Key Takeaways
- Seedream 4.0 wins for photorealism and professional work
- Nano Banana excels at creative editing and camera control
- Both models handle text rendering well, with Seedream slightly ahead
- Your choice depends on whether you need realism or creativity
- View our final verdict at the end of the article
The AI Image Generation Game Is Heating Up!
The competition is fierce right now. Nano Banana vs Seedream 4.0 is the ultimate showdown. And every month brings new models promising better quality, faster speeds, and more creative control. For agencies like mine, choosing the right tool can be the key to unlocking smoother workflows, faster turnarounds, and smarter use of budget.
It’s an exciting time for AI image generation, with new breakthroughs happening almost weekly. The pace of innovation is incredible—better rendering, more accurate prompt following, and advanced editing tools are quickly becoming the norm. The future looks amazing, not just for creative professionals, but for anyone who wants to bring ideas to life faster and with fewer barriers.
We’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible, and the next generation of models will likely blur the line even further between what’s AI-made and what’s human-made.
Meet the Contenders: Nano Banana vs Seedream 4.0
Nano Banana is Google’s mysterious AI model that appeared seemingly out of nowhere. It first showed up on LMArena without any official announcement. Users quickly noticed its incredible ability to follow complex prompts and maintain character consistency. What makes it special is its creative approach to editing – you can change entire scenes with simple text commands
Seedream 4.0 comes from ByteDance and launched in September 2025 as their flagship image generation model. This powerhouse can create stunning 2K images in under two seconds and handles everything from photorealistic portraits to complex multi-subject scenes. It quickly climbed to #1 on the Artificial Analysis Text to Image Leaderboard after launch.
Our Comparison Test Overview
We ran both models through 34 different tests using LMArena to see how they perform in real-world scenarios. We tested everything from basic photorealism to complex multi-image editing tasks that agencies face daily.
The tests covered photorealism, text rendering, scene composition, style flexibility, multi-subject control, camera angles, prompt accuracy, creative surrealism, and advanced editing features. Each model had strengths and weaknesses that became clear through this comprehensive comparison.
Round 1: Text-To-Image Generations
1. Photorealism & Detail
This tests how convincingly the model can mimic real life. We looked at things like skin pores, hair strands, natural lighting, shadows, and reflections. A model that nails photorealism is ideal for product photos, lifestyle images, or marketing visuals where authenticity is key.
Prompt
A candid street photo of a man in New York City, golden hour lighting, 4K resolution, realistic skin texture and shadows.”
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
When looking at these two results, Seedream 4.0 matches the prompt more closely. It made a sharp, cinematic portrait with realistic skin details and golden-hour shadows that look natural and striking. Nano Banana, on the other hand, focused more on the New York City street around the subject. The scene has good atmosphere and lighting, but the person’s skin and shadows aren’t as realistic as in Seedream’s version. Overall, Seedream is stronger at lifelike portraits, while Nano Banana leans toward capturing the mood and setting.
Winner: Seedream 4.0 ☁
Prompt
A close-up portrait of an elderly woman with wrinkles, natural light, 8K photorealism.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both models created strong close-up portraits, but you can see the differences. Nano Banana made a clear, balanced image with soft lighting that looks like it was taken in a studio. The wrinkles and skin details are there, but they’re smoothed out a little, giving the portrait a softer, more polished look. Seedream 4.0 went further into realism, showing tiny freckles, sharper wrinkles, and fine skin textures. The natural light also feels more dynamic, making the whole image look like a high-quality photo taken with a professional camera. Nano Banana is great for a clean, even look, while Seedream stands out for realism and lifelike detail.
Winner: Seedream 4.0 ☁
2. Text Rendering
Seedream 4.0 claims strong text integration, so we had to test it. Text inside images (like billboards, book covers, or t-shirts) is notoriously difficult for AI. We checked not just legibility, but also font accuracy, spacing, and whether the words matched the prompt exactly.
Prompt
A billboard in Times Square that says ‘Dream Big’ in neon lights, photorealistic style.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Text rendering is where you can really see the difference between the two models. Nano Banana made a bright, colorful neon sign with the right words, but the letters look a little uneven and cartoon-like, not fully realistic. It does capture the Times Square vibe, but the text feels less polished. Seedream 4.0, on the other hand, looks very real. The glow, spacing, and font style make it seem like an actual neon sign you’d see in the city. The words “Dream Big” are sharp, straight, and fit perfectly into the billboard, showing why Seedream is so strong at handling text.
Winner: Seedream 4.0 ☁
Prompt
A coffee cup with the words ‘Good Vibes Only’ printed in bold script.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both models made readable text, but they did it in different ways. Nano Banana created a clear and simple design. The words “Good Vibes Only” are bold and easy to read, but the letters look a little flat and plain. Seedream 4.0 went further by making the text look like it was really printed on the mug. The gold effect, natural reflections, and smooth font make it feel more realistic. Nano Banana focuses on clarity, while Seedream adds detail and polish that make the design look real.
Winner: Seedream 4.0 ☁
3. Scene Composition
Can the AI place multiple objects and characters in a coherent, believable scene? We tested environments like cafés and city parks, checking if the subjects felt naturally placed, properly lit, and correctly scaled. This is critical for storytelling and commercial projects.
Prompt
A cozy café interior with a barista making coffee, two customers chatting at a wooden table, sunlight streaming through the window.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
For scenes with multiple characters, both models did a good job, but their styles are different. Nano Banana created a warm, storybook-like café with soft lighting and cozy colors. The barista and customers look natural, but the whole scene feels more artistic than realistic. Seedream 4.0 went for a more photoreal look. The sunlight through the window looks real, the people are in proper proportion, and small details like reflections on the floor make the space feel alive. Nano Banana is great for mood and charm, while Seedream stands out for realism and believable human interaction.
Winner: Seedream 4.0 ☁
Prompt
A family picnic in a park with three people, a red blanket, and a basket of food.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both models gave strong results, but they focused on different things. Nano Banana made a lifestyle-style image with bright colors, lots of details like a full picnic basket, and a fun, natural moment that looks like it could be in a magazine. Seedream 4.0 leaned more toward a portrait look, focusing on the family’s expressions and closeness while keeping the scene simpler. Both match the prompt well—it really depends on whether you prefer the lively, detail-rich lifestyle feel of Nano Banana or the clean, portrait-style warmth of Seedream.
Winner: Tie 🤝
4. Style Flexibility
We asked the models to generate the same subject across different art styles—anime, Van Gogh’s swirls, Pixar-style 3D. This shows how versatile a model is when jumping between aesthetics. A good model will keep the subject recognizable while adapting to the requested style.
Prompt
A samurai warrior in anime style
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both models gave strong versions of the anime-style samurai, but they focused on different things. Nano Banana created a wide, cinematic scene with Mount Fuji, a flowing river, and cherry blossoms in the background. It feels like a moment from an anime story, with more focus on the setting and mood. Seedream 4.0 zoomed in on the character, showing the warrior in action with sharp details, glowing armor, and dramatic lighting that makes the scene feel intense, like a battle is about to start. Nano Banana is better for storytelling and world-building, while Seedream is better for bold, high-energy character art. Which one works best depends on whether you want a full scene or a powerful close-up of the hero.
Winner: Tie 🤝
Prompt
a samurai warrior in Van Gogh’s Starry Night style.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both images are styled after Vincent van Gogh’s The Starry Night, but the Nano Banana version looks much closer to the original. The swirling sky and color palette match Van Gogh’s brushwork, and the village and cypress tree stay in place, keeping the layout true to the painting. The samurai is blended into the scene without changing the flow, making it feel like a natural part of the artwork. Seedream also uses Van Gogh’s style but in a brighter, cleaner way. The textures are smoother, and the colors more vibrant, which makes it feel more like a modern twist than a faithful copy of The Starry Night.
Winner: Nano Banana 🍌
Prompt
A samurai warrior in Pixar-style 3D
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both models created strong Pixar-style samurai characters, but they look very different. Nano Banana made a friendly, adventurous-looking samurai standing in front of a sunset with cherry blossoms and castles in the background. It feels like the start of a Pixar movie, with a focus on the setting and atmosphere. Seedream 4.0, on the other hand, made a more intense, cartoon-like samurai ready for action. The sharp details, bold colors, and strong pose give it the feel of a dramatic Pixar battle scene. Nano Banana is better for storytelling and world-building, while Seedream is stronger for action and character focus.
Winner: Tie 🤝
5. Multi-Subject Control
Handling multiple characters is a common weakness for AI. We tested with simple two-subject scenes (like a cat and dog on a couch) to see if the models could keep proportions, avoid blending them together, and ensure each subject followed the prompt (pose, color, position).
Prompt
A dog and a cat are sitting side by side on a red couch, both looking at the camera.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
For this test, both models handled the prompt well, but Seedream feels more natural overall. The dog and cat look like they were actually photographed together, with small imperfections that add realism. Even the couch texture adds to the believability of the photo. Nano Banana’s version is cute, especially with the dog’s paw resting on the cat—it feels warm and friendly—but the image looks a bit too perfect and polished, almost plastic-like. Seedream comes across as more real, while Nano Banana leans more toward a “picture-perfect” look.
Winner: Seedream 4.0 ☁
Prompt
Two children are flying a red kite together on the beach.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both models did well, but Nano Banana’s version stands out more. The composition is stronger, with the children running on the beach under a beautiful sunset that really adds mood and atmosphere. It feels lively and natural, like a moment from a family photo album. Seedream’s image is still good, but the girl’s posture looks a little off, almost like she’s staring into space, and if you zoom in, the faces get a bit distorted. Nano Banana captures the energy and emotion of the scene better, while Seedream feels a bit stiffer.
Winner: Nano Banana 🍌
6. Camera Control
This category checks if the model understands cinematic language. When we said “wide shot,” did it zoom out? When we asked for “drone aerial view,” did it actually render a bird’s-eye perspective? Camera control is essential for content creators who want cinematic storytelling without heavy post-production.
Prompt
A futuristic city skyline, cinematic wide shot, drone aerial view at sunset
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both models created exciting futuristic skylines, but they took different approaches. Nano Banana went big and dramatic, with huge spiral towers, glowing domes, and lots of detail filling the frame. It feels like a scene straight out of a sci-fi blockbuster. Seedream 4.0 leaned more into realism, showing a city that looks closer to something we might actually see in the future. The drone aerial view is clear, and the sunset light over the skyline makes the shot look cinematic and believable. Nano Banana is stronger for over-the-top, imaginative cityscapes, while Seedream shines at realistic wide shots with natural camera angles.
Winner: Seedream 4.0 ☁
Prompt
A medieval castle viewed from a worm’s eye view at sunrise.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Neither model fully followed the prompt of showing the castle from a worm’s eye view, but they still created two very different images. Nano Banana went for a fantasy, storybook look with dramatic lighting, a river running through the valley, and even a bird flying overhead. It feels epic and cinematic, almost like concept art for a video game or movie. Seedream 4.0 leaned more toward realism, producing a castle that looks like a real photo taken at sunrise. The textures, lighting, and perspective feel authentic, but it doesn’t have the same dramatic flair. Nano Banana is stronger for fantasy and imagination, while Seedream is better for realistic historical accuracy.
Winner: Tie 🤝
7. Prompt Fidelity
How literally does the model follow instructions? If the prompt said “woman in a red dress holding a yellow umbrella to the left of a blue car,” we judged whether the details (red, yellow, left, blue) were respected. This tests accuracy and trustworthiness.
Prompt
A woman in a red dress holding a yellow umbrella, standing to the left of a blue car
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
This was a clear test of how well each model followed instructions, and both did a solid job. Nano Banana nailed almost every part of the prompt: the woman is in a red dress, holding a yellow umbrella, and standing to the left of a blue car. The scene looks dramatic and cinematic, almost like a movie still. Seedream 4.0 also hit the details, but the framing is tighter, so you only see part of the woman and the car. While it feels realistic, it doesn’t show the full scene as clearly as Nano Banana’s version.
Winner: Nano Banana 🍌
Prompt
A black cat is sitting on a red chair with a white cushion.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both models followed the prompt well, and the results are very close. Nano Banana created a cozy, staged look with the cat stretched out on a textured cushion, while Seedream 4.0 gave us a sharper, more natural pose with realistic chair textures. Nano Banana feels warmer and more styled, while Seedream leans toward realism. Since both versions look good and capture the prompt correctly, this one comes down to personal preference.
Winner: Tie 🤝
8. Creative Surrealism
We also tested pure imagination. Prompts like “a giant glass violin glowing in the desert” show whether the model can think beyond realism. A creative model produces visually striking, unexpected results that inspire new directions for artists and brands.
Prompt
A giant violin made of glass floating in the desert, glowing with internal light, cinematic realism.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both models delivered strong results, but they showed creativity in different ways. Nano Banana went for a dramatic, dreamlike scene with the glowing glass violin floating in the sky over the desert. The scale feels huge, especially with the tiny human figure below, which adds to the surreal mood. Seedream 4.0 focused more on realism, making the violin look solid and detailed, with glowing blue light inside the glass. It sits in the sand, catching reflections from the sun, which makes it feel like a real object placed in the desert. Nano Banana is stronger for a surreal, imaginative look, while Seedream shines at making the idea look physically real.
Winner: Tie 🤝
Prompt
A phoenix with butterfly wings made of stained glass flying over a city skyline.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both models gave impressive results, but they show the idea in different ways. Nano Banana created a dramatic scene of a phoenix soaring high over a glowing city skyline at sunset. The stained-glass wings are colorful and detailed, and the fiery tail adds extra energy, making the image feel epic and cinematic. Seedream 4.0, on the other hand, focused more on the bird itself. The stained-glass effect is very sharp and realistic, with the light shining through the wings, but the city background feels less important in the shot. Nano Banana is stronger for storytelling and scale, while Seedream is better for crisp detail and realism.
Winner: Nano Banana 🍌
Round 2: Image-to-image Editing
9. Multi-Image Composition
For this test, the goal was to see how each model could handle multi-image composition — taking multiple input images and blending them into one seamless, coherent output. This type of challenge pushes both models to manage subject integration, perspective consistency, and overall realism when combining separate visual elements into a single scene.
Input Images
Prompt
A woman wearing a floppy hat, drinking a mimosa on a beach. She is taking a selfie with one hand, has a drink in the other, and her dog is sitting on her lap.
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Both models did an impressive job here, creating lively and believable composite scenes. Nano Banana really shines because the woman looks natural, smiling in the moment, which gives the whole image a more authentic, candid feel. Seedream 4.0 also produced a strong result, staying closer to the original reference photo, but there are some noticeable flaws — the mimosa is missing its strawberry garnish, and the woman has an extra index finger. These are small mistakes that could be fixed later in editing, but they pull back from the overall realism. Nano Banana gets the win in this round for delivering a more natural and polished final image.
Winner: Nano Banana 🍌
10. Style Transfers
This test looked at how well the models could transfer a real photo into different artistic styles like LEGO, Pixar, and The Simpsons. The goal was to see if the models could keep the subjects recognizable while fully adapting to the new style.
Input Image
Prompt
Turn this image into LEGO style
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
For this style transfer test, the difference is huge. Nano Banana failed to follow the prompt—it barely changed the photo, only adding some LEGO-like background elements while keeping the kids looking the same. Seedream 4.0, on the other hand, completely transformed the children into LEGO minifigures, with blocky faces, hands, and clothing details that match the style perfectly. It’s clear and creative, and it nails the idea of a LEGO-style conversion.
Winner: Seedream 4.0 ☁
Prompt
Turn this image into a 3D Pixar Animation style
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Again, Nano Banana failed to make the style transfer. It left the kids looking exactly the same as the original photo, without turning them into Pixar-style characters. Seedream 4.0, however, nailed the prompt. The children were fully transformed into 3D Pixar-style animation characters, with big expressive eyes, smooth skin, and the signature cartoonish look. The background and lighting were also adapted to match the animated style.
Winner: Seedream 4.0 ☁
Prompt
Turn this image into The Simpsons style
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Surprisingly, Nano Banana did a great job here. It fully changed the kids into Simpsons-style characters, with clean outlines, flat colors, and the familiar cartoon look that fits the show’s world. Seedream 4.0 also tried, but its version feels a bit off—the characters look more like mashups, with Bart Simpson features instead of direct Simpsons-style versions of the kids. Nano Banana clearly captured the style better in this test.
Winner: Nano Banana 🍌
11. Change Subjects
This test evaluated how well the models could swap one subject for another while keeping the rest of the photo consistent. We replaced the dog on the left with an orange-striped cat to see if the new subject blended naturally into the scene.
Input Image
Prompt
Replace the dog on the left with an orange-striped cat
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
In this test, Nano Banana takes the win. The orange-striped cat it generated looks more natural, with smooth fur details and proportions that blend seamlessly into the scene. What stands out most is how Nano Banana perfectly kept the original dog’s posture—just swapped it with the cat, making the edit feel more believable. Seedream also did a strong job, but it slightly shifted the dog’s position, which breaks the realism a bit. Overall, Nano Banana’s version feels more consistent and true to the original photo.
Winner: Nano Banana 🍌
12. Character Reposturing
This test measured how well the models could adjust a character’s pose while keeping consistency in style, proportions, and overall appearance. It focuses on whether the edits feel natural and believable without breaking the original design.
Input Image
Prompt
Make this person signal “ok” with his hand as he winks at the camera
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
For this round, Nano Banana takes the win. Its version kept the character looking more like the original image, holding onto the same face shape and proportions, which made the edit feel consistent. The wink wasn’t perfect—the eyebrow should have lowered instead of raising—but the overall expression still reads clearly. Seedream, on the other hand, made the head noticeably bigger and changed the proportions in a way that broke the resemblance to the original. On top of that, the expression looked more like both eyes squinting rather than a proper wink, which weakened the result.
Winner: Nano Banana 🍌
Prompt
Make this person raise both his arms like he just won a competition
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
In this round, Nano Banana takes the edge. Its version of the raised-arms pose feels consistent with the original character, keeping the proportions and style intact while clearly showing the celebratory gesture. Seedream 4.0 also managed to create a raised-arm pose, but the execution isn’t as strong—the facial details appear softer, and the overall quality of the character feels slightly downgraded compared to the original. Nano Banana maintains both the character’s likeness and the energy of the pose more effectively.
Winner: Nano Banana 🍌
13. Camera View Reposition
This test explored how well the models could adjust perspective by changing the camera angle. Instead of altering subjects or styles, the challenge was to reposition the viewpoint—like shifting to a drone shot or an over-the-shoulder view—while keeping the overall scene consistent and believable.
Input Image
Prompt
Change the camera view to an aerial drone shot so the person is looking at the camera
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Nano Banana nailed this test. It delivered a true aerial drone perspective, shifting the camera angle so the subject looks directly upward into the lens, exactly matching the request. The framing feels natural, and the perspective creates a convincing overhead shot. Seedream 4.0, however, struggled—it added a literal drone into the frame and kept the angle closer to eye-level, which broke the illusion of a proper drone shot. Nano Banana fully understood the cinematic camera control here, while Seedream failed completely.
Winner: Nano Banana 🍌
Input Image
Prompt
Change the camera view to an over-the-shoulder shot focusing on the pink flower
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
This round feels like a tie. Nano Banana did switch the perspective to an over-the-shoulder shot, but it altered the girl’s position too much—she’s sitting closer to the front of the boat, which doesn’t match the original composition. Seedream 4.0 stayed truer to the camera angle, but the flower looks overly perfect and artificial, pulling the viewer out of the scene. Neither fully nailed the balance between perspective change and realism, so while both show progress in camera control, the results feel equally off in different ways.
Winner: Tie 🤝
14. Color Change
This test evaluated how well the models could change colors in an image while keeping everything else consistent. We swapped the original colors for new ones to see if the changes looked natural and blended seamlessly with the rest of the photo.
Input Image
Prompt
Change the color of the yellow cab to a red cab, and the red jacket to a yellow jacket
Nano Banana
Seedream 4.0
Nano Banana is the clear winner here. It handled the color shift smoothly while keeping the subject natural and the colors balanced—not overly saturated. Seedream 4.0, however, struggled with facial rendering once again. If you zoom in, the face shows noticeable distortions, which is a recurring weakness for this model when handling close-up details. While both captured the overall scene, Nano Banana produced a cleaner, more polished result with better consistency
Winner: Nano Banana 🍌
Final Verdict: Who Won?
Believe it or not, this showdown was insanely close—Nano Banana won by just 1 point! Out of 27 side-by-side tests, Nano Banana took 18 wins while Seedream 4.0 landed 17. Wow. Both models pushed hard in realism, style, and creativity, but in the end Nano Banana barely edged out the victory. Of course, this is just our personal take based on what we value most in the images, but it shows just how evenly matched these two AI generators really are.
Nano Banana is better for:
- Creative editing and scene manipulation
- Camera angle changes and perspective shifts
- Artistic and stylized content
- Multi-image composition work
- Projects requiring imaginative, cinematic results
Seedream 4.0 is better for:
- Professional photography and portraits
- Product shots and commercial work
- Photorealistic scenes with multiple subjects
- Text-heavy designs and signage
- Clients who need authentic-looking images
My Final Thoughts
After running these extensive tests, I don’t think there’s a single “best” AI image generator. Both Nano Banana and Seedream 4.0 excel in different areas that matter to creative agencies.
For my agency’s workflow, I use both models depending on the project. Check out these amazing Seedream 4.0 examples to see what’s possible.
How JZ Creates Can Help Your Next Project
Choosing between AI image generators is just the beginning. At JZ Creates, we combine the power of both Nano Banana and Seedream 4.0 with strategic creative direction to deliver results that actually move your business forward.
Our team knows which tool works best for each type of project. We handle everything from initial concept development to final image optimization, ensuring your visual content stands out in today’s crowded marketplace. Whether you need product photography, social media content, or complete campaign visuals, we’ve got the expertise and tools to make it happen.
Ready to see what AI-powered creativity can do for your brand? Contact us today to discuss your next project. We’ll show you how the right combination of technology and creative strategy can transform your visual marketing. Let’s also explore our comprehensive digital marketing services to see how we can amplify your brand’s reach across all channels.
Ready to Transform Your Creative Process?
Don’t let your competition get ahead with these incredible AI tools. Nano Banana and Seedream 4.0 are just the beginning of what’s possible in AI-powered creativity. Whether you need help getting started or want to take your current projects to the next level, contact us today, and let’s discuss how we can revolutionize your creative workflow together.
