How to improve the quality of photos on Android: 10 best applications with AI and manual settings

Smartphones have long replaced professional cameras for most users, but even flagship models sometimes produce pictures with noise, blur, or dull colors. Fortunately, they applications for improving photo quality on Android are able to correct most defects - from automatic retouching to deep correction of exposure and sharpness. In this article, we tested dozens of apps and selected those that actually work: from free utilities with basic filters to advanced editors with neural networks that restore details in old photos.

It is important to understand that not all applications are equally effective. Some specialize in increasing resolution (upscaling), others - in removing noise or lighting correction. We analyzed each one according to key criteria: processing speed, quality of the result, presence of watermarks and hidden fees. We’ll also tell you how to avoid common mistakes when improving photos that only spoil the source.

If you are looking for a way to bring old family photos back to life, make selfies clearer or prepare photos for printing - here you will find a tool for any task. Applications like Remini or Adobe Lightroom use different algorithms: the former operate with neural networks to restore faces, the latter give precise control over each pixel. But first things first.

Why Are photos on Android of poor quality?

Before looking for an application to improve them, understand the reasons for the low quality of photos. Most often, not only camera settings are to blame, but also hardware limitations:

• 📱 Small camera sensor: even in budget smartphones, the matrix physically cannot capture enough light, which is why noise appears, especially in the dark.
• 🔍 Software processing: many manufacturers aggressively smooth out photos out of the box, removing details in favor "smoothness".
• 📏 Format compression: JPEG loses quality when saved, and HEIC (on some devices) may not be displayed correctly.
• 👓 Dirty lens: greasy spots or scratches on the lenses distort the picture more than it seems.
• ⚡ Lack of memory: when the storage is full, the camera can save photos in low resolution.

Interestingly, even flagship smartphones like Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or Google Pixel 8 Pro sometimes they produce “soapy” pictures when shooting in automatic mode. The problem is the HDR algorithms, which try to balance light and shadows, but overdo it with blur. In such cases, manually adjusting the exposure in the camera application will give a better result than post-processing.

⚠️ Attention: If your smartphone is older than 2019, check whether it supports shooting in RAW (usually in the camera's pro mode). RAW files save the most data for later enhancement, but take up 3-5 times more space.

Now that you know the root of the problem, let's move on to solutions. Let's start with applications that work "in one click" - ideal for beginners.

Top 3 applications for automatic photo enhancement

These apps are suitable for those who do not want to understand the settings, but want to get a noticeable result in seconds. They all use artificial intelligence to analyze the image and apply optimal corrections.

1. Remini - restoration of faces and details

Remini from Bending Spoons became viral thanks to its ability to “rejuvenate” old photos. The application specializes in:

• 👶 Restoring blurred faces (even in pictures from 20 years ago).
• 🖼️ Increasing resolution without losing quality (up to 4× upscaling).
• 🌃 Removing noise at night photographs.

The main advantage is that free version allows you to process up to 5 photos per day without watermarks. Of the minuses: sometimes the AI ​​“invents” details that were not there (for example, changes the hairstyle or the shape of the ears).

2. Adobe Photoshop Express - balance of speed and quality

Simplified version Photoshop for mobile devices. There is:

• ⚡ One-touch auto-correction (One-Tap Auto Fix).
• 🎨 45+ preset filters with intensity settings.
• 🔍 Tool Detail Enhancer for working out textures.

Application free, but some functions (for example, deleting objects) require a subscription Adobe Creative Cloud (from 299 ₽/month). But here you can save photos in PNG without loss.

3. Snapseed - advanced retouching from Google

Developed Google, Snapseed offers 29 tools and 11 filter styles. Particularly useful:

• 📊 Histogram for fine-tuning exposure.
• 🖌️ Correction brush for selective editing.
• 🔄 Function Double Exposure for creative collages.

All tools are free, there are no ads or watermarks. The downside is that the interface may seem complicated for beginners.

Application	Best for	Free version	Subscription/Payments
Remini	Old/blurry photos, portraits	5 photos/day	From 499 ₽/month for unlimited
Adobe Photoshop Express	Fast correction, filters	Yes (with restrictions)	From 299 ₽/month
Snapseed	Advanced retouching, HDR	Completely free	No

⚠️ Attention: When using AI tools like Remini always keep the original! Algorithms can distort real details (for example, adding teeth on a closed mouth or changing eye color).

Applications for manual settings: when the automation fails

If you need precise control over the parameters - brightness, contrast, sharpness - pay attention to these tools. They take more time, but give a professional result.

1. Lightroom Mobile is an industry standard

Adobe Lightroom used by photographers around the world thanks to:

• 📈 Tonal correction curves (Tone Curve).
• 🎭 Selective processing (masks for individual areas).
• 📱 Synchronization with the desktop version.

The free version allows you to edit photos, but high-resolution export requires a subscription (from 299 ₽/month), but here you can create your own presets and apply them to a pack of pictures.

2. stylish filters and fine-tuning data-i="140">i

VSCO known for his analog filterssimulating film. Pros:

• 🎞️ 200+ presets (including imitation Kodak Portra And Fuji Pro 400H).
• 🔧 Editor with support RAW.
• 📲 Minimalistic interface.

Minus - most filters are paid (from 199 ₽ per pack) But here you can adjust the intensity of the effect, unlike Instagram.

3. Afterlight 2 - for creative experiments

This application is suitable for those who love non-standard effects:

• 🌈 130+ textures and overlays (rain, snow, light rays).
• 🖼️ Double exposure with setting transparency.
• 🎨 Brushes for painting with light.

Cost - 379 ₽ one-time. There is no subscription, but there is no free version either.

If you are seriously interested in photography, the combination Lightroom (for corrections) + VSCO (for stylization) will give better results than any one application.

How to improve the resolution of a photo without losing quality?

Increasing the resolution (upscaling) is one of the most difficult tasks. Most applications simply stretch the pixels, which causes soap to appear. But there are tools that restore details using AI.

1. Gigapixel AI (from Topaz Labs)

This is a desktop application, but it can be used on Android through Parallels or Chrome Remote Desktop. Gigapixel AI increases the resolution to 6× no artifacts by analyzing textures. For example, it will draw individual hairs in a portrait, and leaves on trees in a landscape.

The downside is the high price (about 6,000 ₽) and demanding hardware. But the result is superior to all mobile analogues.

2. Let’s Enhance

Online service with a mobile application. Allows you to enlarge a photo up to 2048×2048 pxfor free. Paid (from $9/month) - up to 16K. Supports formats JPEG, PNG i WEBP.

Feature is an algorithm Super Resolutionthat restores lost details better than standard bicubic upscaling.

3. Bigjpg (for anime and illustrations)

If you need to enlarge drawings, screenshots or anime, Bigjpg it will do a better job than others. It uses a neural network trained on illustrations, so it does not spoil the contours.

Free - up to 3000×3000 px, paid (from 5 $/month) - without restrictions.

Service	Max. increase	Free	Subscription
Gigapixel AI	6×	No (trial 30 days)	~6,000 ₽ one-time
Let’s Enhance	16×	Up to 2048px	From 9$/month
Bigjpg	4×	Up to 3000px	From 5$/month

⚠️ Attention: When upscaling photos for printing, consider DPI. For a high-quality print on paper measuring 10x15 cm, you need a minimum 1200×1800 px at 300 DPI. Most applications only increase pixels, but not DPI - this will have to be done manually in Photoshop or GIMP.

Hidden Android functions for improving photos without third-party applications

Not everyone knows, but Android itself has tools for improving pictures. They are less powerful than specialized applications, but work without installing additional software.

1. Google Photos: automatic retouching

The application Google Photos has a built-in editor (Edit → Tools). Here you can: Google Photos data-i="205">🔍 Increase sharpness (

• 🌟Apply Auto improvement (corrects color and light).
• 🔍 Increase sharpness (Detail).
• 🎨 Add filters (Styles).

Plus - all changes are saved in a separate copy, the original is not affected.

2. Pro mode in a standard camera

On most smartphones (Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus) the camera application has a mode Pro or ManualHere you can manually configure:

• 📸 Shutter speed (from 1/4000s to 30s).
• 🌡️ White balance (from 2500K to 10000K).
• 🔎 Focal length (if there is a zoom).

Tip: for night photography, set the shutter speed 1-2 seconds and ISO no higher 1600to avoid noise.

3. HDR+ on Google Pixel

Devices on Google Pixel use technology HDR+that automatically combines multiple frames to improve dynamic range. enable:

1. Open Camera → Settings → HDR+.
2. Select HDR+ enhanced (for static scenes) or HDR+ automatic.

This feature is especially useful when shooting against the sun or in rooms with contrasting lighting.

How to save a photo in RAW on Android?

Open the camera application → go to settings → find the option "Save as RAW" or "Pro mode" → turn it on. RAW files take up a lot of space (20–50 MB), but allow you to flexibly edit photos later.

Typical mistakes when improving photos on Android

Even with the best applications, you can ruin a photo if you don’t know these nuances:

1. Excessive sharpness: many increase the parameter Sharpening to the maximum, which causes artifacts to appear at the edges of objects (halos). The optimal value is 20–30%.
2. Overloading the saturation: bright colors look unnatural, especially on the skin. data-i="247">—it affects the shades more subtly. Vibrance instead of Saturation — it affects shades more subtly.
3. Ignoring the histogram: if the graph on the histogram is “stuck” to the left or right edge, it means you have lost details in the shadows or highlights.
4. Saving in JPEG after editing: every time you save it in JPEG, the photo loses quality. Use PNG or TIFF for intermediate versions.
5. Increasing the resolution unnecessarily: if the photo is like this 4000×3000 px, upscaling to 8000×6000 px will only add noise.

Another common mistake is editing on a small screenWhat looks good on a smartphone display may turn out to be overexposed or blurry on a large one. monitor. Always check the result on several devices.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about improving photos on Android

Is it possible to improve the quality of a photo taken on an old phone (for example, Samsung Galaxy S5)?

Yes, but the result depends on the original quality. Applications like Remini or Topaz Gigapixel AI will help reduce noise and increase resolution, but they will not return lost details (for example, if the face in the photo is the size 3x3 pixels). For maximum effect:

1. Shoot the photo in RAW (if the camera supports it).
2. Use DxO PureRAW for pre-processing.
3. Apply upscaling in Let’s Enhance.

You shouldn't expect a miracle, but the quality will be 30-50% better.

Which application is better for retouching portraits?

For portraits they are suitable:

• Remini — for restoring old photos.
• FaceTune — for smooth skin and correction of facial features.
• Lightroom Mobile — for natural retouching while preserving textures.

Avoid BeautyCam and analogues - they smooth the face too aggressively, removing all natural details.

How to improve night photos taken on smartphone?

Night shots are the most difficult to improve, but try:

1. In Lightroom reduce Shadows and increase Exposure.
2. In Snapseed apply the tool Selective correction to the dark areas.
3. Use NeuralCam (iPhone only) or Night Sight on Google Pixel for shooting.

If the photo is too noisy, try Denoise AI from Topaz Labs.

Is it possible to improve the photo so that it is accepted to stock sites (Shutterstock, Adobe Stock)?

Yes, but there are nuances:

• Stocks require a minimum resolution 4000×3000 px (for Shutterstock).
• AI upscaling (if the source was of low quality) and deep retouching (for example, replacing the sky).
• Use Lightroom to correct color and Photoshop Express to remove dust.

Before uploading, check the photo on ForeGround - the service analyzes noise, sharpness and exposure.

Why did the photo become worse after improvement in the application?

This is due to:

• Excessive processing (for example, sharpening >50%).
• Incorrect order of actions (correct exposure first, then color).
• Save in JPEG with high compression.
• Use AI in photos with strong compression (for example, from instant messengers).

Always work with the original in maximum resolution and save intermediate versions.