# Google launches Veo 3.1 Lite video model with 5‑cent‑per‑second

**Published:** 2026-08-16T17:39:41.917Z  
**Topic:** Google Ai  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/46254893-1ae9-4223-ac31-613a44735d7e

Google Veo 3.1 Lite offers 720p video at $0.05 / sec for developers, cuts Veo 3.1 Fast prices, and adds vertical‑format generation for Gemini.

Google unveiled Veo 3.1 Lite on March 31, 2026, pricing 720p video generation at five cents per second for paid Google AI Studio users, a move that directly targets developers building video features into apps while undercutting competitor rates【1】.  

| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Model | Veo 3.1 Lite |
| Price (720p) | $0.05 / sec |
| New format | 9:16 vertical video in Gemini |
| Fast model price cut | 720p down to $0.10 / sec (effective April 7) |

## Pricing and format updates  
The Lite model is positioned for “practical utility with professional capabilities,” delivering 720p clips for $0.05 / sec and 1080p for $0.08 / sec, with clip lengths limited to four, six, or eight seconds【1】. This pricing is half of the upcoming Veo 3.1 Fast rate for 720p, which will drop from $0.15 / sec to $0.10 / sec on April 7, while 1080p falls to $0.15 / sec and 4K to $0.35 / sec【1】. The price cuts aim to make Google’s video generation more competitive against emerging AI video services that often charge higher per‑second fees.

## New vertical‑video capability and benchmark performance  
Google also announced that Veo 3.1 can now generate “social‑ready” 9:16 videos directly in Gemini, eliminating the need to crop landscape outputs for platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels【2】. This vertical mode is marketed as “mobile‑first” and promises faster results with optimized composition. Independent benchmark data shows Veo 3.1 leading human‑rated preference and visual‑quality scores on MovieGenBench (1,003 prompts) and VBench I2V (355 pairs), outperforming other leading models in prompt adherence and audio‑video sync【3】. The model’s real‑world physics, native audio, and extended control features further differentiate it from prior versions and rivals.

## Competitive landscape  
Google’s pricing undercutting and vertical‑video addition arrive as OpenAI has shuttered its Sora video app, leaving a gap in the AI‑video market【1】. Competitors such as Meta’s Vibes platform have been criticized for generating low‑quality “slop” content, while Google’s emphasis on realism, physics fidelity, and watermarking (SynthID) aims to address quality and safety concerns highlighted in its own documentation【3】. The combination of lower per‑second costs and new format support could attract developers seeking cost‑effective, high‑fidelity video generation for mobile‑first experiences.

## What to watch
- **April 7 price rollout** – monitor adoption rates for Veo 3.1 Fast at the reduced $0.10 / sec price.  
- **Gemini vertical‑video integration** – track usage metrics and developer feedback on the 9:16 mode.  
- **Competitor responses** – watch for pricing or feature adjustments from OpenAI, Meta, or emerging AI video startups.

Google’s Veo 3.1 Lite signals a strategic push to make AI‑generated video affordable and ready for social media, while the price cuts on the Fast model suggest a broader effort to cement Google’s lead in a market where quality, cost, and format compatibility are becoming decisive factors.

## Sources
1. Android Authority — [Google introduces a new video generation model as OpenAI shutters Sora app](https://www.androidauthority.com/google-veo-3-1-lite-3653697/)
2. Mashable — [Google Veo 3.1 will generate social-ready vertical videos in Gemini](https://mashable.com/article/google-veo-31-social-videos-gemini)
3. Deepmind — [Veo 3.1 — Google DeepMind](https://deepmind.google/models/veo/)

---
Cite as: TrendWatcher, "Google launches Veo 3.1 Lite video model with 5‑cent‑per‑second", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/46254893-1ae9-4223-ac31-613a44735d7e