prompt test in Qwen Image 3.0 API pricing.

Code is in the Qwen Image 3.0 API guide. Or copy the tea-box prompt and run it on Qwen Image 3.0.