Topaz Video AI Frame Interpolation: Apollo vs Chronos vs Aion Model Review & UniFab Smoother AI Comparison

In this article, we dive into the frame interpolation capabilities of Topaz Video AI, examining the performance of its specialized models—Apollo, Chronos, and Aion. Each model is tailored to different use cases. The article also includes a real-world comparison between Topaz Video AI and UniFab Smoother AI, two leading solutions in the frame interpolation space. We explore how they measure up in terms of both speed and frame quality.
Topaz Video AI Frame Interpolation Review

UniFab vs Topaz: Quick Comparison Snapshot

Before we dive into the details of Topaz Video AI and its various models, let’s first take a quick look at how it compares to UniFab Smoother AI. The table below offers a snapshot of their key differences in performance, speed, and quality, giving you a clearer sense of what to expect from each tool.

DimensionUniFab All-In-OneTopaz Video AI
Pricing / Subscription$319.99 lifetime (one-time purchase for lifetime use, including free updates and unlimited access) $299.00 / year (requires annual renewal)
Free Trial30-day trial for full features, no watermark30-day trial
Output QualityFor 95% of use cases, both tools will impress—and only the most demanding users or cinephiles will reliably notice the micro-differences.
Processing SpeedAbout 0.88 fps/s, generally faster.About 0.67 fps/s, generally slower.
Feature CoverageSmoother AI; Video Upscaler AI; Denoise AI; HDR Upconverter AI; RTX RapidHDR AI; Video Colorizer AI; Video Converter; Subtitle Generator AI… Up to 17 video & audio enhancement/editing tools, covering a full workflow.Frame Interpolation; Enhancement; SDR to HDR; Stabilization; Motion deblur. (Focused mainly on video upscaling/enhancement)
Learning CurveLower learning curve; feature-driven workflow makes it easy to get started.Steeper learning curve; model-driven workflow requires more time for selection and tuning.
Best forUsers who want comparable quality with a lower budget and easy, guided operation.Users who want high quality and have higher budgets, and are comfortable with a steeper learning curve for deeper control.

Best Topaz Alternative: UniFab All-In-One

  • Topaz-level enhancement depth
  • Better pricing ($319.99 Lifetime) than Topaz ($299/Year)
  • More Complete features than Topaz
  • Frequent product releases and updates
  • 30-Day Full-Feature Free Trial, No Watermark

UniFab All-In-One

The following video is about UniFab vs Topaz on frame interpolation, which allows you to more clearly and intuitively see how the processing effect is:

Topaz Video AI Frame Interpolation: Core Features & Use-Cases

When video creators seek the most robust AI for making footage smoother, Topaz Video AI often makes the shortlist. But what truly sets it apart in the crowded field of frame interpolation tools? Let’s break down its core offerings and real-world applications—beyond just flashy demos.

Overview of Topaz Frame Interpolation Models

Topaz Video AI packs an impressive suite of frame interpolation models, each tailored for different footage challenges. The main models—Apollo, Chronos, and Aion—address everything from everyday scene enhancement to high-end cinematic workflows.

  • Apollo specializes in handling nonlinear motion and slightly blurry footage, delivering especially strong results with sports, dance videos, and anything with complex movement.
  • Chronos is the all-rounder: reliable for a variety of source material, particularly gaming footage or clips converted for slow-motion.
  • Aion targets high-resolution and high-action scenarios, supporting ultra-slow motion (up to 16x) while preserving fine details and minimizing stitching artifacts.

Topaz Apollo vs Chronos vs Aion: Model Differences & Real-World Impact

So, which Topaz Video AI model is best? That depends entirely on your footage and your goals. Each model—Apollo, Chronos, and Aion—has its own personality, strengths, and surprising quirks. Here’s how they stack up in real-life editing situations.

Apollo for Complex Motion

Apollo is designed for nonlinear motion and slightly blurred or shaky footage, producing up to 8 interpolated frames per run and delivering especially smooth results for sports, dancing, or handheld camera work. It handles motion blur and jerkiness better than most, making it a favorite for slow-motion replays where detail matters.

topaz frame interpolation - apollo model performance

Chronos for Versatility

Chronos is your all-purpose workhorse. Its linear speed scaling means it keeps up whether you’re interpolating just a couple frames or creating extreme slow-motion sequences, with less risk of overfitting or artifact buildup. It’s especially handy for gaming footage, animated scenes, and converting standard videos to slow motion, maintaining both sharpness and visual coherence.

topaz frame interpolation - chronos model performance

Aion for Resolution & Extreme Slo-Mo

If you’re dealing with 4K+ footage, or want ultra-slow-motion (up to 16x), Aion steps up. It preserves more edge detail and reduces “stitched” artifact lines even in ultra-high-resolution sports or wildlife clips. That said, it’s by far the slowest option—Aion’s processing time can feel glacial, especially on older GPUs. For flagship projects or critical archival restoration, though, nothing matches its quality.

topaz frame interpolation - aion model performance

Model Comparison Table: Apollo vs Chronos vs Aion

Topaz Apollo vs Chronos vs Aion: Scenarios

ModelCore Use CaseTypical InputOutput Frames / RunBest ForNot Ideal For
ApolloNonlinear, blurry, or shaky motionSports, Action, Jitter8Complex slow-mo, dynamic movementStatic, simple scenes
Apollo - FastSmooth, low-texture, low-motion footageCalm pans, Interviews4Speed with simple contentBusy, blurry, or complex motion
ChronosAll-purpose interpolationMixed, Gaming, Slow-MoVariableBalanced results, versatilityLarge frame leaps, pure speed
Chronos - FastFast action, big movementSports, Racing, Fast CutsVariableHandling split-second/massive actionSlow/simple/static content
AionHigh-res, extreme motion & Slo-Mo4K+, Sports HighlightsUp to 16UHD, minimal artifacts, 16x slow motionLow end GPUs, fast output

Topaz Apollo vs Chronos vs Aion: Speed and Quality

Testing machine

  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with Radeon Graphics
ModelTest Input (Duration / FPS)Output (FPS)Conversion TimeProcessing Speed (fps/sec)CommentStrengths
Apollo5s / 25fps120FPS2m 4s1.01Fast with complex motionHandles blur, tricky movement; smooth lines
Apollo - Fast15s / 30fps120FPS4m 26s1.69Fastest, for easy scenesQuick, minimal artifacts in easy content
Chronos10s / 30fps120FPS8m 17s0.60Good all-rounderConsistent, balanced, reliable output
Chronos - Fast30s / 25fps120FPS18m 35s0.67Not always "faster"Better on extreme motion, rapid changes
Aion15s / 30fps120FPS14m 35s0.51Highest quality, slowestTop detail, fewest stitched/ghost artifacts

*Tested on RTX 4070; results will vary.

Best Alternative: UniFab Smoother AI

While Topaz often dominates the discussion, it’s far from your only choice. UniFab Smoother AI has quickly become a serious Topaz Video AI Alternative, especially for creators seeking speed, simplicity, and strong results—without getting locked into a subscription. But what actually sets it apart?

Why Choose UniFab Smoother AI?

UniFab Smoother AI offers fast, high-quality frame interpolation with an intuitive workflow and a buy-it-once lifetime license, making it ideal for users who value speed, affordability, and all-in-one functionality. It’s designed to reduce visible artifacts, with special attention to preserving natural motion—particularly in everyday and action-heavy videos.

Main advantages:

  • Fast Model: Prioritizes quicker output for clear, stable footage or simple scenes.
  • High-Quality Model: Focuses on maximizing frame quality, minimizing artifacts even in tricky, high-motion material.
  • User-friendly interface: Simple, feature-driven workflow lowers the entry barrier compared to model-driven platforms.
  • One-time pricing: Lifetime use with free upgrades, no recurring fees.
  • Part of UniFab All-In-One suite: Access 17+ enhancement and editing tools covering most video/audio needs (upscaling, denoise, HDR upconvert, etc.)

Best Topaz Alternative: UniFab All-In-One

  • Topaz-level enhancement depth
  • Better pricing ($319.99 Lifetime) than Topaz ($299/Year)
  • More Complete features than Topaz
  • Frequent product releases and updates
  • 30-Day Full-Feature Free Trial, No Watermark

UniFab All-In-One

UniFab vs Topaz: Hands-On Speed and Quality Results

Specs and feature lists are one thing—but how do Topaz and UniFab actually perform in real projects? It’s time to leave the marketing slides behind and get into real-world benchmarks: processing speed, frame smoothness, and how they handle the unpredictable messiness of actual footage.

Real-World Benchmark Numbers

In head-to-head tests on an RTX 4070 system, UniFab Smoother AI ran up to 30% faster than Topaz’s flagship models, while maintaining comparable visual fidelity, especially on motion-intensive clips. For example, converting a 30-second 25fps video to 120fps:

ModelTest Input (Duration / FPS)Output (FPS)Conversion TimeProcessing Speed (fps/sec)
Apollo5s / 25fps120FPS2m 4s1.01fps/s
Apollo - Fast15s / 30fps120FPS4m 26s1.69fps/s
Chronos10s / 30fps120FPS8m 17s0.60fps/s
Chronos - Fast30s / 25fps120FPS18m 35s0.67fps/s
Aion15s / 30fps120FPS14m 35s0.51fps/s
UniFab Smoother AI30s / 25fps120FPS14m 12s0.88fps/s

*Numbers based on controlled desktop tests; real-world speeds may differ by hardware and project complexity.

Typical Artifacts & Smoothness Test

One of the biggest fears with AI interpolation is artifacts: ghosting, edge doubling, strange morphs on fast scenes. In our direct tests, both Topaz and UniFab excel at suppressing common flaws, with only subtle differences:

original vs topaz vs unifab - frame interpolation
  • UniFab Smoother AI: Delivers exceptional frame interpolation results across most materials, generating high-quality frames with significantly reduced artifacts. Its performance is particularly outstanding in motion scenes, offering smoother and more natural visuals.
  • Topaz Video AI: Equipped with multiple specialized models tailored for different scenes, it also produces excellent frame quality while effectively minimizing artifacts. Its scene-specific optimization further enhances the overall performance.

Price & Value Comparison Table

ProductLicensePrice (USD)Included ToolsFree Trial
UniFab Smoother AILifetime (ONE-TIME)$89.99Smoother AI30 days, no watermark
UniFab All-In-OneLifetime (ONE-TIME)$319.9917+ (including UniFab Smoother AI)30 days, no watermark
Topaz Video AISubscription$299/year≈530 days, watermark
  • In the long run, UniFab’s single purchase and broader toolkit stand out for anyone unwilling to pay again and again for updates or new features.
  • Topaz may be more specialized for certain professional FX roles, but most general users and indie creators find UniFab’s workflow more approachable—especially those with budget limits.

Conclusion: Which AI Interpolator Wins?

So, after all the numbers and real-world tests, which frame interpolation tool actually takes the crown for 2024? The answer, as usual with creative software, depends on your priorities—but some patterns stand out.

Key Takeaways:

  • Topaz Video AI offers the ultimate in control and specialty models for pixel-perfect results—especially suited to professionals chasing extreme detail, tricky slow motion, or working with a wide variety of motion profiles.
  • UniFab Smoother AI is a speed champ with one of the lowest barriers to entry, making it the clear favorite for solo creators, indie teams, and anyone who dreads subscriptions and tune-heavy workflows.
  • Pricing: UniFab's buy-once model and huge feature set (17+ tools) make it an obvious long-term value for most users.
  • Quality: For 95% of use cases, both tools will impress—and only the most demanding users or cinephiles will reliably notice the micro-differences.

If you want plug-and-play reliability, speed, and a future-proof deal, UniFab Smoother AI is a “no regrets” choice. If your projects demand absolute perfection, and you accept the time and learning curve, Topaz Video AI still rules the high-end.

FAQ about Topaz Frame Interpolation

What is frame interpolation in Topaz?

Frame interpolation in Topaz refers to the AI-powered process of generating new, intermediate frames between existing video frames to create smoother motion or higher frame rates. Using advanced models like Apollo, Chronos, and Aion, Topaz Video AI can transform ordinary footage into slow-motion or boost fluidity for standard or high-resolution videos, while minimizing motion artifacts and preserving visual detail.

What is the difference between Chronos and Apollo Topaz?

Chronos is Topaz Video AI’s general-purpose frame interpolation model, designed for versatility and reliable results with most footage, especially gaming, casual scenes, or standard slow motion. Apollo, on the other hand, excels in handling complex, nonlinear motion and slightly blurry or shaky footage—making it ideal for sports, action, or dynamic handheld videos. Apollo typically runs faster with complex action, while Chronos offers more balanced performance for a wide range of input.

Which Topaz frame interpolation model should I start with for general video projects?

For general video projects, start with the Chronos model. Chronos offers reliable, artifact-free results for most everyday content, from gaming and vlogs to event footage. If your video includes unpredictable or high-speed motion (like sports or dance), try Apollo, but for most users and standard scenarios, Chronos is the safest and most versatile choice.

avatar
Harper
Tech Review Writer
I enjoy capturing life's beautiful moments and exploring innovation. Trying different video editing software helps me find the best tools for my work. My articles aim to help you discover video editing software that fits your style, as we navigate the ever-changing world of technology together.