The Pixel 9 Pro is an excellent camera phone, but sometimes the standard image processing isn’t quite what I want. While the Pixel’s automatic processing usually delivers impressive results, I occasionally wish I could add more personal style, like the flexibility Apple’s Photographic Styles offer. So, instead of seeking a new camera app, I decided to explore new photo editing options to achieve the look I desired.
The Search for the Right Photo Editor
Though the Pixel Camera app has some great features powered by Google’s Tensor chip, it doesn’t offer as much creative flexibility as I wanted in terms of adjusting colors and tones. This led me to explore three photo editors: Google Photos, VSCO, and Lightroom Mobile.
Google Photos: Easy to use and pre-installed on most Pixel devices, Google Photos provides quick edits, like enhancing sharpness or adjusting the sky. However, it lacks deeper customization and doesn’t allow for saving custom presets, which makes it harder to replicate edits consistently.
VSCO: Popular for its aesthetic filters, VSCO offers preset filters like the G3 and P5 that can enhance images. However, without a premium subscription, VSCO is limited in features, offering only basic tweaks to exposure and white balance.
Lightroom Mobile: As an Adobe user, I’m already familiar with Lightroom’s desktop version, and I found Lightroom Mobile to be a great choice for advanced editing. It offers more control over geometry corrections and exposure, and I can access the presets I regularly use. However, Lightroom Mobile is more complex and takes a bit more time to master, but it’s a powerful tool for those looking for detailed edits.
My Verdict: Lightroom Mobile Wins
After testing all three, I found that Lightroom Mobile suited my needs best, offering a balance of professional controls and familiarity with my existing editing workflow. It allowed for more precise adjustments and gave me access to presets I’m already comfortable with, making the editing process quicker and more intuitive.
While Google Photos remains a solid choice for basic edits, and VSCO shines for simple, aesthetic-focused adjustments, Lightroom Mobile was the standout for more detailed photo editing, making it the editor I plan to stick with on my Pixel 9 Pro. The ability to tweak images to my preference and access advanced features like geometry correction and presets makes Lightroom my go-to editor.