This is Hamamoto from TIMEWELL.
"V7 is not just an update. It's a completely different architecture." — David Holz, CEO of Midjourney.
Released in April 2025, Midjourney V7 is not an incremental improvement over V6 — it is an entirely new model rebuilt from the ground up. Personalization is now enabled by default, and the video generation feature "V1 Video" has also arrived. Midjourney has evolved from an "image generation AI" into a "visual content generation platform."
This article explains V7's new features, pricing, and practical business applications.
What Is Midjourney V7? A Completely New Architecture
What's New in V7
V7, released in April 2025, is fundamentally different from V6.
Key Characteristics of V7:
- Completely new design: Trained on a new dataset with a new architecture
- Improved prompt interpretation: More accurately understands your intent
- Enhanced realism: Major improvements in light handling, skin texture, and fine detail
- Faster processing: Reduced generation time
- Personalization: Learns user preferences
V7 became the default model on June 16, 2025, and is available across all subscription plans.
Personalization Feature
The signature feature of V7 is "Personalization" — a function that learns your aesthetic sensibility and generates images tailored to your preferences.
How Personalization Works:
- Rate approximately 200 images (takes 15–20 minutes)
- Midjourney builds a preference profile for you
- All subsequent generations are optimized for your tastes
This means the same prompt now produces different styles for different users.
NeRF-Style 3D Modeling
V7 also includes a "NeRF-style 3D modeling" feature for immersive content. This makes it possible to express 3D perspective changes from a 2D image.
V1 Video: Generate Videos from Images
Video Generation Overview
Midjourney has released V1 Video, a video generation model.
V1 Video Specifications:
- Upload an image, or use an image generated with Midjourney V7
- Generates video clips of 5–21 seconds
- Two speed settings: low-motion and high-motion
CEO David Holz describes V1 Video as "the first video model for everyone."
Video Generation Limitations
V1 Video currently has several limitations.
Important Notes:
- Video generation from text prompts alone is not supported (an image is required)
- Video generation consumes 8x more credits than image generation
- Unlimited video generation (Relax Mode) is available on Pro/Mega plans only
Compared to competing tools like Sora 2, which can generate video directly from text, Midjourney's video capabilities are still developing.
Video Use Cases
1. Social Media Content
- Animate still images
- Create eye-catching advertising materials
2. Presentations
- Add motion to slides
- Visualize concepts
3. Prototyping
- Storyboard review for video production
- Concept validation for games and animation
Niji 7: The Anime-Focused Model
Released January 2026
On January 9, 2026, "Niji 7" — the anime-focused model — was released.
Niji 7 Features:
- Optimized for anime and illustration styles
- Major improvement in coherency (consistency)
- Accurate expression of character facial expressions and poses
- Specialized for Japanese anime styles
When generating anime-style content, using Niji 7 instead of standard V7 delivers higher quality results.
Looking for AI training and consulting?
Learn about WARP training programs and consulting services in our materials.
Pricing Plans (as of January 2026)
Plan Comparison
| Plan | Monthly | Annual (per month) | GPU Time | Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $10 | $8 | ~3.3 hrs | ~200 images/month |
| Standard | $30 | $24 | 15 hrs | Relax Mode supported |
| Pro | $60 | $48 | 30 hrs | Stealth Mode supported |
| Mega | $120 | $96 | 60 hrs | For high-volume generation |
Note: Midjourney does not currently offer a free trial. A paid plan is required to use the service.
Choosing the Right Plan
1. Basic ($10/month)
- Hobbyist use
- Approximately 200 images per month
- Generated images are public
2. Standard ($30/month)
- Creators who use it regularly
- Relax Mode enables unlimited generation with no time cap
- Best cost-performance ratio
3. Pro ($60/month)
- Business use
- Stealth Mode for private generation
- Images and prompts are not visible to other users
4. Mega ($120/month)
- Organizations requiring high-volume generation
- Production companies and advertising agencies
- Maximum generation capacity
Basic Usage
Creating an Account
- Visit midjourney.com
- Log in with a Google account or Discord
- Select a plan and complete payment
- Start generating immediately
Entering Prompts
Web Version Operation:
- Enter your prompt in the chat field
- Click the Submit button
- Four images are generated in approximately 30 seconds to 1 minute
- Select a favorite image and upscale it or generate variations
Prompt Tips
1. Start Simple
A Japanese woman in a white shirt
2. Add Detail
A Japanese woman in a white shirt, standing in a meadow,
soft morning light, photorealistic, 8K
3. Specify Style
--style raw (minimal processing)
--ar 16:9 (aspect ratio)
--v 7 (version specification)
Japanese Language Support
Midjourney supports Japanese-language prompts, but English prompts tend to produce more accurate results.
Japanese Example:
スーツを着た日本人男性が腕組みをして笑っている、オフィスビル背景
(A Japanese man in a suit, arms folded, smiling, office building background)
Comparison with Other Image Generation AI Tools
Competitive Comparison (January 2026)
| Item | Midjourney V7 | DALL-E 3 | Stable Diffusion 3 | Adobe Firefly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Realism | ◎ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Video generation | ○ (from image) | × | △ | × |
| Pricing | $10–120/month | Included with GPT-4 | Free/paid | $4.99–22.99/month |
| Commercial use | ○ | ○ | ○ | ◎ (copyright-cleared) |
| Personalization | ◎ | × | × | × |
Midjourney's Strengths
1. Realism
- Generates the most realistic images compared to other AI tools
- Outstanding rendering of light, shadow, and texture
2. Aesthetic Sensibility
- Tendency to generate "beautiful" images
- High artistic quality output
3. Personalization
- Learns user preferences
- A capability not found in other AI tools
Midjourney's Weaknesses
1. Video Generation
- Can only generate video from an image, not from text alone
- Text-to-video like Sora 2 is not yet supported
2. Pricing
- No free trial
- Minimum cost of $10/month
3. Text in Images
- Text within generated images can still be inaccurate
Then vs. Now: Midjourney's Evolution
Comparing with the information this article was originally based on, Midjourney has evolved significantly.
Then (Second Half of 2024):
- V6 was the latest model
- Video generation not yet released
- Personalization was limited
- Primarily Discord-based
Now (January 2026):
- V7 (completely new architecture)
- V1 Video (image-to-video generation)
- Personalization enabled by default
- Web version is the main platform
- Niji 7 (anime-focused model)
- Free trial discontinued
As competition in image generation AI intensifies, Midjourney is differentiating itself through "aesthetic sensibility" and "personalization."
Business Use Cases
1. Marketing and Advertising
Applications:
- Creating visuals for social media ads
- Generating banner ad variations
- Prototyping campaign visuals
Benefits:
- Reduced material production costs
- Rapid iteration
- Testing diverse variations
2. Product Planning and Design
Applications:
- Visualizing product concepts
- Exploring packaging design options
- Creating presentation imagery
Benefits:
- Reduced burden on designers
- Faster idea validation
- Smoother client communication
3. Content Production
Applications:
- Blog article thumbnails
- Visuals for owned media
- E-book cover images
Benefits:
- No need for stock photos
- Highly original materials
- Maintaining brand consistency
4. Recruiting and HR
Applications:
- Creating recruitment banners
- Visuals for internal newsletters
- Company introduction materials
Benefits:
- Avoids privacy issues with real person photos
- Create diverse visuals
- Materials suited to company image
Points to Consider Before Implementing
1. Copyright and Legal Risks
Items to Verify:
- Commercial use terms for generated images
- Checking similarity to existing copyrighted works
- Terms of use for client work
2. Brand Guidelines
Considerations:
- Whether to disclose AI generation
- Consistency with corporate brand
- Setting quality standards
3. Security
Why Pro/Mega Plans Are Recommended:
- Stealth Mode for private generation
- Suitable for highly confidential projects
- Prevents leakage of prompts and images
Supporting Enterprise AI Adoption
Image generation AI tools like Midjourney can be applied across many business scenarios. However, effective use requires understanding the tool's characteristics and integrating it into workflows.
TIMEWELL supports effective implementation and use of the latest AI tools, including Midjourney, through WARP consulting. Former DX and data strategy experts from major enterprises provide monthly updated support for leveraging cutting-edge AI tools.
ZEROCK provides an enterprise AI utilization foundation, enabling integration with a variety of AI tools including image generation AI.
Summary
Midjourney V7 is a model that is opening a new era in image generation AI.
Key Takeaways:
- V7 is a completely new architecture (released April 2025)
- Personalization is now enabled by default
- V1 Video generates 5–21 second clips from images
- Niji 7 is the anime-focused model (January 2026)
- Pricing: Basic $10/month to Mega $120/month
- Free trial has been discontinued
Midjourney has evolved from a mere "image generation tool" into a "visual content generation platform." With strengths in realism, aesthetic sensibility, and personalization, it carries the potential to be applied across a wide range of business scenarios.
