Compare
Runway Gen-4.5 vs Veo 2
Veo 2 edges out Gen-4.5 overall (Gen-4.5 40.0 vs Veo 2 55.0.) Veo 2, despite being an older model, demonstrates quite good judgment and taste. It has great cinematography going for it, and was the first generation that really showed us models could produce very cinematic output—sometimes, if prompted enough, producing videos that were difficult to distinguish from reality. There are now models that are much better, but Veo 2 remains historically significant as the proof point that photo-real AI video was achievable. The main tradeoffs are in Physics accuracy, Native audio generation (lacks it), Artifacts, Natural human movement, where Gen-4.5 tends to score better.
Gen-4.5Runway | Veo 2Google |
|---|---|
Good for
| Good for
|
Bad for
| Bad for
|
Modalities
| Capability | Gen-4.5 | Veo 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Text input | ||
| Image input | ||
| Video input | ||
| Audio input | — | — |
| Image output | ||
| Audio output | — | — |
Providers
Physics
How well the model simulates real-world physics: gravity, momentum, collisions, and natural movement.
Veo 2 leads on physics (+18.8), with a measurable advantage over Gen-4.5. The clearest separation is on Physics (+18.8). Across the other sub-metrics in this group, the gap is smaller but generally consistent with the overall direction. If physics is a priority for your prompts, Veo 2 is the safer pick here.
| Metric | Gen-4.5 | Veo 2 |
|---|---|---|
Prompt Comparisons
Physics
Prompt
Close-up: a match strikes, flares to life, lights a candle. The match head, the flame birth, the wick catching. Material accuracy across wood, phosphorus, wax, fire.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Physics
Prompt
Female javelin throwing athlete runs with a javelin and tosses it into the air.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Physics
Prompt
Olympic swimmer jumps into a pool and swims a full lap and emerges from the water on the other side of the pool
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Prompt and Logic
Measures how accurately the model follows prompts and maintains logical consistency throughout the video.
Veo 2 leads on prompt and logic (+11.1), with a measurable advantage over Gen-4.5. The clearest separation is on Scene Consistency (+19.6). Across the other sub-metrics in this group, the gap is smaller but generally consistent with the overall direction. If prompt and logic is a priority for your prompts, Veo 2 is the safer pick here.
| Metric | Gen-4.5 | Veo 2 |
|---|---|---|
Prompt Comparisons
Prompt Adherence
Prompt
Inside an opulent royal greenhouse filled with orchids, a blue ceramic watering can sits in the foreground on the left, and a terracotta pot with a single red tulip sits in the foreground on the right. A shallow reflecting pond runs through the middle and must show clear reflections. At second 2, a hummingbird enters from the top center and hovers directly above the tulip for exactly three seconds, then exits upward at second 5. The watering can and pot must remain fixed.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Prompt Adherence
Prompt
Inside a gilded palace ballroom with tall mirrors and a marble floor, a gold crown sits on a red velvet cushion on a small round table in the foreground. A silver candlestick stands exactly to the right of the cushion. In the background, a crystal chandelier hangs centered above the room. At second 2 the chandelier sways gently left-to-right for exactly three seconds; at second 6 a gloved hand enters from the left and extinguishes only the rightmost candle on the candlestick. The crown and cushion must never move.”
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Prompt Adherence
Prompt
Single continuous shot in a sci-fi hangar with glossy floors and strong backlight haze. Keep a parked spaceship on the left, a glowing door panel on the right wall, and a metal crate centered in the foreground. A female lead runs from the background toward the crate and pivots around it without touching it. A small drone swoops in from the right and scans her with a sweeping light beam as it passes overhead. She slides behind the crate for cover, then pops out and slaps the glowing door panel once. The door panel flashes brighter and she holds in a ready stance facing it. The crate must never move and the spaceship must remain stationary. No cuts.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Aesthetics
Visual quality including cinematography, artistic taste, and overall production value.
Veo 2 leads on aesthetics (+12.0), with a measurable advantage over Gen-4.5. The clearest separation is on Cinematography (+23.7). Across the other sub-metrics in this group, the gap is smaller but generally consistent with the overall direction. If aesthetics is a priority for your prompts, Veo 2 is the safer pick here.
| Metric | Gen-4.5 | Veo 2 |
|---|---|---|
Prompt Comparisons
Cinematography
Prompt
POV from inside a car trunk looking up at three figures who've just opened it. Wide lens, dramatic lighting from below, the perspective is specific and iconic.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Cinematography
Prompt
One-take chase: camera leads a woman sprinting through a crowded market, she's looking back in fear, we never see what's chasing her. Handheld urgency, motivated motion, ducking under obstacles.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Taste
Prompt
A cinematic hummingbird hovering over vivid flowers at sunrise, 8s
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Animation
Performance on animated content styles including 2D, 3D, and anime-style animation.
Gen-4.5 leads on animation (+9.1), with a measurable advantage over Veo 2. The clearest separation is on Anime Animation (+25.2). Across the other sub-metrics in this group, the gap is smaller but generally consistent with the overall direction. If animation is a priority for your prompts, Gen-4.5 is the safer pick here.
| Metric | Gen-4.5 | Veo 2 |
|---|---|---|
Prompt Comparisons
2D Animation
Prompt
Golden age cartoon chaos 2D cel-shaded animation style: a coyote runs off a cliff, hangs in mid-air, holds up a tiny sign that says "HELP," then plummets. Classic timing, smear frames, dust cloud impact.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
3D Animation
Prompt
Action-adventure CG: a fierce Viking warrior rides a dragon through a narrow sea stack canyon at high speed. Braided beard and fur cloak whipping in the wind, dragon wings tucking and flaring. Dynamic camera, motion blur, cinematic framing.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
3D Animation
Prompt
Animated CGI kid's cartoon style: a playful squirrel leaps between tree branches in a colorful forest, but every other frame is held like a storybook illustration. Bright colors, exaggerated expressions, motion lines, intentionally bouncy yet fluid animation.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Humans
Accuracy of human rendering including body proportions, hand details, and realistic actor performances.
Veo 2 leads on humans (+19.6), with a measurable advantage over Gen-4.5. The clearest separation is on Actor Performance (+27.3). Across the other sub-metrics in this group, the gap is smaller but generally consistent with the overall direction. If humans is a priority for your prompts, Veo 2 is the safer pick here.
| Metric | Gen-4.5 | Veo 2 |
|---|---|---|
Prompt Comparisons
Human
Prompt
A punk rock drummer absolutely destroys a kit, sticks blurring, head thrashing. Freeze for a moment on her mid-scream face, then resume chaos.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Human
Prompt
Cinematic slow-motion of a boxer throwing a punch at a heavy bag. Muscles contract in shoulders and arms, sweat flies, face shows exertion.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Hands
Prompt
Close up of a wrinkled elderly woman's weathered hands carefully folding an origami crane. Paper creases with each deliberate fold, fingers moving with practiced precision. Soft warm lighting, intimate macro detail.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Objects and Animals
Quality of rendering inanimate objects and animals with accurate shapes, textures, and movements.
Veo 2 leads on objects and animals (+25.5), with a measurable advantage over Gen-4.5. The clearest separation is on Animals (+35.5). Across the other sub-metrics in this group, the gap is smaller but generally consistent with the overall direction. If objects and animals is a priority for your prompts, Veo 2 is the safer pick here.
| Metric | Gen-4.5 | Veo 2 |
|---|---|---|
Prompt Comparisons
Animals
Prompt
A wet dog shakes itself dry in glorious slow motion. Water droplets spiral off. Fur contorts into absurd shapes. Joy radiates from its face.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Animals
Prompt
Slow motion hummingbird: wings frozen mid-beat, iridescent throat catching light, tongue extending into a flower.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Animals
Prompt
Pod of orcas hunting in coordinated precision. Underwater ballet—sleek bodies, powerful flukes before they rise to the surface and leap into the air before splashing back down.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Text
Ability to render readable, accurate text and typography within generated videos.
Veo 2 leads on text (+23.5), with a measurable advantage over Gen-4.5. The clearest separation is on Text Fidelity (+23.5). Across the other sub-metrics in this group, the gap is smaller but generally consistent with the overall direction. If text is a priority for your prompts, Veo 2 is the safer pick here.
| Metric | Gen-4.5 | Veo 2 |
|---|---|---|
Prompt Comparisons
Text Fidelity
Prompt
Street-level Tokyo: kanji, hiragana, katakana everywhere. Shop signs, vending machines, posters we follow a woman walking down the street.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Text Fidelity
Prompt
Times Square at night: massive LED billboards display rotating ads. COCA-COLA, SAMSUNG, BROADWAY SHOWS.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Prompt Adherence
Prompt
Action scene, cinematic and dynamic: A female lead in a dark tactical jacket sprints through a rain-soaked museum hall at night. The hall has three distinct landmarks: (1) a huge dinosaur skeleton on the left, (2) a glass display case with a glowing blue gem centered in the background, and (3) a marble staircase on the right.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Cost and Speed
Practical factors including pricing per video and generation latency.
Gen-4.5 leads on cost and speed (+292.5), with a measurable advantage over Veo 2. The clearest separation is on Latency (+850.0). Across the other sub-metrics in this group, the gap is smaller but generally consistent with the overall direction. If cost and speed is a priority for your prompts, Gen-4.5 is the safer pick here.
| Metric | Gen-4.5 | Veo 2 |
|---|---|---|
Prompt Comparisons
Scene Consistency
Prompt
Single continuous shot in a dark planetarium exhibit. A mechanical orrery rotates smoothly: small planets circle a glowing central sun in repeating loops. The camera makes a slow arc around the orrery while the planets continue their motion.”
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Scene Consistency
Prompt
Single continuous macro shot inside a watchmaker’s workshop. Extreme close-up of tweezers placing a tiny brass gear into a mechanical watch movement. The engraved markings on the gear remain crisp and identical frame-to-frame. The tweezers and gear never warp or change shape, and the camera motion is a smooth, slow push-in with no jitter. The gear teeth must not shimmer or crawl as it settles into place.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2
Hands
Prompt
A pianist's hands playing Chopin—arched wrists, curved fingers, striking keys with controlled force. We see both hands in frame, moving independently.
Gen-4.5
vs
Veo 2