Adobe Releases Photoshop for Android: It's Free for a Limited Time

After years of deploying mobile apps that lacked the full capabilities of Photoshop, Adobe has finally met the demands of its user base. Yes, real Photoshop is now available for download on Android devices. This marks a significant development after the launch of a mobile version for iPhone earlier this year. Currently, Photoshop for Android is available in beta and can be used free of charge throughout this period.

The app includes a versatile range of tools from the desktop variant of Adobe’s iconic image editor. Users can access masks, clone stamp, layers, transformations, cropping, and various generative AI tools. Although the app initially appears sparse, the toolbar's features unveil as you engage in selecting areas and working with layers.

This release signifies Adobe's third attempt to launch Photoshop for mobile phones. Compared to Photoshop Express and the outdated Photoshop Touch app, it offers a more comprehensive suite of tools. For newcomers to Photoshop, the app provides a wealth of tutorials accessible via a convenient light bulb icon.

Adobe’s Generative AI Features
One of the standout features in the mobile app is Adobe's generative AI tools, which make it easy to select subjects, remove elements, or add new content simply through text prompts. These tools operate with the efficiency of their desktop counterparts, leveraging the same cloud services. Although such capabilities were revolutionary a year ago, competition from features like Google’s Magic Editor has since increased.

While the mobile version doesn’t encompass all desktop features, users may notice some unusual exclusions. Filters are absent, image cropping is restricted to ratios, and content-aware fill remains "coming soon." Additionally, a mandatory login is required, likely in preparation for a subscription model following the beta phase.

As of now, Adobe has not detailed the forthcoming subscription plan. If similar to the mobile version of Lightroom, select features may remain free, while advanced features, especially those that depend on cloud services, might require a Creative Cloud subscription. This subscription starts at $20 per month and includes desktop versions of Photoshop and Lightroom. The app’s beta period remains uncertain, so interested users are encouraged not to delay in downloading it. Most modern devices running Android 11 or later with 6GB of RAM are compatible, but Adobe recommends 8GB for optimal performance. Approximately 600MB of storage space is also needed.

Credit: Adobe