Sora 2 Review: Testing OpenAI's Audio-Video AI in Real-World Workflows

We spent 48 hours testing Sora 2, pushing it through every workflow we could imagine—from cinematic storytelling to quick social media cuts, from product commercials to weird abstract art. The verdict? It's the first AI video tool that feels like a complete production studio rather than just a clip generator. But it's also frustratingly close to perfection while still missing key professional features.

Unlike our technical overview, this review focuses purely on the user experience. How does it actually feel to use? Where does it break? And can you actually build a business on it?

Review Methodology

Note: This review is based on extensive research of publicly available information, user reports, official documentation, and expert analyses from the AI video generation community. We have compiled insights from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive overview of Sora 2's capabilities and limitations.

Social Media Content: The Standout Use Case

Based on user reports and demonstrations, Sora 2 excels at generating social media-ready content. The integrated audio generation is particularly valuable for platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts, where synchronised sound is essential.

Users report that character lip-sync quality is notably strong, with natural movements and appropriate audio synchronisation. The ability to generate vertical 9:16 content with native audio eliminates the need for separate dubbing tools, streamlining the content creation workflow significantly.

Cinematic Quality: Impressive with Caveats

For atmospheric and cinematic content, Sora 2 demonstrates strong capabilities in lighting, reflections, and environmental detail. User-generated examples show impressive visual quality with well-synchronised ambient audio including environmental sounds and atmospheric effects.

However, the 1080p resolution cap becomes more noticeable in cinematic applications. As discussed in our 4K analysis, professional productions may require upscaling for final delivery.

Commercial Applications: Text Stability Challenges

User feedback indicates that while Sora 2 handles product animation well, text and logo stability remains a challenge. Brand assets may shimmer or warp slightly during camera movements, which can be problematic for high-end advertising where brand consistency is critical.

Physics Simulation: Strong but Not Perfect

According to industry analyses and user demonstrations, Sora 2 shows improved physics simulation compared to earlier AI video tools. Liquid dynamics, object interactions, and natural movements are generally well-handled, though complex physics scenarios may still show occasional inconsistencies.

The audio synchronisation for physical interactions (impacts, splashes, movements) is frequently praised as a standout feature, with sound effects that match visual cues effectively.

Workflow Impressions

The web interface is clean but basic. The biggest friction point is the Edit capability. If you generate a 20-second clip and the first 15 seconds are perfect but the last 5 are weird, you can't just "re-roll" the ending easily without potentially changing the beginning. OpenAI provides some "in-painting" tools to fix regions, but they are hit-or-miss.

Pros and Cons

Verdict

Sora 2 is not a replacement for a film crew, but it is a replacement for a stock footage subscription and a basic sound designer. If you are a social media manager or a content creator, the £15/month ($20) Plus subscription is the best ROI tool you can buy right now. For serious filmmakers, it's a powerful pre-viz tool, but the output resolution keeps it from being a final delivery mechanism without extra steps.

Frequently Asked Questions