Veo 3.1 by Google and Hailuo 2.3 by Minimax are two of the most capable video models on Picturesque. They appear to compete on the model picker but in practice they specialize in different categories of work.
Veo 3.1 is a text-first model with optional image inputs. Hailuo 2.3 is an image-first model that requires a start image. This single architectural difference reshapes which model is correct for any given job.
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Veo 3.1: Text-First Generation with 4K and Audio
Veo 3.1 is built for text-to-video as the primary mode. Start and end image inputs are supported but optional. The model's prompt understanding is the strongest on Picturesque for purely text-driven generation.
Key capabilities:
- Native 4K output on the Quality tier (most other AI video models cap at 1080p)
- Native audio generation including ambient sound, effects, and rough lip-synced dialog
- Cinematic camera language interpretation ("slow dolly in", "rack focus", "low angle tracking shot")
- Detail density across complex compositions
Pricing: Veo 3.1 Quality runs ~60 credits per generation depending on duration. Veo 3.1 Fast and Lite variants reduce cost at lower resolution ceilings.
Hailuo 2.3: Image-First Generation with Strong Motion Fidelity
Hailuo 2.3 by Minimax requires a start image. Pure text-to-video is not supported.
The mandatory start image is a workflow advantage rather than a constraint. Most AI video work begins with an existing image (a character from SeeDream 4.5, a product from Nano Banana Pro, a scene from Wan 2.7 Image Pro) and Hailuo 2.3 uses that image to anchor every aspect of the output: color, lighting, composition, character identity. This frees the model's compute budget to focus entirely on motion quality.
Key capabilities:
- Image-anchored motion with no character or scene drift
- Seed control for iterative refinement on a fixed composition
- Strong motion quality on character close-ups and product reveals
Pricing: Hailuo 2.3 Quality ~44 credits per generation. Hailuo 2.3 Fast ~22 credits.
Side-by-Side Workflow Comparison
A 6 second clip of a character walking through a city at golden hour:
| Path | Steps | Cost | Output |
|---|
| Veo 3.1 Quality | Text prompt only | ~180 credits across 3 takes (character drift) | Beautiful 4K, character looks different each take |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hailuo 2.3 | Generate character in SeeDream 4.5, animate in Hailuo | ~49 credits (5 + 44) | Locked character from start, first-take usable |
When Veo 3.1 Is the Right Call
- Pure text-to-video: the prompt is the asset and no reference image exists.
- 4K deliverables: Hailuo caps at 1080p; Veo Quality outputs 4K natively.
- Native audio required: Veo generates ambient sound and basic dialog; Hailuo is silent.
- End-frame control: Veo accepts both start and end images for precise transitions; Hailuo only accepts a start.
When Hailuo 2.3 Is the Right Call
- A reference image already exists: the most common case in production AI video workflows.
- Character or scene consistency matters: image anchoring eliminates drift between takes.
- Motion-specific iteration: seed control supports converging on a specific motion across multiple takes.
- Budget-sensitive work: Hailuo Fast at 22 credits is significantly cheaper than Veo Quality at 60.
Where Each Model Fits in the Picturesque Catalog
Veo 3.1 and Hailuo 2.3 occupy opposite ends of the AI video workflow continuum. Veo is the right model when the workflow starts with text and the visual will emerge from model interpretation. Hailuo is the right model when the workflow starts with an image and the model's job is to animate that image.
For most production workflows where image assets already exist, Hailuo 2.3 is the more efficient and controllable pick. For cinematic environmental work, audio-required content, and any 4K deliverable, Veo 3.1 is the recommended model.
Try Veo 3.1 and Hailuo 2.3 on Picturesque
Both models are available now in the Picturesque Video Studio. Veo 3.1 for text-first 4K work with native audio, Hailuo 2.3 for image-anchored motion at lower cost.