MiniMax's video model family now spans two strong options: Hailuo 2.3, the proven workhorse, and the newer MiniMax H3. Both are available in the same workflow, so the question is purely which one fits a given shot. Here is a practical comparison.
Quality character: Hailuo 2.3 is reliable and fast, with well-understood strengths in image-to-video animation and consistent output. H3 pushes further on cinematic detail — lighting, camera language and motion realism — at the cost of somewhat longer generation times.
Resolution is a hard differentiator. Hailuo 2.3 tops out at 768P/1080P depending on mode, while H3 offers a native 2K tier. If your delivery target is 2K — advertising, YouTube long-form, portfolio pieces — H3 is the natural choice.
For image-to-video workflows, Hailuo 2.3 remains excellent: feed it a still and it animates faithfully, with fast and normal speed modes to choose from. H3 also accepts image input but leans more toward directorial generation where the model interprets scene, motion and camera together.
Pricing follows resolution: both bill per second of output, with H3's 2K tier priced above 768P. For short drafts, Hailuo 2.3 often wins on cost; for final cinematic renders, H3's 2K output justifies its rate.
A simple rule of thumb: iterate with Hailuo 2.3 while you are exploring ideas, then produce the final shot with H3. Try both in the browser — the MiniMax H3 generator and the Hailuo 2.3 page — and compare them on your own prompts.