Kuaishou has announced Kling 4.0, the next generation of its video model, in a release note dated September 27. The full launch is expected in October.
What is claimed
The announcement describes clips of 3 to 30 seconds at up to 4K, adherence to up to 10 keyframes, and up to 15 reference inputs drawn from images, video clips, saved elements and voice. A lighter tier, Kling 4.0 Flash, runs at 720p and is aimed at drafts and high volume work.
Who can use it today
Almost nobody. Kling 4.0 Flash opened on September 28 as a limited beta for annual subscribers on the top plan, and the full model is still in testing with selected users. Treat the specification as an announcement rather than something you can build on this week.
Why the keyframes matter more than the resolution
Every video generator advertises resolution, and 4K is table stakes now. Control is the harder problem. Ten keyframes and fifteen references mean a shot can be specified rather than described and hoped for, which is the difference between a demo and production work. Whether it holds up under real prompts is exactly what the beta will show.
The context
Kling is chasing ByteDance's Seedance, which reached its 2.5 generation earlier this month and added editing and extension of existing clips. Both lines are converging on the same idea: the value is no longer in generating a clip from nothing, but in changing a clip you already have.
What to do
If you already pay for Kling annually, check whether the Flash beta is available in your account. If you are evaluating video tools, wait for the October release before comparing, because the numbers above have not been tested by anyone outside the beta.