Hailuo 02 vs 2.3 vs 2.3 Fast: Which to Use

MiniMax updates its Hailuo video model often, and on Apiframe you can currently call three separate model IDs: hailuo-02, hailuo-2.3, and hailuo-2.3-fast. These aren't just an old version and a new one. Each still serves a real, different purpose. Here's what changed between them, and which one to pick.

The lineup at a glance

All three share the same limit at the top resolution: none of them support 10-second clips at 1080p. That length is only available at 768p.

Hailuo 02 still has one thing the newer versions don't

This is the detail worth knowing first. hailuo-02 accepts an end_image parameter, so you can give it both a start frame and an end frame and let the clip fill in the motion between them. Neither hailuo-2.3 nor hailuo-2.3-fast support that parameter on Apiframe, confirmed directly against both of their docs pages. If your project needs a clip that ends on an exact frame, not just one that starts well, Hailuo 02 is the version to use. Moving to 2.3 for better motion and expressions means giving up that control.

Each version, what it's actually for

Hailuo 02 is MiniMax's base model for this generation. It renders natively at 1080p and still holds up well for standard text-to-video and image-to-video work. Its one real advantage over the newer two versions is end_image support. Cost on Apiframe: 39 credits (768p, 6s), 65 credits (768p, 10s), 70 credits (1080p, 6s).

Hailuo 2.3 is the realism upgrade. It handles human motion and dance more smoothly, keeps limbs consistent, captures more natural facial expression in close-ups, holds up better under complex camera movement, and covers a wider range of styles, including anime, illustration, and ink wash. It does not support end-frame control. Cost on Apiframe: 41 credits (768p, 6s), 81 credits (768p, 10s), 71 credits (1080p, 6s). See the full breakdown in the Hailuo 2.3 API guide.

Hailuo 2.3 Fast runs the same pipeline as 2.3 but is tuned for speed and lower cost rather than top quality. It finishes in roughly half the time of standard 2.3 (about 90 seconds versus about 180 seconds) and costs noticeably less per clip. Like standard 2.3, it has no end-frame support. Cost on Apiframe: 28 credits (768p, 6s), 46 credits (768p, 10s), 48 credits (1080p, 6s).

Checking MiniMax's own pricing claim against real numbers

MiniMax's own announcement for Hailuo 2.3 says it keeps pricing "the same" as Hailuo 02. Looking at Apiframe's actual credit costs, that's close to true at 6 seconds (39 credits for 02 versus 41 for 2.3, about a 5% difference) and at 1080p (70 versus 71, about 1%). At 768p and 10 seconds, though, the gap is bigger: 65 credits for 02 versus 81 for 2.3, roughly 25% more. So whether upgrading versions is cost-neutral really depends on the resolution and duration you're generating at.

Which one should you actually use?

• Need a clip to land on a specific, controlled ending, like a product reveal that has to finish on an exact frame, or a transition between two known states? Hailuo 02 is the only one of the three that can do it.
• Want the best overall motion, facial detail, and stylized look? Go with Hailuo 2.3.
• Iterating on a prompt or generating drafts before committing to a longer or higher-resolution final render? Hailuo 2.3 Fast is the cheaper, quicker option.

All three run through the same API key and billing on Apiframe, so switching between them mid-project is a one-line change, no separate MiniMax account and no re-integration required. If you're deciding between other ways to access the model, see our roundup of the best Hailuo API providers, or check how Hailuo compares to a newer multimodal release in Flux 3 vs Hailuo 3. For broader model support, MiniMax's newest release is covered in Hailuo 03 on Apiframe.

import requests

def generate(model, prompt, hailuo_params):
    return requests.post(
        "https://api.apiframe.ai/v2/videos/generate",
        headers={"X-API-Key": "afk_your_api_key_here"},
        json={
            "prompt": prompt,
            "model": model,
            "hailuoParams": hailuo_params,
        },
    )

# Draft cheaply and quickly on 2.3 Fast
draft = generate("hailuo-2.3-fast", "a dancer performing a graceful spin, studio lighting",
                  {"duration": 6, "resolution": "768p"})

# Final render on 2.3 once the prompt is locked
final = generate("hailuo-2.3", "a dancer performing a graceful spin, studio lighting",
                  {"duration": 10, "resolution": "768p", "prompt_optimizer": True})

# Or, if you need a controlled start-to-end transition
transition = generate("hailuo-02", "smooth transition between two scenes",
                       {"image": "https://example.com/start.jpg",
                        "end_image": "https://example.com/end.jpg"})

No separate MiniMax account, no re-integration, just a different model string.

You can get an API key and start with free credits, or try any of these three models directly in Apiframe Studio without writing code. Full parameter references are in the docs. If you want to understand video API pricing more broadly before committing, see how AI video API pricing actually works and our guide to estimating monthly AI video costs. For a wider comparison of image-to-video tools beyond Hailuo, see 7 best image-to-video APIs compared.