For over decades, Adobe's Photoshop has been more than just a name—it’s been the gold standard in image editing.
While creatives and alike have long worked their magic with Photoshop on desktops and tablets, smartphone users have had to settle for flings with apps like Canva, Facetune, and Lightroom. In fact, the company has been teasing people with mobile apps that weren’t quite Photoshop, making smartphones users feel left behind.
This time, Adobe is finally delivering what users have been craving: the real Photoshop for smartphones.
Earlier this year, the company launched Photoshop on iPhone—marking a major step toward bringing its iconic image editing tools to our palms. Now, Android users, it's their turn.
The official Photoshop app is available on Android in beta.
To mark its debut on all major supporting smartphones, Adobe is making Photoshop available for free, at least for a while.
In a blog post, Adobe said that:
Features include the ability to:
- Blend and compose images with core tools like selections, layers, and masks.
- Tap to select and instantly remove or replace objects with a single gesture.
- Brush away distractions in seconds using the Spot Healing Brush.
- Generate magic with Firefly-powered AI features like Generative Fill—add, extend, or transform elements effortlessly.
- Access a growing library of free Adobe Stock assets to elevate your visuals.
- Make precision selections with Object Select and Magic Wand.
- Refine with pro tools like Remove Tool and Clone Stamp.
- Take full control with blend modes, adjustment layers, and fine-tuned effects.
And of course, since the launch happens during Adobe's venture into AI, the Photoshop app also comes with Adobe's generative AI tools.
Adobe said that it plans to bring additional capabilities to the app in the future.
For over 30 years, Photoshop has reigned as the crown jewel of image editing—a powerful tool embraced by professionals, artists, photographers, and designers worldwide.
Its legacy is one of precision, complexity, and creativity. To stand true to that, Photoshop is traditionally reserved for desktops with big screens and sufficient hardware for better performance.
But times have changed—and so has the hardware.
Today’s smartphones are no longer just communication devices—they’re creative powerhouses, more than capable of running apps once exclusive to high-end machines.
That means Adobe can no longer claim performance limitations as a reason to keep Photoshop off mobile.
By bringing Photoshop to smartphones, Adobe is doing more than expanding platforms—it’s expanding its audience.
The goa is to attract a new generation of creators—particularly younger users—who are used to sketching, snapping, and sharing right from their phones. And for long-time Photoshop users, the mobile app offers a new level of flexibility.
Whether it’s a quick edit on the go or a full project started from scratch, Photoshop is now wherever inspiration strikes.
Photoshop for Android (Beta) is officially available for all Android users on Google Play Store, but not all devices are eligible to run it. According to Adobe, the app requires a device running Android 11 or later with a minimum of 6GB of RAM.
For optimal performance—particularly when using advanced features such as Generative Fill or working with high-resolution files—8GB of RAM or more is recommended. This ensures a smoother editing experience and better responsiveness throughout the app.
In essence, users with modern, capable smartphones will get the most out of Photoshop’s mobile power.