Google Veo 3.1 4K Update Brings Professional-Grade AI Video Generation

Google DeepMind rolled out a significant update to its Veo video generation model on January 13, 2026. The Veo 3.1 update introduces 4K resolution output, native vertical video support, and enhanced consistency features aimed at both casual creators and professional filmmakers.

4K Resolution: A First for AI Video

The headline feature of Veo 3.1 is 4K resolution output at 3840x2160 pixels. This makes Veo 3.1 the first mainstream AI video generation model to support true 4K output, surpassing competitors like OpenAI’s Sora 2 which caps at 1080p.

The update includes three resolution tiers:

• 4K (3840x2160): Professional-grade quality for large screens and high-end production
• 1080p Enhanced: Sharper, more detailed output than previous versions
• 720p: Quick previews and low-bandwidth scenarios

For creators working on commercial projects, cinema displays, or high-quality YouTube content, the 4K option provides the detail and clarity that was previously impossible with AI-generated video.

Native Vertical Video Support

Recognizing the dominance of short-form vertical content, Veo 3.1 now supports native 9:16 aspect ratio generation. This is a practical improvement for creators targeting:

• TikTok
• YouTube Shorts
• Instagram Reels
• Snapchat Spotlight

Previously, creators had to generate horizontal video and crop it, losing quality and composition control. Native vertical generation eliminates this workflow friction and ensures optimal framing from the start.

Enhanced Ingredients to Video

Veo 3.1’s “Ingredients to Video” feature received substantial improvements. The system now accepts up to four reference images per generation and maintains better consistency across scenes.

Key improvements include:

Character Consistency

Character identity now stays consistent across scene changes, addressing a persistent pain point in AI video generation where faces and features would drift between frames. Even with brief prompts, character expressions and movements appear more natural and coherent.

Background and Object Consistency

Users can reuse the same locations, objects, or textures across scenes, maintaining a unified visual style throughout a project. This is essential for narrative content where environmental continuity matters.

Improved Expressiveness

The model produces better character expressions and movements even when users provide shorter, less detailed prompts. This lowers the barrier to entry for creators who may not be experts at prompt engineering.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Specification
Maximum Resolution	4K (3840x2160)
Video Duration	4, 6, or 8 seconds
Reference Images	Up to 4 per generation
Aspect Ratios	16:9 (horizontal), 9:16 (vertical)
Start/End Frame Control	Supported
Audio Generation	Native support

Platform Availability

The Veo 3.1 4K update is available across Google’s ecosystem:

• Gemini App: Consumer-facing access
• YouTube Shorts: Direct integration for short-form creators
• Google Flow: Creative workflow tool
• Gemini API: Developer access
• Vertex AI: Enterprise deployment via Google Cloud
• Google Vids: Business presentation tool

The 4K upscaling feature specifically is available through Flow, Gemini API, and Vertex AI.

Competitive Landscape

With this update, Google positions Veo 3.1 as the technical leader in AI video generation resolution. Here’s how it compares:

Model	Max Resolution	Native Vertical	Audio
Veo 3.1	4K	Yes	Yes
Sora 2	1080p	Yes	Yes
Runway Gen-3	1080p	Limited	No
Kling 1.6	1080p	Yes	Yes

While resolution isn’t everything, the 4K capability opens doors for professional use cases that competitors can’t currently address.

Use Cases

The 4K and vertical video updates enable several practical applications:

Commercial Production

Brands can generate high-quality video assets for television, digital billboards, and cinema pre-rolls without the resolution limitations that previously relegated AI video to web-only use.

Social Media Marketing

Marketing teams can rapidly produce vertical content optimized for social platforms, maintaining brand consistency through reference images while iterating on concepts quickly.

Film Pre-visualization

Filmmakers can use Veo 3.1 to create detailed pre-visualization sequences at resolutions that translate meaningfully to final production planning.

E-commerce

Product videos can be generated at quality levels suitable for high-end retail websites and in-store displays.

Limitations

Despite the improvements, Veo 3.1 retains some constraints:

• Duration: Maximum 8 seconds per generation requires stitching for longer content
• Availability: Full feature set requires Google Cloud or API access; consumer apps have more limited options

What’s Next

Google first released Veo 3.1 in October 2025 with improved audio output and editing controls. This January 2026 update focused on resolution and format flexibility. Future updates may address duration limits and real-time generation capabilities as the competitive landscape continues to evolve.

For creators and developers evaluating AI video tools, Veo 3.1’s 4K capability represents a meaningful step toward production-ready AI video generation.

Try Veo 3.1 on WaveSpeedAI

You can try Veo 3.1 today on WaveSpeedAI:

• Veo 3.1 Text-to-Video - Generate videos from text prompts
• Veo 3.1 Image-to-Video - Animate your images into video