• Source:JND
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Google Nano Banana rival: TikTok-parent company ByteDance has rolled out Seedream 4.0, its fourth-generation AI image generation platform, positioning itself directly against Google's highly anticipated Nano Banana (Gemini 2.5 Flash Image). The new upgrade offers lightning-speed image creation, improved accuracy, and enhanced editing functions targeting professional designers, marketers, and content creators. The move reflects ByteDance's zeal to conquer the AI-based creative tool market, which is witnessing torrid competition between Chinese and American technology giants.

What Sets Seedream 4.0 Apart?

While other text-to-image tools are primarily offered as multiple functionalities in a single platform, ByteDance's Seedream 4.0 is more attractive to enterprise and mass business professional applications. While Google's Nano Banana has become viral among mobile-first, casual creators, Seedream 4.0 is marketed as a professional-level platform.

Major Features of Seedream 4.0:

• Fast image generation: Generates 2K-resolution images in less than 2 seconds.

• Multi-reference inputs: Consistency through uploading a maximum of six reference images.

• Text-based editing: Basic natural language instructions like "remove background" or "cinematic lighting".

• Professional scalability: Stable performance even under high workloads owing to its Mixture-of-Experts (MoE) architecture.

• Bilingual support: Support in English and Chinese, expanding global accessibility.

• Low cost: Approximately US$30 for 1,000 generations or USD 0.03 per image on Fal.ai — less than that of Google's Nano Banana.

Seedream 4.0 Vs. Nano Banana

ByteDance boasts that Seedream 4.0 is among the quickest AI image tools currently in the market, cutting rendering time significantly. Even with the pace, the tool does not compromise on sharp details and is thus fit for commercial-level outputs. Consistency across projects has been one of the greatest challenges with AI imaging so far.

With Seedream 4.0's six-reference input system, brands and creators can now ensure:

• Consistent logos and branding across campaigns.

• Character and story consistency for animation, comics, or advertising series.

• Creative freedom while maintaining a central identity.

This aspect addresses a major criticism levelled against Nano Banana, where its outputs tend to look good but don't hold up well when delivered in many iterations.

Both software programs are driven by state-of-the-art AI technology but have different target markets.

• Seedream 4.0: Industrial-level, business-oriented, speedy, scalable, appropriate for businesses and agencies.

• Nano Banana (Gemini 2.5 Flash): Lighthearted, mobile-optimized, real-time editing, popular among casual users and social media users.

 ALSO READ: How To Use The Viral ‘Nano Banana’ Trend: Follow Easy Step-By-Step Guide To Create Stunning 3D Figurines For Free

ByteDance has already launched Seedream 4.0 locally through Jimeng and Doubao AI apps and to corporate clients through its Volcano Engine cloud platform. While no Indian launch date has been announced, industry insiders are confident it will find its way into the Indian market due to the nation's increasing use of AI-based creative platforms.

ALSO READ: Nano Banana 3D Model Prompt: How To Use Gemini Prompts To Craft Eye-Catching 1/7 Scale Figurines For Social Media Posts

China has rapidly adopted AI-generated content, with Tencent, Kuaishou, and ByteDance going head-to-head with international leaders like Google and OpenAI. The Chinese government has also acknowledged copyright for AI-created content, while requiring clear disclosure of such content. ByteDance's Seedream 4.0 is not only looking to compete with Google's Nano Banana but also to establish a new standard for commercial AI image creation globally.