Short answer: Both Grok Imagine Video 1.5 and Kling 3.0 Turbo turn an image into video on EmpirioLabs. Choose Grok Imagine Video 1.5 when you want the lowest-cost image-to-video at 480p with the widest choice of aspect ratios. Choose Kling 3.0 Turbo when you also need text-to-video, synchronized native audio, or 1080p output.
Grok Imagine Video 1.5 vs Kling 3.0 Turbo at a glance
| Feature | Grok Imagine Video 1.5 | Kling 3.0 Turbo |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | xAI | Kling AI |
| Modes | Image to video | Text to video and image to video |
| Native audio | No | Yes |
| Resolutions | 480p, 720p | 720p, 1080p |
| Duration | Up to 15 seconds | 3 to 15 seconds |
| Aspect ratios | Seven | 16:9, 9:16, 1:1 |
| Price at 480p | $0.096 / second plus $0.05 per input image | Not available |
| Price at 720p | $0.168 / second plus $0.05 per input image | $0.18 / second |
| Price at 1080p | Not available | $0.225 / second |
Inputs: image only vs text or image
The biggest difference is what each model accepts. Grok Imagine Video 1.5 is image-to-video only, so it always needs a source image to animate. Kling 3.0 Turbo does both: give it a prompt alone for text-to-video, or a prompt plus an image for image-to-video. If you want to generate a clip from a written description with no starting image, Kling 3.0 Turbo is the one that can do it.
Audio and resolution
Kling 3.0 Turbo generates synchronized native audio and reaches 1080p. Grok Imagine Video 1.5 focuses on motion from the source image, supports 480p and 720p, and offers seven aspect ratios, which is useful when you need an exact frame shape. For sound or higher resolution, Kling 3.0 Turbo is the better fit.
Pricing: what a 5-second clip costs
Both models bill per second of finished video, pay as you go. Grok Imagine Video 1.5 adds a flat $0.05 per source image. Here is what a 5-second clip costs:
- Grok Imagine Video 1.5 at 480p: $0.53 (5 x $0.096, plus $0.05)
- Grok Imagine Video 1.5 at 720p: $0.89 (5 x $0.168, plus $0.05)
- Kling 3.0 Turbo at 720p: $0.90 (5 x $0.18)
- Kling 3.0 Turbo at 1080p: $1.13 (5 x $0.225)
At 720p the two are within a cent of each other. Grok Imagine Video 1.5 is the cheapest option at 480p, while Kling 3.0 Turbo is the only one of the two that reaches 1080p and adds sound.
When to use Grok Imagine Video 1.5
- You have a source image and want the lowest-cost animation at 480p.
- You need a specific aspect ratio from a wide set of seven.
- You only need image-to-video and do not need sound.
When to use Kling 3.0 Turbo
- You want text-to-video from a prompt with no starting image.
- You want synchronized native audio.
- You want 1080p output.
How to call either model
Both use the same OpenAI-compatible asynchronous video API on EmpirioLabs. Submit a job to /v1/videos/generations with the model id (grok-imagine-video-1-5 or kling-3-0-turbo), then poll /v1/jobs/{job_id} until it is done. Grok Imagine Video 1.5 requires a source image on every request. You can try both in the playground and see the full rate cards on the pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Which one can generate video from text only?
Kling 3.0 Turbo can, through its text-to-video mode. Grok Imagine Video 1.5 is image-to-video only and always needs a source image.
Which one has sound?
Kling 3.0 Turbo generates synchronized native audio. Grok Imagine Video 1.5 focuses on animating the source image.
Which is cheaper?
At 480p, Grok Imagine Video 1.5 is the lowest cost at $0.096 per second plus a $0.05 per-image fee. At 720p the two are close: $0.168 per second plus $0.05 per image for Grok, versus $0.18 per second for Kling. Kling 3.0 Turbo adds 1080p at $0.225 per second.
What resolutions does each support?
Grok Imagine Video 1.5 supports 480p and 720p. Kling 3.0 Turbo supports 720p and 1080p.
How do I switch between them in code?
Change the model id to grok-imagine-video-1-5 or kling-3-0-turbo. Both use the same submit-and-poll video API, so nothing else changes, except that Grok Imagine Video 1.5 needs a source image.
