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Runway Gen-4.5 Coming Soon to BestPhoto: The New #1 AI Video Model

Runway Gen-4.5 (codenamed Whisper/Thunder) just dethroned Google Veo 3 as the world's best AI video generator. Native audio, superior physics, and cinematic quality. Coming soon to BestPhoto.

BestPhoto Team
December 1, 2025
8 min read
Runway Gen-4.5 Coming Soon to BestPhoto: The New #1 AI Video Model

The AI video generation landscape just shifted dramatically. Runway's Gen-4.5 (codenamed "Whisper/Thunder" during development) launched today and immediately claimed the #1 spot on the Artificial Analysis Video Arena leaderboard, dethroning Google's Veo 3. We're excited to announce that Runway Gen-4.5 will be available on BestPhoto in the coming weeks as they open API access.

The Bottom Line: Runway Gen-4.5 is now the highest-rated AI video model in the world. It features native audio generation, superior physics understanding, and exceptional cinematic quality. BestPhoto users will get access as soon as API availability opens up.

What We Know About Gen-4.5

Runway CEO Cristóbal Valenzuela announced Gen-4.5 today, revealing the model was internally codenamed "David" — a nod to the biblical David vs. Goliath story. As Valenzuela put it: "We managed to out-compete trillion-dollar companies with a team of 100 people."

Key Capabilities

  • ✓Native audio generation (sound effects, ambient audio)
  • ✓Superior physics understanding
  • ✓Realistic human motion
  • ✓Advanced camera movement control
  • ✓Cause-and-effect understanding
  • ✓HD video output from text prompts

Leaderboard Position

#1 Runway Gen-4.5ELO 1,246
#2 Google Veo 3ELO 1,226
#3 Kling 2.5 TurboELO 1,225
#4 Google Veo 3.1ELO 1,222
#7 OpenAI Sora 2 ProELO 1,206

Source: Artificial Analysis Video Arena (Dec 2025)

While You Wait for Gen-4.5

Try Veo 3.1, Kling 2.5, Sora 2, and 10+ other models available now.

Try Video Generator

Category-by-Category Breakdown

The Artificial Analysis leaderboard lets you filter by style, subject, and format. Here's how the top models stack up across different use cases based on the latest rankings:

Overall (All Categories)

  1. 1. Runway Gen-4.5 — ELO 1,246 (Dec 2025)
  2. 2. Google Veo 3 — ELO 1,226 (Jul 2025)
  3. 3. Kling 2.5 Turbo 1080p — ELO 1,225 (Sept 2025)
  4. 4. Google Veo 3.1 Preview — ELO 1,222 (Oct 2025)
  5. 5. Luma Ray 3 — ELO 1,211 (Sept 2025)

Cartoon & Anime

  1. 1. Runway Gen-4.5 — ELO 1,300
  2. 2. OpenAI Sora 2 Pro — ELO 1,269
  3. 3. OpenAI Sora 2 — ELO 1,266
  4. 4. Alibaba Wan 2.5 Preview — ELO 1,248

Gen-4.5 dominates anime/cartoon with a massive 31-point lead

Fantasy

  1. 1. Kling 2.1 Master — ELO 1,183
  2. 2. Google Veo 3 Fast Preview — ELO 1,172
  3. 3. Bytedance Waver 1.0 — ELO 1,169
  4. 4. Kling 2.0 — ELO 1,163
  5. 5. PixVerse V4.5 — ELO 1,131

Kling models excel at fantasy content — Kling 2.1 Master takes the crown

Sci-Fi

  1. 1. Runway Gen-4.5 — ELO 1,257
  2. 2. Kling 2.5 Turbo 1080p — ELO 1,252
  3. 3. Google Veo 3.1 Preview — ELO 1,249
  4. 4. Google Veo 3 — ELO 1,242
  5. 5. Luma Ray 3 — ELO 1,237

Extremely competitive — only 20 points separate top 5

Animals

  1. 1. Runway Gen-4.5 — ELO 1,204
  2. 2. Kling 2.5 Turbo 1080p — ELO 1,187
  3. 3. Google Veo 3.1 Preview — ELO 1,180
  4. 4. OpenAI Sora 2 Pro — ELO 1,177

Moving Camera

  1. 1. Kling 2.5 Turbo 1080p — ELO 1,226
  2. 2. Luma Ray 3 — ELO 1,219
  3. 3. Runway Gen-4.5 — ELO 1,209
  4. 4. Google Veo 3 — ELO 1,207

Kling takes the lead for dynamic camera work

Multi Scene

  1. 1. Google Veo 3 Fast Preview — ELO 1,196
  2. 2. Bytedance Waver 1.0 — ELO 1,145
  3. 3. Kling 2.1 Master — ELO 1,125
  4. 4. Seedance 1.0 Mini — ELO 1,119
  5. 5. OpenAI Sora — ELO 1,085

Veo 3 Fast dominates multi-scene generation by a wide margin

How Gen-4.5 Compares to Veo 3.1 (Our Current Champion)

Until today, Google's Veo 3.1 was our top recommendation for professional-grade AI video. Here's how it stacks up against the new king:

FeatureRunway Gen-4.5Google Veo 3.1
Leaderboard Rank#1 Overall#4 Overall
Native Audio✓ Yes✓ Yes (sound effects, ambient, dialogue)
Physics UnderstandingExceptionalVery Good
Human MotionExceptionalVery Good
ResolutionHD720p (extendable)
Cartoon/Anime#1 (ELO 1,300)Not in top 4
Sci-Fi#1 (ELO 1,257)#4 (ELO 1,242)
Multi-SceneNot ranked#1 (ELO 1,196)
API AccessComing soonAvailable now on BestPhoto

Key Insight: While Gen-4.5 takes the overall crown, Veo 3.1 remains the king of multi-scene generation. For projects requiring complex narrative sequences, Veo 3.1 is still your best bet — and it's available on BestPhoto right now.

Try Veo 3.1 with Native Audio

Generate videos with synchronized sound effects, ambient noise, and dialogue.

Try Veo 3.1 Now

Coming Soon: Kling Omni Launch Week

Kling Omniverse Launch Week announcement

"When inspiration ignites, we invite you to journey into an all-powerful creative universe."

OMNIVERSE BEGINS — Kling Omni Launch Week #KlingOmniLaunchWeek

The competition isn't slowing down. Kuaishou just teased "Kling Omni Launch Week" with a cryptic announcement promising an "all-powerful creative universe." Given that Kling already dominates several categories (Fantasy #1, Moving Camera #1), whatever they're launching could shake up the leaderboard again.

This is why multi-model platforms like BestPhoto matter. When Kling launches their next generation model, you'll have access without signing up for another service. When Gen-4.5 API opens, same thing. You get every breakthrough without managing multiple subscriptions.

What Models Can You Use Right Now on BestPhoto?

While we wait for Runway Gen-4.5 API access, here's what's already available:

Google Veo 3.1 & Veo 3

Native audio generation, character consistency, scene extension. #1 for multi-scene.

Available Now

Kling 2.5 Turbo 1080p

#3 overall, #1 for moving camera. Motion Brush, 3-min clips, camera controls.

Available Now

All Kling Models

Kling 2.1 Master (#1 Fantasy), Kling 2.0, and more. Full lineup available.

Available Now

OpenAI Sora 2

Strong for anime/cartoon (#2-3 in category). Photorealistic quality.

Available Now

All Hailuo Models

Hailuo 02 Standard, Hailuo 2.3 — realistic human motion, 300+ voice options.

Available Now

Wan 2.2 & Seedance 1 Pro

Alibaba's Wan 2.5 strong for anime. Seedance excels at multi-scene.

Available Now

Runway Gen-4.5

#1 overall, exceptional physics and human motion, native audio, HD output.

Coming in the next few weeks

Why This Matters for Creators

The AI video generation space is moving incredibly fast. Six months ago, Sora was the model everyone talked about. Then Veo 3 with native audio changed expectations. Now Gen-4.5 raises the bar again. Next week, Kling might launch something that reshapes everything.

If you're locked into a single platform, you're always one generation behind. With BestPhoto, you get access to every major model under one subscription. When Gen-4.5 API opens, you'll have it. When Kling Omni drops, you'll have it. No new signups, no new learning curves.

What You Get with BestPhoto

  • •10+ video models — Veo 3.1, Kling 2.5, Sora 2, Hailuo, Wan, and more
  • •Instant generation — No queue wait times, direct API access
  • •26 free video effects — Slow motion, reverse, filters, and more
  • •Model training — Create consistent characters across videos
  • •Best-in-class lip-sync — With voice cloning
  • •40+ image editing tools — Complete creative suite

Get Notified When Gen-4.5 Launches

We'll be adding Runway Gen-4.5 as soon as API access becomes available. In the meantime, try our current lineup — especially Veo 3.1 for native audio and Kling 2.5 for camera control. You might find they already do what you need.

Try AI Video Generation Today

Access Veo 3.1, Kling 2.5, Sora 2, and more while waiting for Gen-4.5. 10+ models, instant generation, free to start.

Try Video GeneratorGet Free Credits

No credit card required • 1 free video/day + 25 credits to start

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Runway Gen-4.5 be available on BestPhoto?

Runway is rolling out Gen-4.5 gradually through their platform and partners. We'll add it as soon as API access opens up — likely in the coming weeks. Follow our blog for updates.

Is Gen-4.5 better than Veo 3.1 in every way?

Not quite. Gen-4.5 leads overall and dominates cartoon/anime and sci-fi, but Veo 3.1 is still #1 for multi-scene generation. Both have native audio. Your best choice depends on your specific use case.

What is Kling Omni Launch Week?

Kuaishou (Kling's creator) announced "Kling Omni Launch Week" promising an "all-powerful creative universe." Details are scarce, but given Kling already leads in Fantasy and Moving Camera categories, it could be a significant update.

Does Gen-4.5 have native audio like Veo 3?

Yes. Runway Gen-4.5 generates video with native audio including sound effects and ambient audio. This is a major improvement from previous Runway models.

Should I wait for Gen-4.5 or use Veo 3.1 now?

If you need video now, Veo 3.1 is excellent and available today. It's still #1 for multi-scene and has native audio. When Gen-4.5 becomes available, you'll be able to switch instantly — no new signup needed.

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