ZMIME
Video model comparison · 2 models · Updated Nov 2, 2026

MiniMax H3 vs Grok Imagine Video 1.5

Preferred for image to video: MiniMax H3 · Newest: MiniMax H3 · Widest inputs: MiniMax H3. Quality scores are blind human-preference votes; specs and prices come from each lab’s listings.

  1. MiniMax

    MiniMax H3

    Released Jul 31, 2026

    • Text to video
    • Image to video
    • Video editing
    • Audio input
    • Native audio
    • Arena1,495
    • From—
    • Max length—
  2. xAI

    Grok Imagine Video 1.5

    Released May 30, 2026

    • Text to video
    • Image to video
    • Audio input
    • Native audio
    • Arena1,456
    • From$0.08/s
    • Max length15 s
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01 — At a glance

Where they differ

Quality is the arena score from blind, side-by-side human votes. Price, length and resolution come from each lab’s own listings.

  • Preferred for image to videoMiniMax H3MiniMax H3 1,495 (#1) · Grok Imagine Video 1.5 1,456 (#8) — blind human votes
  • NewestMiniMax H3MiniMax H3 Jul 31, 2026 · Grok Imagine Video 1.5 May 30, 2026
  • Widest inputsMiniMax H3MiniMax H3: Text prompts, Reference images, Audio, Video · Grok Imagine Video 1.5: Text prompts, Reference images, Audio
  • Native audioBoth generate soundGenerates an audio track with the video: MiniMax H3 yes · Grok Imagine Video 1.5 yes
  • Image to videoBoth animate imagesStarts from an uploaded image: MiniMax H3 yes · Grok Imagine Video 1.5 yes
  • Self-hostingMiniMax H3Downloadable weights (MiniMax H3 Community License Agreement)
  • Most API hostsGrok Imagine Video 1.5MiniMax H3: 1 · Grok Imagine Video 1.5: 2
02 — Side by side

Every spec in one table

Dashes mean the data is not published.

MiniMax H3 vs Grok Imagine Video 1.5 specifications side by side
SpecificationMiniMax H3MiniMaxGrok Imagine Video 1.5xAI
Quality (blind human votes)
Text to video arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,460 ±9#8 of 48 · 11,417 votes—
Image to video arenaElo-style score · higher is better1,495 ±5#1 of 48 · 57,112 votes (best)1,456 ±4#8 of 48 · 137,459 votes
Price
Starting price—$0.08/s 480p
Top price—$0.25/s 1080p
10-second clip—$0.80at the starting rate
Extra charges—$0.01 per input image
How it is billed—Per second
Output
ProducesVideo with soundVideo with sound
Resolutions—480p · 720p · 1080p
Highest resolution—1080p
Clip length—1–15 s
Longest clip—15 s
SoundAlways generatedAlways generated
Frame control—First and last frame
Inputs
Text promptsYesYes
Start image (image to video)YesYes
Video inputYesNo
Audio inputYesYes
References—Up to 14 reference images and 3 voice references
Access
WeightsOpenMiniMax H3 Community License AgreementProprietary
API model ID—grok-imagine-video-1.5
API hosts12 (best)
ReleasedJul 31, 2026May 30, 2026
03 — Questions

Which should you choose?

Which is better, MiniMax H3 or Grok Imagine Video 1.5?

For image to video, voters prefer MiniMax H3 (MiniMax H3 1,495 (#1) · Grok Imagine Video 1.5 1,456 (#8)). Arena scores come from blind, side-by-side human votes on the same prompts; when the gap is inside both models’ error margins we call it a tie. Test your own prompts before you commit.

Which is cheaper?

Grok Imagine Video 1.5 costs from $0.08/s (480p), up to $0.25/s (1080p). A 10-second clip at the lowest rate: Grok Imagine Video 1.5 $0.80. MiniMax H3 has no published per-second price. Prices are list rates and change often; check the lab before budgeting.

How long can the videos be, and at what resolution?

MiniMax H3: length not published; Grok Imagine Video 1.5: 1–15 s, 480p / 720p / 1080p.

What is the difference between MiniMax H3 and Grok Imagine Video 1.5?

MiniMax H3 is a video model from MiniMax (Jul 31, 2026), taking text prompts, reference images, audio and video and producing video with sound. Grok Imagine Video 1.5 is a video model from xAI (May 30, 2026), taking text prompts, reference images and audio and producing video with sound.

Which is newer?

MiniMax H3 Jul 31, 2026; Grok Imagine Video 1.5 May 30, 2026.

Which generates video with sound?

Generates an audio track with the video: MiniMax H3 yes; Grok Imagine Video 1.5 yes.

Can I run any of these on my own hardware?

MiniMax H3. Downloadable weights (MiniMax H3 Community License Agreement).