{"schema":"kovapi.model-page/1","model":"minimax-h3-lite","family":["minimax-h3","minimax-h3-lite"],"name":"MiniMax H3 Lite","page":"https://kovapi.com/en/model/minimax-h3-lite","markdown":"https://kovapi.com/en/model/minimax-h3-lite.md","docs":"https://kovapi.com/en/docs/minimax-h3","updated":"2026-11-12","endpoint":{"submit":"POST https://kovapi.com/v1/videos/generations","poll":"GET https://kovapi.com/v1/videos/jobs/{id}","async":true,"submit_status":202,"result":"data[0].url"},"params":{"model":{"type":"string","enum":["minimax-h3","minimax-h3-lite"]},"prompt":{"type":"string","max_chars":5000},"duration":{"type":"integer","min":4,"max":15,"unit":"second","alias":"seconds"},"resolution":{"type":"string","enum":["480P","768P","1080P"],"default":"1080P"},"size":{"type":"string","enum":["16:9","9:16","1:1","4:3","3:4","3:2","2:3","21:9"],"alias":"aspect_ratio"},"images":{"type":"array","items":"https URL","max":9},"image_role":{"type":"string","enum":["first_frame","reference"]},"video_references":{"type":"array","items":{"url":"https URL","duration":"read from the file"},"max":3,"total_seconds_max":15,"billed":true},"audio_reference":{"type":"array","items":"https URL","max":3,"billed":false},"callback_url":{"type":"string","note":"webhook when the job ends"}},"modes":[{"mode":"t2v","title":"Text to video","send":"Just prompt and the generation settings.","get":"Picture and sound from the text; write dialogue, effects and music into the prompt.","limits":"Any whole number of seconds from 4 to 15; 768P without resolution."},{"mode":"multi_ref","title":"Reference images","send":"1–5 images in images.","get":"The people, products or places in them appear in a new shot, never as the first frame.","limits":"Up to 5; image_role: first_frame is refused."}],"pricing":{"currency":"USD","unit":"second","tiers":{"480P":{"usd_per_second":"$0.015","second_usd_per_second":"$0.005"},"768P":{"usd_per_second":"$0.025","official_usd_per_second":"$0.08","save":"68%","second_usd_per_second":"$0.0125"},"1080P":{"usd_per_second":"$0.036"}},"billed_seconds":"output seconds + reference-video seconds","notes":["One clip costs the tier's rate × (output seconds + reference-video seconds); reference images and audio are free. Drag \"Reference video\" in the calculator to price a request with one.","MiniMax's own price list has H3 at 768P and 2K only, so 768P is the one tier with an official price beside ours.","The amount is held at submit and settled as is on success; failed jobs are refunded in full. For cheaper drafts in bulk, see MiniMax H3 Lite."],"second_model":"minimax-h3-lite"},"retention_days":7,"limits":["Lite has no first frame or first + last frame: images are always references, and image_role: first_frame is refused at once and not billed. To open a clip on a given image, use Standard.","Lite takes no reference video or reference audio; a request with either is refused and not billed. Use Standard for those.","Only 480P and 768P: 1080P is refused and 720P is read as 768P. Every clip has sound; for no music write non_diegetic_music: N/A in the prompt."],"examples":[{"id":"kv-bakery","title":"Two shots: the bakery's first batch","mode":"t2v","source":"kovapi","official_no":null,"params":{"duration":8,"resolution":"1080P","size":"16:9"},"cost":"$0.288","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-c9751f98f2f98ea8114fa1f3.mp4","poster":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-bd386e68dddf5799b5aecf02.webp","prompt":"integrated_multimodal_description: [Shot 1] Live-action, cinematic, a medium-wide shot frames a baker opening the shutters of a small street bakery before sunrise. The camera pushes in with small amplitude at slow speed as the middle-aged baker with a calm, slightly raspy voice (S1) places a fresh loaf on the wooden counter and says: <d>[English] First batch of the morning.</d> [Shot 2] At 00:05.000, the camera cuts to a close-up of steam rising from the sliced bread while the baker's final words carry over from the previous shot.\n\noverall_soundscape: Wooden shutters scrape open over a quiet street as trays clink softly inside the bakery. The doorbell rings once, followed by light footsteps and the crisp sound of bread being sliced.\n\nnon_diegetic_music: A soft acoustic-guitar pattern at a moderate tempo, joined by sparse upright-bass notes and a gentle fade at the end.","inputs":{"images":[],"video_references":[],"audio_reference":[]}},{"id":"kv-bridge","title":"Jump to hyperspace on the bridge","mode":"t2v","source":"kovapi","official_no":null,"params":{"duration":8,"resolution":"1080P","size":"16:9"},"cost":"$0.288","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-66d0f99896d2e402c3af40c3.mp4","poster":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-f6de6baec55fb2d2321e1db1.webp","prompt":"integrated_multimodal_description: [Shot 1] Cinematic, medium wide shot, pushing in slowly. In the cavernous, dimly lit bridge of a starship, sleek metallic consoles with glowing amber displays flank a massive, curved observation window. A female captain, in her late 40s with an athletic build and short silver-streaked black hair, stands in the center midground. She wears a structured, high-collared dark navy military tunic with silver chest insignias. Her back is to the camera, silhouetted against the cool, ambient starlight pouring through the thick glass. She stands perfectly still with her hands clasped tightly behind her back. Outside the window, a massive armada of jagged, dark grey dreadnoughts hovers in tight formation against a deep purple space nebula. The fleet's massive rear thrusters begin to glow with an intense, escalating bright blue light. [Shot 2] At 00:04.500, the camera cuts to a close-up of the captain's face and shakes strongly. The brilliant blue-white light from the fleet's gathering energy reflects vividly in her dark eyes. Suddenly, a blinding white flash floods through the window, completely washing out the background as the fleet jumps to hyperspace. The sheer spatial force violently jolts the bridge, causing the captain from Shot 1 to stagger slightly forward, her shoulders tensing as she visibly braces herself against the physical tremors. As the intense white light fades abruptly, leaving only the dim, empty expanse of the purple nebula reflected on her starkly lit skin, her jaw clenches, and she slowly closes her eyes in the newly emptied space.\noverall_soundscape: A low, resonant hum of the ship's ambient life support systems serves as the baseline, soon drowned out by an audible, escalating, high-pitched electronic whine as the fleet outside charges its hyperdrives. A massive, deafening, bass-heavy boom and sharp crackle erupts during the blinding flash, accompanied by the loud metallic creaking, rattling, and deep thuds of the bridge's bulkheads vibrating under immense physical stress. The intense roaring impact then cuts abruptly back to a hollow, echoing room tone, leaving only the faint, steady hum of the isolated bridge.\nnon_diegetic_music: Cinematic space-opera orchestral score, slow tempo, featuring a solitary, mournful French horn melody over deep, sustained string dissonances that build rapidly in volume and intensity, swelling to a massive orchestral peak before snapping immediately into silence right after the jump.","inputs":{"images":[],"video_references":[],"audio_reference":[]}},{"id":"kv-neon","title":"A Chinese line and a neon sign","mode":"t2v","source":"kovapi","official_no":null,"params":{"duration":6,"resolution":"768P","size":"9:16"},"cost":"$0.15","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-3ea471e559f9efb09edaf873.mp4","poster":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-f4b78aacfba8f1cd288e6605.webp","prompt":"integrated_multimodal_description: [Shot 1] Live-action, cinematic, a vertical medium shot of a small street-food stall in a narrow old alley at night. A red neon sign reading \"营业中\" glows above the stall and steam rises from a wok. The middle-aged cook with a warm, slightly hoarse voice (S1) tosses noodles in the wok as flames flare up, then looks at the camera and says: <d>[Chinese] 刚出锅的，趁热吃！</d> The camera pushes in with small amplitude at slow speed toward the wok. No subtitles or captions appear on screen.\n\noverall_soundscape: Oil sizzles and the wok clangs against the burner while distant scooters and chatter fill the alley.\n\nnon_diegetic_music: N/A","inputs":{"images":[],"video_references":[],"audio_reference":[]}},{"id":"kv-train","title":"First frame: a letter on a rainy train","mode":"first_frame","source":"kovapi","official_no":null,"params":{"duration":6,"resolution":"1080P","size":"16:9","image_role":"first_frame"},"cost":"$0.216","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-94892704d80349abfc4bbf4e.mp4","poster":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-6f61287a735eb5805007cbd2.webp","prompt":"For the target video, at 0.00 seconds into the target video, <Picture 1> (from [Shot 1]) is fully referenced.\n\nintegrated_multimodal_description: [Shot 1] Live-action, cinematic, the young woman shown in <Picture 1> remains beside the rain-covered train window, preserving her appearance, clothing, seat position, and the carriage layout. The camera trucks right with small amplitude at slow speed as she lifts her gaze from the folded letter toward the passing city lights. Her reflection moves across the glass while the quiet, breathy young woman (S1) says: <d>[English] I get off at the next station.</d> She folds the letter along its existing crease.\n\noverall_soundscape: The train wheels produce a steady metallic rhythm beneath a low ventilation hum. Rain ticks against the window while paper rustles softly in her hands.\n\nnon_diegetic_music: Sustained cello notes at a slow tempo with widely spaced piano tones, gradually decreasing in volume.","inputs":{"images":["https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-71b5ed84bb210183de898f1c.jpg"],"video_references":[],"audio_reference":[]}},{"id":"kv-umbrella","title":"First + last frame: opening an umbrella in the rain","mode":"first_last","source":"kovapi","official_no":null,"params":{"duration":8,"resolution":"1080P","size":"16:9","image_role":"first_frame"},"cost":"$0.288","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-227363d4eedb3bf23a3a199f.mp4","poster":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-48e55aa5ff358fd7b7cf5e16.webp","prompt":"How the reference pictures align with the target video — Picture 1 (from Shot 1) aligns with the 0.00-second mark of the target video; Picture 2 (from Shot 1) aligns with the 8.00-second mark of the target video.\n\nintegrated_multimodal_description: [Shot 1] Live-action, cinematic, a rain-soaked cyclist begins in the position and framing established by Picture 1, holding a closed black umbrella beside a silver bicycle. The camera pulls out with small amplitude at slow speed as she releases the bicycle handle, raises the umbrella above her shoulder, and presses the runner upward until the canopy opens. Water rolls from the expanding fabric while she steps beneath it, rotates the handle into the final angle, and settles into the pose, spacing, and composition established by Picture 2 at the end of the shot.\n\noverall_soundscape: Rain falls steadily on the pavement, followed by the metallic click of the umbrella runner and the soft snap of the canopy opening. Water drips from the bicycle frame as distant traffic passes.\n\nnon_diegetic_music: N/A","inputs":{"images":["https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-a560b1808c395d8022f926de.jpg","https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-c32b3d1c8f0211a33cc0047c.jpg"],"video_references":[],"audio_reference":[]}},{"id":"kv-eyewear","title":"Reference images: a vertical eyewear ad","mode":"multi_ref","source":"kovapi","official_no":null,"params":{"duration":8,"resolution":"1080P","size":"9:16","image_role":"reference"},"cost":"$0.288","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-6a00ea489194c7c6e685fcf7.mp4","poster":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-f4eba51dd333ef7fb208e159.webp","prompt":"subject_definitions:\n<Subject 1> is the two female fashion models in <Picture 1>, with slicked-back dark hair, one in a black asymmetric blazer with black-and-silver trousers, the other in a black leather crop top and a long silver satin skirt.\n<Subject 2> is the facial detail of the same two models in <Picture 2>, defining their features and cool expressions.\n<Subject 3> is the futuristic silver sunglasses in <Picture 3>, with wrap-around curves, a sharp cat-eye and goggle hybrid silhouette, mirrored lenses and thin streamlined temples.\n\nsummary:\n[reference generation] A 9:16 high-fashion eyewear commercial on a minimal white cyc: <Subject 1>, with the faces of <Subject 2>, wear <Subject 3> and walk toward the camera with runway attitude, ending on a close-up of the sunglasses on one model's face.\n\nretention_analysis:\n<Subject 1> (appears in [Shot 1]): fully_preserved - the two models' outfits and slicked-back hair are retained.\n<Subject 2> (appears in [Shot 1], [Shot 2]): fully_preserved - their facial features are retained.\n<Subject 3> (appears in [Shot 1], [Shot 2]): fully_preserved - the wrap-around silver frame and mirrored lenses are retained.\n\ndetailed_description:\nThe target video is a clean, high-fashion commercial with soft, even studio light on a seamless white cyc.\n[Shot 1] A vertical full-body shot: both models of <Subject 1>, each wearing a pair of <Subject 3>, walk side by side toward the camera with a confident runway stride and cool demeanor, their faces matching <Subject 2>. The camera pulls out with small amplitude at slow speed.\n[Shot 2] At 00:04.000, the camera cuts to a close-up of the left model's face as she turns her head slightly; the mirrored lenses of <Subject 3> reflect the white studio, and the camera pushes in with small amplitude at slow speed toward the curved silver frame.\n\noverall_soundscape:\nCrisp heel clicks on the studio floor, then a soft whoosh as she turns her head.\n\nnon_diegetic_music:\nA minimal electronic beat at a moderate tempo with deep synth bass, ending on a single sustained chord.","inputs":{"images":["https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-c542946f4a47ea07d3225571.jpg","https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-dfa785dd4d3f560bb3eb9492.jpg","https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-802c1b4d4b5ba8f59682ec61.jpg"],"video_references":[],"audio_reference":[]}},{"id":"kv-camera","title":"Reference video: a running shoe on a pedestal","mode":"video_ref","source":"kovapi","official_no":null,"params":{"duration":6,"resolution":"768P","size":"16:9","image_role":"reference"},"cost":"$0.325","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-aa7f83de1a85c8445731122b.mp4","poster":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-b19e07fd5ec8d5ede9fa728e.webp","prompt":"The running shoe from image 1 stands on a stone pedestal in the middle of an empty plaza at golden hour. Follow the camera movement and pacing of video 1: a slow arc shot around the subject from left to right, keeping it centered. Do not show the statue from video 1. Sound: soft wind and distant pigeons. No music.","inputs":{"images":["https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-cc795e889918bc095cfac8c6.jpg"],"video_references":[{"url":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-dd0414d99599d8386d11fbfd.mp4","duration":7}],"audio_reference":[]}},{"id":"kv-dance","title":"Reference video: a fox dances the same routine","mode":"video_ref","source":"kovapi","official_no":null,"params":{"duration":6,"resolution":"768P","size":"16:9","image_role":"reference"},"cost":"$0.325","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-e2308084597964acbd152bce.mp4","poster":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-92c8289f14a4283aaa282069.webp","prompt":"The cartoon red fox in the yellow hoodie from image 1 performs the same dance routine as the dancer in video 1, with the same arm raises, hip sways, spin and ending pose, in a colorful cartoon bedroom. 3D animated style, static full-body shot. Sound: upbeat pop drums and bass, the fox's sneakers tapping on the floor.","inputs":{"images":["https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-f75baad27af554d861a38176.jpg"],"video_references":[{"url":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-f34bfc40277ff5ab18021caa.mp4","duration":7}],"audio_reference":[]}},{"id":"kv-lite","title":"Lite: a turntable shot of a running shoe","mode":"multi_ref","source":"kovapi","official_no":null,"params":{"duration":5,"resolution":"768P","size":"16:9"},"cost":"$0.0625","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-5a3d34dd41ce101dcf3825c9.mp4","poster":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-6070620d8ba7464366b13009.webp","prompt":"The running shoe from the reference image rotates slowly on a glossy black turntable while streaks of neon light sweep across it, close studio product shot. Sound: a low electronic hum.","inputs":{"images":["https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-cc795e889918bc095cfac8c6.jpg"],"video_references":[],"audio_reference":[]}}],"faq":[{"q":"What is MiniMax H3?","a":"A video model MiniMax released in July 2026, which MiniMax calls its third generation after Hailuo 01 and Hailuo 02. It understands text, images, video and audio together, and every clip comes with sound. On KovAPI it is minimax-h3, with text to video, first frame, first + last frame, reference images and reference video."},{"q":"How long can a clip be?","a":"Any whole number of seconds from 4 to 15; 5 seconds without duration. A clip runs a fraction of a second longer than requested (a 5-second job is about 5.2 s) and is billed for the seconds requested."},{"q":"Which resolution should I pick, and how big is it?","a":"480P for drafts and bulk, 768P for a balance of detail and price, 1080P for the finest picture; 1080P when resolution is omitted. At 16:9, 480P is 864×480, 768P about 1344×768 and 1080P about 1920×1080; a job can differ by a few dozen pixels."},{"q":"Can I send 720P?","a":"Yes: it renders and bills as 768P. Other values such as 2K or 4K are refused at submit and not billed."},{"q":"How do I switch between frames and references?","a":"Without image_role, one image is the first frame and two are the first and last frame. With image_role: reference they are reference images, up to 9: their people, products and places appear in the shot instead of being used as frames. Reference video or audio needs reference mode."},{"q":"What can a reference video do, and how is it billed?","a":"The clip can follow its motion, camera move or pace: the fox on this page dances the same moves as a person in a reference clip. Reference seconds are billed at the tier's rate together with the output seconds, e.g. 768P with 6 output seconds and a 7-second reference is billed as 13 seconds. Up to 3 clips, each 2–15 s and 15 s in total."},{"q":"Does reference audio help, and is it billed?","a":"It is free, up to 3 clips, and must come with reference images or a reference video. MiniMax's guide describes it as a reference for a voice or for music; when we asked a character to speak a new line in the reference voice, the voice did not noticeably change in either test, so do not count on it for a voice."},{"q":"What formats and sizes can the references be?","a":"Images: JPG / PNG / WEBP (no GIF), up to 16 MB each, 256–5760 px on each side with an aspect ratio of 0.4–2.5; up to 9 in Standard reference mode, up to 5 on Lite. Reference videos (Standard only): MP4 / MOV with H.264 / H.265 video and AAC / MP3 audio, up to 3, each 2–15 s and 15 s in total, up to 50 MB each. Reference audio (Standard only): WAV / MP3, up to 3, each 2–15 s and 15 s in total, up to 15 MB each. Anything outside these is refused at submit (a wrong codec fails during rendering instead); either way you are not charged."},{"q":"Can I turn the sound off?","a":"No, every clip has an audio track and audio: false is refused. For no music write non_diegetic_music: N/A; for a silent file, remove the track after downloading."},{"q":"Can the dialogue be in Chinese or other languages?","a":"Yes. Write the line as <d>[Chinese] …</d>; our Chinese line came out word for word, but Chinese captions appeared at the bottom of the frame and asking for none did not remove them. MiniMax says dialogue is stable in 11 languages, including Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Russian. Writing the rest of the prompt in English, as the guide does, is safer."},{"q":"Can I use photos of real people?","a":"Yes. We tested two photos of ordinary people, twice as a first frame and twice as a reference, and all four rendered normally. Make sure you have the right to use the likeness in the photo."},{"q":"How long does a render take?","a":"In our 30-plus test renders on 12 November 2026, most finished in 2–6 minutes and a few took over 15; higher resolution, more references and busy hours take longer. It is an async job: poll the job id, or set callback_url and wait for the call."},{"q":"Am I charged when generation fails?","a":"Generation failed, not billed, resubmit as is. The amount held at submit is refunded in full, and automatic retries of one job settle once."},{"q":"How long are clips kept?","a":"Clips and uploaded inputs are kept 7 days and then deleted, so download what you need."},{"q":"H3 or H3 Lite?","a":"MiniMax H3 Lite is the same H3 with fewer inference steps: faster and cheaper, with slightly lower quality. It offers 480P / 768P, text and reference images only, and no reference audio or video. Try prompts and framing on Lite, then render the final clip on H3 at 1080P; the same-prompt comparison above shows the difference."},{"q":"H3, Wan 3.0 or Seedance 2.5?","a":"For clips longer than 15 seconds use Wan 3.0 or Seedance 2.5 (up to 30 s); for first + last frames or cheap 480P drafts H3 fits better. Best of all, run the same prompt on each and compare."},{"q":"Where do the examples on this page come from?","a":"KovAPI rendered all of them through its own API with the settings shown, and each lists its settings and its cost at today's prices. Most prompts are quoted word for word from MiniMax's own guides, and the input images were made with KovAPI's own image models."}],"notes_for_ai":["Model id minimax-h3; submit with POST /v1/videos/generations, which returns HTTP 202 and a job id; fetch the result with GET /v1/videos/jobs/ plus the id.","resolution: 480P / 768P / 1080P, default 1080P; 720P is read as 768P. size: 16:9 / 9:16 / 1:1 / 4:3 / 3:4 / 3:2 / 2:3 / 21:9. duration: an integer from 4 to 15, default 5.","Images go in images: without image_role, one is the first frame and two are first + last frame; with image_role: reference up to 9 reference images, and three or more must say reference.","Reference video field video_references (or video_reference): up to 3, each 2–15 s, ≤15 s in total, MP4 / MOV, billed per second. Reference audio field audio_references (or audio_reference): up to 3, WAV / MP3, each 2–15 s, ≤15 s in total, URLs only, free, and only together with reference images or a reference video. Both need reference mode.","reference_audios, reference_videos, start_frame, end_frame, and audio or video in a first-frame request return HTTP 400 at submit, not billed.","Billing: the tier's rate × (output seconds + reference-video seconds); 480P $0.015/s, 768P $0.025/s, 1080P $0.036/s.","Clips always have an audio track and audio: false is refused; prompts take up to 5,000 characters, written in the structure shown in this page's prompt section. Tested: reference audio did not noticeably change the voice; Chinese dialogue comes with burned-in captions."],"versus":[{"id":"tiers","title":"Latte art: three H3 tiers and two Lite tiers","params":{"duration":5,"size":"16:9"},"prompt":"integrated_multimodal_description: [Shot 1] Live-action, cinematic, a close shot of a barista's hands pouring steamed milk into a cup of espresso on a wooden counter by a sunny window. The milk forms a heart in the crema while steam curls upward, and the camera pushes in with small amplitude at slow speed toward the cup.\n\noverall_soundscape: Milk streams into the cup, a steam wand hisses softly in the background and cafe chatter murmurs.\n\nnon_diegetic_music: N/A","clips":[{"model":"minimax-h3","resolution":"1080P","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-30a37c4381ec04a2ba543aab.mp4","cost":"$0.18","verdict":"Sharpest: the latte pattern, the jug's reflections and the cup rim are all crisp."},{"model":"minimax-h3","resolution":"768P","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-2972abbc7c033fb49b25783d.mp4","cost":"$0.125","verdict":"A little less detail than 1080P, still clean."},{"model":"minimax-h3","resolution":"480P","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-faf663f1a053b4a823c2ea31.mp4","cost":"$0.075","verdict":"Framing and motion are clear; soft when enlarged. Good for drafts."},{"model":"minimax-h3-lite","resolution":"768P","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-4eda7882119d1b49c37bf0e1.mp4","cost":"$0.0625","verdict":"Fast and cheap; the latte pattern is clearly weaker."},{"model":"minimax-h3-lite","resolution":"480P","video":"https://img.kovapi.com/i/mp-10b056d268a7c3beaf4f26e0.mp4","cost":"$0.025","verdict":"Cheapest; only for checking framing and motion."}]}]}