What is MiniMax H3 Max?

MiniMax H3 Max is MiniMax's newest video family on NightCafe. It launched in September 2026 as three PRO models that all generate 5–15 second clips with native audio:

• MiniMax H3 Max Turbo — the value pick. Available on any PRO plan. 480p or 720p, at about half the credits of H3 Max. Text-to-video or image-to-video (optional start and end frame). No reference images.
• MiniMax H3 Max — the quality pick. AI Enthusiast and above, and Fast Credits. 480p or 720p, plus up to nine reference images or a start/end frame.
• MiniMax H3 Fast — a 480p-only option for quicker previews and batches. AI Enthusiast and above, and Fast Credits. Also supports up to nine reference images.

Independent Artificial Analysis video arenas (with audio, as of September 2026) rank H3 Max first for image-to-video and near the top for text-to-video. Studio still starts new videos on PixVerse V6 — switch to an H3 model in the picker when you want this family. You can tap the MiniMax chip in the Studio model picker to show H3, H3 Max, Turbo, and Fast together.

The earlier MiniMax H3 2K model is still in Studio. It costs more per second. Use H3 Max or H3 Max Turbo unless you specifically want that 2K option.

What it's good at

• Native audio — every clip includes sound. Describe the audio you want in the prompt (dialogue, ambience, music).
• Image-to-video — add a start frame, and optionally an end frame, to lock the first and last shot.
• Reference images (H3 Max and H3 Fast) — up to nine images to guide look, characters, or style. You cannot combine reference images with a start or end frame.
• Value (H3 Max Turbo) — the cheapest way to get this family, and the only H3 Max variant available on every PRO plan (including plans below Enthusiast).
• Aspect ratios — 21:9, 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, 3:4, 9:16.

How to use it

In Studio, open the Video form and pick MiniMax H3 Max Turbo, MiniMax H3 Max, or MiniMax H3 Fast. Write a prompt that covers the scene, the action, camera motion, and the sound. Optionally add a start image (and end frame), or — on H3 Max and H3 Fast — reference images instead.

Example prompt:

A white teddy bear in sunglasses swims toward the camera at a cloudy Caribbean sunset. Arms and feet paddle, water splashes. Slow dramatic zoom in. Soft tropical wave sound and distant gulls, no music.

For image-to-video, upload a realistic still as the start frame and describe only the motion and sound. After you generate, the creation settings panel shows the Video End Frame if you set one (None, Loop, or Image).

Credits and access

Credits are charged per second of video. The table below is the cost of a 5-second clip (the default). A 10-second clip costs twice as much; a 15-second clip costs three times as much.

H3 Max and H3 Fast can only be run with purchased Fast Credits (not earned credits in relax mode). H3 Max Turbo can use your regular monthly credits.

Which one should I pick?

• H3 Max Turbo — start here if you have any PRO plan and want the best quality-per-credit in this family.
• H3 Max — use when you want reference images, or the highest-ranked H3 Max quality at 720p.
• H3 Fast — use for 480p drafts and batches when you already have Enthusiast+.
• MiniMax H3 — only if you specifically want the earlier 2K model.
• P-Video-2 Fast — cheaper still for everyday 720p/1080p clips on any PRO plan (~8 credits for 5s at 720p), if you care more about cost than H3 Max's arena ranking. See P-Video-2 and P-Video-2 Pro on NightCafe.

Good to know

• Audio is always on. There is no silent toggle — describe the sound in your prompt.
• Reference images and start/end frames cannot be used together.
• H3 Max Turbo does not accept reference images.
• H3 Fast is 480p only; there is no 720p setting.
• Durations are 5–15 seconds in 1-second steps. Default is 5 seconds.

See also Creating Videos on NightCafe and the NightCafe AI Models Guide.