Native Audio Generation
Dialogue, ambient sound, and music are generated in-sync with the video — no separate audio pipeline needed. Grok Imagine 1.5 produces the full sensory experience in a single generation pass.
New in 1.5xAI · Released May 31, 2026
Grok Imagine Video 1.5
#1 Image-to-Video
AI Generator
Grok Imagine Video 1.5 is xAI's top-ranked image-to-video model. Upload a photo, add an optional motion prompt, and get back a 15-second clip with synchronized audio — all in about 15 seconds. It's currently the #1 model on the Image-to-Video Arena leaderboard.
#1 Image-to-Video Arena
~15s Generation
Native Audio Included
Up to 720p · 15s
+52 Elo vs v1.0
// What's New in 1.5
Six Major Upgrades
Over Version 1.0
Grok Imagine Video 1.5 isn't a patch — it's a full generational step. Every dimension that matters for professional video creation has been rebuilt: audio, faces, physics, and speed.
Advanced Face Accuracy
Blind testing showed substantial gains in face realism. Grok Imagine Video 1.5 generates accurate facial details — including celebrity likenesses — and maintains them across cuts and angles without drift.
+52 EloTemporal Coherence & Video Extend
Chain multiple clips into longer narratives using the Extend Video feature. Version 1.5 significantly reduces quality degradation across chained segments, keeping lighting, characters, and motion physics consistent.
ImprovedPhotorealism & Lighting Quality
Lighting and textures look noticeably sharper than v1.0, with more accurate physical lighting and material detail. Output clips are ready to use directly in your ads — even at the $0.08/sec 480p tier.
Pro QualitySuperior Motion Control
Optional motion prompts guide camera moves, subject actions, and atmosphere while preserving your source image. Grok Imagine 1.5 executes direction precisely instead of drifting away from the original frame.
SmarterFaster Generation & Wider API
A 15-second clip typically renders in about 15 seconds — roughly 2× faster than v1.0. xAI expanded compute allocation for 1.5, increasing stability at scale. API rate limits sit at 60 requests/minute — ready for high-volume production workflows.
~15s// Generated Samples
See What Grok Imagine Video 1.5
Actually Creates
Real image-to-video outputs from Grok Imagine Video 1.5 — with native audio, shown in a tight three-column grid.
I2VThe girl reading comics
I2VThe man on the swing
I2VA charming girl is smiling at you.
I2VA pleasant day in the fields
I2VA woman is dragging a colorful suitcase
I2VThe plane flew over the boy's head
I2VA woman in a kimono is performing a dance
I2VThe cat is fiddling with the screen TV
I2VIn the bamboo forest at night a brown bear is watching you
I2VThe girl with golden hair is smiling happily
// Arena Leaderboard · May 2026
Ranked #1
Image-to-Video Arena
xAI's Grok Imagine Video 1.5 Preview secured the top position on the competitive Arena.ai Image-to-Video leaderboard in May 2026 — outscoring ByteDance Seedance 2.0, Alibaba's HappyHorse 1.0, and Google Veo in blind human evaluation.
| Rank | Rank Spread | Model | Score | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1-2 | grok-imagine-video-1.5-preview-720pPreliminary xAI · Proprietary | 1473 ±9 | 5,564 |
| 2 | 1-2 | dreamina-seedance-2.0-720p Bytedance · Proprietary | 1467 ±11 | 56,710 |
| 3 | 3-3 | happyhorse-1.0 Alibaba-ATH · Proprietary | 1443 ±12 | 33,267 |
| 4 | 4-4 | grok-imagine-video-720p xAI · Proprietary | 1421 ±6 | 380,580 |
| 5 | 5-8 | veo-3.1-audio Google · Proprietary | 1397 ±11 | 25,113 |
| 6 | 5-9 | veo-3.1-audio-1080p Google · Proprietary | 1393 ±10 | 24,381 |
| 7 | 5-9 | veo-3.1-fast-audio Google · Proprietary | 1384 ±9 | 99,851 |
| 8 | 5-9 | grok-imagine-video-480p xAI · Proprietary | 1383 ±9 | 19,415 |
| 9 | 6-11 | veo-3.1-fast-audio-1080p Google · Proprietary | 1374 ±11 | 24,874 |
| 10 | 9-11 | vidu-q3-pro Shengshu · Proprietary | 1360 ±8 | 36,674 |
// Grok Imagine Video 1.5 vs Kling 3.0 vs Veo 3.1
How It Stacks Up
Against the Competition
Grok Imagine 1.5 leads on image-to-video quality and pricing. Here's the full breakdown against Kling 3.0 and Veo 3.1 — the two models most creators are evaluating in 2026.
| Feature | Grok Imagine 1.5Best | Kling 3.0 | Google Veo 3.1 | Sora 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image-to-Video Rank | ✦ #1 | Top 5 | Top 5 | Top 5 |
| Max Resolution | 720p | 1080p | 1080p | 1080p |
| Max Duration | 15 sec | 10 sec | 8 sec | 20 sec |
| Native Audio | Included | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Starting Price / sec | $0.08 | ~$0.14 | ~$0.34+ | ~$0.10 |
| Generation Speed | ~15 seconds | 2–4 min | 2–5 min | 1–3 min |
| Public API | 60 RPM | ✓ | Enterprise only | ✓ |
| Video Extend | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Face Accuracy (blind test) | Top-rated | Strong | Strong | Moderate |
// Pricing from official docs as of May 2026. Arena rankings from Arena.ai / Artificial Analysis leaderboard. Subject to change.
// What Creators Build With It
Built for Real
Production Workflows
From 30-second ad spots to social UGC content and product demos — Grok Imagine Video 1.5 fits wherever fast, high-quality AI video creation matters.
// 01
Advertising & Brand Video
Turn product images into scroll-stopping ad clips with synchronized audio branding. Skip the production crew for concept tests and social ads — iterate in minutes, not days.
Medium shot, product floating center frame, warm golden light. Slow camera orbit. Ambient store sounds.
// 02
UGC & Social Content
Generate creator-style video content at scale. Grok Imagine Video 1.5's face accuracy and character consistency make it ideal for repeating characters across clip series without drift.
Woman unboxing package, excited expression, natural bedroom light, handheld camera feel. Genuine reaction.
// 03
Product Animation & E-Commerce
Animate static product photography into videos for PDPs, emails, and retargeting ads. No 3D modeling. No studio. Upload a product photo — output ready for any platform ratio.
Sneaker rotating slowly on white surface, studio lighting, clean shadows. 360-degree spin.
// 04
Film & Narrative Pre-Viz
Directors and writers use Grok Imagine Video 1.5's Video Extend feature to build full-scene storyboards at near-real quality. Chain clips to lay out full sequences before committing to production budgets.
Extreme wide shot, desert highway at dusk. Lone figure walking toward camera. Wind sound. Cinematic grain.
// 05
Game & App Trailers
Use reference images of characters to generate consistent in-world footage for trailers and app store previews. Native audio means you get a complete trailer asset — not just silent footage.
Fantasy warrior sprinting through forest, moonlight. Epic orchestral swell. Dynamic camera chase shot.
// 06
Developer & API Workflows
With 60 RPM and a clean REST API at $0.08/sec (480p), Grok Imagine Video 1.5 plugs directly into content platforms, marketing automation tools, and AI-powered creative apps at scale.
grok-imagine-video-1.5-preview · REST API · 60 RPM · us-east-1 + eu-west-1
Frequently Asked Questions
Grok Imagine Video 1.5 is xAI's next-generation AI image-to-video model, officially released May 31, 2026. It animates input images into cinematic video clips up to 15 seconds at 480p or 720p, with native audio generated in sync. It currently holds the #1 position on the Image-to-Video Arena leaderboard with a +52 Elo improvement over version 1.0.
Grok Imagine Video 1.5 pricing is pay-per-second: 480p costs $0.08/sec and 720p costs $0.14/sec. Each input image adds $0.01. A 5-second 480p clip runs $0.40; a 10-second 720p clip is $1.41. See the full breakdown on our pricing page. pricing page
Grok Imagine Video 1.5 outranks Kling 3.0 on the Arena.ai image-to-video leaderboard. Grok 1.5 also generates native audio automatically, while Kling 3.0 does not. For image-to-video workflows, Grok 1.5 is the top-ranked choice.
Grok Imagine Video 1.5 ranks #1 on the Image-to-Video Arena, ahead of Veo 3.1. Grok 1.5 ships native audio in every clip; Veo 3.1 still needs separate audio workflows. For still-image animation, Grok 1.5 is the stronger pick as of May 2026.
Grok Imagine Video 1.5 accepts JPG, PNG, and WebP images as input. Output is MP4 video at 480p or 720p, up to 15 seconds per generation. Upload through the web UI or pass image URLs via the xAI API.
Grok Imagine Video 1.5 is not fully free — it uses pay-per-second pricing via the xAI API. You can test with small clips at $0.08/sec for 480p output. Check our pricing page for credit packs and starter options. pricing page
Grok Imagine Video 1.5 supports 480p and 720p output. Video duration goes up to 15 seconds per generation. It accepts multiple aspect ratios to match your input image. For longer content, the Video Extend feature lets you chain clips together while maintaining character and scene consistency.
Yes. Grok Imagine Video 1.5 includes native audio generation — the model produces synchronized ambient sounds, dialogue, and music as part of the same generation pass. No separate audio tool is required. Audio is included in the base pricing with no additional cost beyond input charges.
The Grok Imagine Video 1.5 API is available via the xAI API platform at docs.x.ai. The model name is
grok-imagine-video-1.5-preview, with the alias grok-imagine-video-1.5-2026-05-30. Rate limits are 60 requests per minute. Regions supported: us-east-1 and eu-west-1.Yes. Videos generated through paid plans carry full commercial usage rights for advertising, marketing, and distribution. Always review xAI's terms of service for content restrictions, particularly around generating likeness content or regulated industries.