FLUX Video Upscale, from Black Forest Labs, and Topaz Astra 2, from Topaz Labs, are both creative upscalers: they rebuild fine detail as they enlarge a clip, and both reach 4K. Both run on Morphic, so the choice is per shot. When BFL announced its upgrade on October 23, 2026, it said FLUX Video Upscale now costs less than Astra 2 and runs about twice as fast.
FLUX Video Upscale vs Topaz Astra 2: the specs
Each maker's published figures, with the limits each model has on Morphic.
| Feature | FLUX Video Upscale | Topaz Astra 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Maker | Black Forest Labs | Topaz Labs |
| Built on | FLUX 3 | Topaz's creative upscaling models |
| Max output | 4K | 4K |
| Scale on Morphic | 2x or 3x | 2x or 4x |
| Clip length on Morphic | Up to 20 seconds | Up to 5 minutes |
| Input formats | MP4 | MP4 or MOV |
| Detail control | Precise or creative mode from BFL; creative on Morphic | Creativity and sharpness controls from Topaz; a balanced setting on Morphic |
| Prompt to steer detail | In creative mode, on BFL's API | Text prompt, on Topaz's own app |
| Frame rate | Keeps the source rate | Can raise it, 16 to 60 fps on Morphic |
| Audio | Original track kept | Original track kept on Morphic |
| Speed and cost | About twice as fast and cheaper, per BFL | The baseline in BFL's claim |
Where FLUX Video Upscale is stronger
- Speed and cost, per BFL. BFL's launch claim is that the upgraded upscaler runs about twice as fast as Astra 2 and costs less.
- A precise mode at the source. BFL offers a precise mode that keeps faces, products and brand shots exactly as they are. Morphic runs the creative mode today.
- A 3x step. 3x takes a 720p generation straight to 4K in one pass, the most common route for AI video.
- Built on FLUX 3. BFL designed it to keep the look, motion and realism of FLUX video at higher resolution, which suits clips generated with FLUX 3 and FLUX 3 Max.
Where Topaz Astra 2 is stronger
- Long clips. On Morphic, Astra 2 takes up to 5 minutes in one pass, against 20 seconds for FLUX Video Upscale.
- 4x scale. It can enlarge a small source by 4x, where FLUX Video Upscale stops at 3x.
- Frame rate. It can raise the frame rate while it upscales, for smoother motion or slow motion.
- MOV input. It accepts MOV as well as MP4, so camera and editing exports go in without a conversion.
- Finer control on Topaz's app. Topaz exposes creativity and sharpness controls and a text prompt in its own app.
Which should you use?
- Short AI clips to 4K: FLUX Video Upscale. A 720p generation at 3x lands at 4K, and BFL says it is the faster and cheaper of the two.
- Footage longer than 20 seconds: Topaz Astra 2, which takes up to 5 minutes in one pass.
- Slow motion or a higher frame rate: Topaz Astra 2.
- Very small sources: Topaz Astra 2 at 4x, or FLUX Video Upscale at 3x if the result fits your target size.
- Not sure: run the same clip through both on Morphic and keep the one that reads better.
Run both on Morphic
Both upscalers sit in the same Upscale panel on Morphic, beside Topaz Video and Crystal, next to every generation model and a timeline editor. Generate a shot, upscale it with either model, and cut it into your edit in one workspace. For a walkthrough of FLUX Video Upscale with before and after frames, read the FLUX Video Upscale guide, or see the FLUX Video Upscale model page.
FAQs
It depends on the clip. Black Forest Labs says its upgraded upscaler is the best available. FLUX Video Upscale suits short AI clips going to 4K, while Topaz Astra 2 handles longer footage, 4x scale and frame-rate changes. Both run on Morphic, so you can test the same clip in each.
Black Forest Labs says so: its October 2026 announcement states that FLUX Video Upscale costs less than Topaz Astra 2. What you pay on Morphic depends on clip length and output resolution; the pricing page has the current plans.
Black Forest Labs says FLUX Video Upscale runs about twice as fast as Topaz Astra 2.
Topaz Astra 2. On Morphic it takes clips up to 5 minutes, where FLUX Video Upscale takes up to 20 seconds per pass.
Yes. On Morphic, both FLUX Video Upscale and Topaz Astra 2 carry the source audio track through the upscale.
Yes. Both are in the Upscale panel on Morphic's paid plans. Select a clip on the canvas, open Upscale, and choose Flux Video or Topaz Astra 2.