The gold standard for studio and commercial photography, renowned for its superior RAW processing and industry-leading tethered shooting. The late 2025 update (v16.7) introduced 'Combine Masks,' 'Clothes Masking,' and a redesigned Retouch Tool Tab for AI-powered face, eye, and teeth enhancements. While unmatched in color accuracy, its high cost and subscription-first updates drive many towards more affordable or open-source rivals.

An AI-first photo editor that excels in rapid creative transformations. The late 2025 update features 'Light Depth' for 3D relighting, 'Photo Restoration' for fixing heritage images, and a new 'AI Assistant' that provides targeted editing guidance. While it is incredibly fast for complex tasks like sky replacement and skin retouching, its heavy RAM usage and lack of professional-grade cataloging tools remain a concern for high-volume pros.