Google today unveiled the Gemini 3 Flash, just one month after introducing the Gemini 3 Pro. The new version comes as the fastest model, designed from the ground up to provide instant responses. According to Google, the user feels that the speed of Gemini 3 Flash is very close to the speed of traditional Google search for most commands.
Gemini 3 Flash is now the default model within the Gemini app, turning on automatically when Fast or Thinking mode is selected.
In contrast, the Gemini 3 Pro remains available when you choose Pro mode, and Google confirms that it is still the best choice for advanced tasks such as complex calculations and programming, while Flash is sufficient for most other uses.
In terms of performance, Gemini 3 Flash not only excels in speed, but also shows a significant improvement in performance tests compared to the previous version, Gemini 2.5 Flash. Google indicates that the new model is close to the performance of GPT-5.2 in some tests, and sometimes even surpasses Gemini 2.5 Pro, while maintaining a significant difference in response speed.
In parallel, Google has adopted Gemini 3 Flash as the default model for AI Mode within Google Search globally. As a result, AI Mode is better able to understand user needs, handle complex questions, and provide structured answers that take into account various user-defined constraints.
In the United States only, Google has added Gemini 3 Pro support within search, which can be activated via the Thinking with 3 Pro option, to provide deeper help for complex questions, including dynamic visual displays, interactive tools, and simulations.
The Nano Banana 3 Pro is also now available under search in the US, through the same menu, with Create Images Pro selected to create images.
Despite the wide capabilities, the current multiplicity of options seems somewhat complicated, which opens the door to questions about Google’s need to simplify the user experience in the future.
