Runway Gen-4, Hailuo, Kling And Luma Dream Machine: AI Video Comparison

Artificial Intelligence (AI) video generation has taken massive strides in recent years. With the release of updated models like Runway Gen 4, Hailuo, Kling 2.0, and Luma Dream Machine Ray 2, creators now have more tools than ever to bring their stories to life. In this blog post, I will compare these platforms based on key features such as expressive character gestures, lip sync capabilities, pricing, and overall performance.

1. Runway Gen 4 – The Feature-Packed Powerhouse

Performance

Runway Gen 4 is a solid choice for creators who need smooth animations with straightforward motions. For instance, when animating a Sith walking menacingly or a bounty hunter falling to the ground, Runway delivered smooth transitions and realistic movements. However, it struggles with expressive hand gestures or nuanced body language. When trying to animate a shrugging motion, the character simply raised his arms without much finesse.

Lip Sync

Runway allows users to add lip sync after generating videos. While it works decently for standard human characters, my test with a uniquely styled Sith character showed subpar results—her lips barely moved, and there was noticeable blurring around her mouth.

Extending Videos

One standout feature of Runway is its ability to extend videos from specific frames. This is incredibly useful for creating longer, more dynamic sequences. For example, I extended a scene where the Sith opens her palm to use the Force and then closes her fist to show aggression.

Resolution Upscaling

Runway also supports upscaling to 4K, which adds value for high-quality outputs.

Pricing

The only worthwhile plan is the Unlimited Plan at $95/month. Lower-tier plans quickly run out of credits, making them impractical for serious projects.

Final Thoughts

Runway is great for smooth animations and advanced editing features like extending clips and upscaling, but it falls short in expressive gestures and detailed lip syncing for unique characters.

2. Hailuo – The Expressive Animation Specialist

Performance

Hailuo shines when it comes to expressive animations and facial expressions. It excels at translating prompts into vivid, natural-looking gestures. When animating a bounty hunter shrugging apologetically, Hailuo captured the nuance perfectly—he looked genuinely confused and defensive.

Additionally, Hailuo’s Director’s Mode lets users select pre-defined camera movements, such as arc shots or wide-angle pans. These work well for establishing shots, though static camera settings sometimes result in minimal character movement.

Limitations

• 6-second limit: All generated videos are capped at 6 seconds, with no native way to extend them.
• No lip sync: Hailuo lacks built-in lip-syncing capabilities.

Workarounds

To extend videos, you can screenshot the final frame and use it as a starting point for a new animation. For lip syncing, external tools like Sync.so or CapCut were tried, but they struggled with unique characters. Eventually, Design provided better results for syncing dialogue.

Pricing

Hailuo offers budget-friendly plans:

• $10/month plan: Includes 1,000 credits + 100 daily credits.
• Each video costs about 30 credits, totaling ~140 videos/month for $10.

Final Thoughts

Hailuo is ideal for expressive character animations and facial expressions. While it lacks direct extensions and lip sync, clever workarounds can help bridge the gap.

3. Kling AI – The Jack-of-All-Trades Platform

Performance

Kling AI impressed me with its versatility. Its newer Kling 2.0 model excels at complex animations. For instance, when animating a bounty hunter being choked by the Force, the 2.0 model produced far more dynamic and dramatic results compared to the older 1.6 model.

Kling also allows users to:

• Extend videos by adding 5 seconds per clip.
• Use start/end frames to create seamless transitions and camera movements.

Lip Sync

While Kling does offer a lip-sync feature, the results were subtle and less expressive, especially for unique characters. Still, it’s functional for basic dialogue scenes.

Pricing

Kling does not offer an unlimited plan. Mid-tier plans are viable if using the cheaper 1.6 model, but the 2.0 model eats through credits quickly. Expect higher costs for high-end animations.

Final Thoughts

Kling AI is the most balanced platform—great animations, lip sync, and extension options. However, the lack of an unlimited plan and the high cost of the 2.0 model may be limiting factors for some creators.

4. Luma Dream Machine Ray 2 – The High-Quality Contender

Performance

Luma Dream Machine Ray 2 introduced significant upgrades, particularly in handling start/end frames for creating cinematic transitions. For example, animating a Sith standing in front of a ship and transitioning to a close-up shot worked beautifully.

However, Luma occasionally produced erratic jumps between scenes. For instance, one moment the bounty hunter stood upright, and the next he was inexplicably lying on the ground with a random car appearing in the background.

Limitations

• Only 5-second videos natively; extension required afterward.
• No lip sync capability.

Pricing

Luma offers an Unlimited Plan, but its credit system is confusing. At $30/month, the newest Ray 2 model generates only ~30 ten-second videos, which isn’t enough for larger projects.

Final Thoughts

Luma Dream Machine Ray 2 delivers stunning visuals and smooth transitions using start/end frames, but inconsistent results and a lack of lip syncing make it less ideal for narrative-driven animations.

Comparison Table: Runway Gen 4 vs. Hailuo vs. Kling AI vs. Luma Dream Machine Ray 2

Final Verdict: Which One Wins What?