In this test, we compare the retopology quality of three major AI 3D tools: Hunyuan 3D (HY3D), Meshy, and Tripo AI.
Retopology is critical for game-ready assets, animation, and efficient rendering. A good retopo tool should preserve form, create clean topology, and distribute geometry intelligently. Let's see how these tools perform.
Test Setup
To ensure a fair and controlled comparison, the same base model was used for all tools — a simple ball-like object chosen intentionally:
- Simple enough to avoid bias from extreme geometry
- Contains both smooth organic surfaces and subtle hard-surface transitions
- Easy to visually evaluate topology, shading, and deformation
Retopology Settings
For each tool, we tested two target levels:
Evaluation Methodology
The evaluation was performed in three stages:
1. Form Preservation
How well the retopologized mesh preserves the original shape — volumes, curvature, and silhouette.
2. Topology & Shading Quality
Edge flow, mesh readability, presence of artifacts, and whether topology looks stable and intentional.
3. Geometry Validation (3D Print Toolbox)
Objective diagnostics using Blender's 3D Print Toolbox: non-manifold edges, intersecting faces, zero-area faces, thin faces, and overhang faces.
Results: Hunyuan 3D
Geometry Analysis
| Metric | Low Poly | Mid Poly |
|---|---|---|
| Non-manifold | 0 | 0 |
| Intersect Faces | 0 | 0 |
| Zero Faces | 570 | 964 |
| Thin Faces | 60 | 28 |
| Overhang Faces | 80 | 108 |
Results: Meshy
Geometry Analysis
| Metric | Low Poly | Mid Poly |
|---|---|---|
| Non-manifold | 21 | 6 |
| Intersect Faces | 0 | 2 |
| Zero Faces | 725 | 3,301 |
| Thin Faces | 22 | 93 |
| Overhang Faces | 259 | 560 |
Results: Tripo AI
Geometry Analysis
| Metric | Low Poly | Mid Poly |
|---|---|---|
| Non-manifold | 6 | 31 |
| Intersect Faces | 3 | 0 |
| Zero Faces | 2,048 | 3,974 |
| Thin Faces | 123 | 111 |
| Overhang Faces | 186 | 329 |
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Category | HY3D | Meshy | Tripo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geometry Distribution | 5/5 | 2/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Form Preservation | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| Mesh Cleanliness | 4/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Manual Cleanup Needed | None | Heavy | Moderate |
Category Breakdown
Geometry Distribution
- HY3D (5/5): Excellent distribution. Flat areas receive minimal geometry; detail is added only where needed.
- Tripo (3.5/5): Some understanding of distribution, but inconsistent. Geometry sometimes added where unnecessary.
- Meshy (2/5): Very weak distribution. Geometry density feels uniform and unoptimized.
Form Preservation
- HY3D (4/5): Holds original form very well. Minor issues from shading artifacts in certain areas.
- Tripo (4/5): Generally preserves shape accurately. Occasionally introduces small inconsistencies.
- Meshy (3/5): Basic form is preserved, but with noticeable degradation in curvature and smoothness.
Mesh Cleanliness & Shading
- HY3D (4/5): Clean topology overall, but local shading breaks appear in some regions.
- Tripo (3/5): Acceptable cleanliness, but topology feels less organized and requires cleanup.
- Meshy (2/5): Chaotic edge flow and unstable topology. Shading and structure feel unreliable.
Final Verdict
This comparison shows that AI retopology tools behave very differently under the same conditions.
Hunyuan 3D — Winner
Delivers the cleanest and most production-ready geometry overall, despite limited control over exact polycount. No manual cleanup required.
Tripo AI — Usable with Cleanup
Sits in the middle: usable, but requires manual intervention. After merging vertices, results are acceptable for most workflows.
Meshy — Needs Work
Struggles with stability and consistency, especially at higher densities. Heavy manual cleanup required for production use.
Bottom line: If retopology quality is critical for your workflow, Hunyuan 3D currently leads the pack. For quick iterations where some cleanup is acceptable, Tripo AI is a solid choice.