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LaoZhang API model launches, price changes, route status, and shutdown notices, newest first. As of October 7, 2026, these need attention:
  • The Sora 2 video API is retired and needs a migration.
  • Nano Banana Standard is past its upstream shutdown date and still works for now; migrate soon. The GPT-Image-1 models are shutting down with their upstream provider.
  • Nano Banana 2.1 is live at a lower price than Nano Banana 2. The GPT-6 family, Seedream 5.0 Flash, and Seedream 5.0 Pro are live, and GPT-5.6 Sol costs less.
Each notice links to its impact and next steps.

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Latest announcements

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October 7, 2026

  • Nano Banana 2.1 launch Google’s update to Nano Banana 2, gemini-nano-banana-2.1, is live at $0.045 per call for 1K, 2K, and 4K alike. That is $0.01 less than Nano Banana 2, with better text and layout. Existing Nano Banana 2 code switches by changing the model ID; 512px output isn’t supported. See what changed and how to switch

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October 5, 2026

  • Nano Banana Standard still available for now Google’s October 2 shutdown date has passed, but LaoZhang API still serves gemini-2.5-flash-image at $0.02 per call. There is no guaranteed end date, and it can stop at any time. Move existing integrations to Nano Banana 2 (gemini-3.1-flash-image). See how to migrate

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September 25, 2026

  • Seedream 5.0 Flash and 5.0 Pro launch Call seedream-5-0-flash-260915 at $0.018 per call and seedream-5-0-pro-260628 at $0.12 per call on the existing Seedream endpoint with a default-group token. 5.0 Flash can also split an image into transparent layers. See model IDs, sizes, and migration notes

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September 24, 2026

  • GPT-6 family launch Call gpt-6-astra, gpt-6-sol, and gpt-6-luna through Chat Completions or Responses at OpenAI’s list prices. See model IDs, prices, and examples
  • GPT-5.6 Sol price cut OpenAI’s new rates took effect on August 21, and LaoZhang API applied them on September 10. Standard requests are $4 per 1M input tokens and $20 per 1M output tokens, with no integration changes required. See old and new rates, including long context
  • API domains API keys and request paths are the same on all three domains. See the domain setup
    • Default: api.laozhang.ai
    • Direct connections from Europe or North America: api-vip.laozhang.ai
    • If api.laozhang.ai can’t be reached: api2.laozhang.ai
  • Sora 2 video API retired OpenAI removed its Videos API that day. Migrate to Wan 2.7 or Seedance 2.0. Read the retirement notice and migration steps
  • Image model shutdowns LaoZhang API stops these models together with their upstream providers. Move to Nano Banana 2 or GPT Image 2.5 before the dates below. Compare image models and migration targets
    • gemini-2.5-flash-image: October 2
    • gpt-image-1: October 23
    • gpt-image-1.5 and gpt-image-1-mini: December 1
Current models and prices are listed in the model and pricing catalog. Your token groups and actual charges are shown in the LaoZhang API console and call logs.

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Frequently asked questions

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Where should I confirm whether a newly announced model is available?

Read the announcement, then check the model and pricing catalog and the console model and pricing page for your token group. Send a small request with the production token before increasing traffic.

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Are prices and service states in archived announcements still current?

Not necessarily. Archived entries describe the state when they were published, and later entries record the changes that superseded them. Use the latest announcements, the model and pricing catalog, and your call logs for current availability, pricing, and billing.

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Archives

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Get updates