# Grok Imagine Video 1.5 Lite: xAI launches a cheaper version of its video model with audio

> In early October 2026, xAI added Grok Imagine Video 1.5 Lite to its API, a lighter version of the Video 1.5 model. Lite makes 1–15 second clips with audio and speech from text or a photo, at 480p, 720p and 1080p, starting at $0.02 per second. It has no references, voices or keyframes — those stay in the full version.

Published 2026-10-16 · Updated 2026-10-16
URL: https://ai2face.com/news/grok-imagine-video-1-5-lite

In early October 2026, xAI added **[Grok Imagine Video 1.5](/models/grok-imagine-video-1-5) Lite** (`grok-imagine-video-1.5-lite`) to its API — a lighter version of the [Grok Imagine](/models/grok-imagine) Video 1.5 model. Lite is distilled from the full model and trades some quality for price and speed. xAI explicitly recommends it for simple videos.

## What Grok Imagine Video 1.5 Lite can do

- **Clips with audio.** Sound effects, ambience and lip-synced speech are generated together with the video, so no separate voiceover is needed.
- **Length:** 1 to 15 seconds.
- **Resolution:** 480p, 720p and 1080p. Lite renders natively up to 720p and upscales to 1080p.
- **Aspect ratios:** 1:1, 16:9, 9:16, 4:3, 3:4, 3:2, 2:3, 21:9 and 5:2. When animating a photo, the aspect ratio follows the source image.
- **Modes:** text-to-video and image-to-video. For text prompts, the model first draws an opening frame and then animates it.

## How Lite differs from the full Video 1.5

| | Video 1.5 Lite | Video 1.5 |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | upscaled from 720p | native |
| Length | 1–15 s | 1–15 s |
| Audio and speech | yes | yes |
| References | no | up to 14 images |
| Voices | no | up to 3 voices |
| First and last frame | no | yes |
| Keyframes | no | up to 4 |
| API price, 1080p | $0.14 per second | higher |

Lite is the pick for a quick, cheap clip from a single prompt or photo. For a scene with a specific character, voice or ending, you need the full Video 1.5. Our [Grok Video](/blog/grok-video) guide covers it in detail.

## Pricing and availability

In the xAI API, Lite costs **$0.02 per second** at 480p, $0.03 at 720p and $0.14 at 1080p, plus $0.01 per input image. A 10-second 720p clip comes to $0.30. The model is available in the xAI API and supports the Batch API.

## How to try it in AI2Face

Grok Imagine is available in the AI2Face generator alongside other video models with audio: [Veo 3.1](/models/veo-3-1), [Kling](/models/kling) and [Seedance](/models/seedance). It's easy to compare them on the same prompt or photo, and the cost is shown before each generation. For an overview of all options, see our guide to [AI video generators](/blog/nejroseti-dlya-video).

## FAQ

### How much does Grok Imagine Video 1.5 Lite cost?

In the xAI API it's $0.02 per second at 480p, $0.03 at 720p and $0.14 at 1080p. An input image costs $0.01. Lite at 1080p costs the same as the full Video 1.5 at 720p.

### How is Grok Imagine Video 1.5 Lite different from Video 1.5?

Lite only accepts text and a single first-frame image, and its 1080p is upscaled from 720p. The full Video 1.5 renders 1080p natively and supports up to 14 references, 3 voices, first and last frames and up to 4 keyframes.

### How long are Grok Imagine Video 1.5 Lite clips?

From 1 to 15 seconds, with audio and lip-synced speech, in 9 aspect ratios from 1:1 and 9:16 up to 21:9.

## Sources

- https://docs.x.ai/developers/models/grok-imagine-video-1.5-lite
- https://docs.x.ai/developers/model-capabilities/video/overview
- https://docs.x.ai/developers/model-capabilities/video/generation
- https://openrouter.ai/x-ai/grok-imagine-video-1.5-lite