Comparison

Photon Camera vs PurePlayer Media

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Photon Camera

Transform your iPhone into a professional camera with full manual controls. Achieve DSLR-quality photos with advanced tools like focus peaking, live exposure, and RAW capture. Take creative control with AI processing options and a minimalist interface.

Highlights
  • Full manual control (ISO, shutter speed, white balance)
  • Focus peaking and focus loupe
  • Live exposure and histogram
  • RAW, ProRAW, HEIF, and JPEG capture
  • Adjustable AI processing (Process Control)
  • Minimalist and intuitive interface
  • Image browser with photo details
Features
Read full description

Turn your iPhone and iPad into a powerful photography tool with Photon Camera. Ideal for passionate enthusiasts and those venturing into professional photography, Photon Camera ensures DSLR-quality captures with every tap. DSLR-Quality Photos with Professional Features Photon Camera brings DSLR-quality photos to your iPhone and iPad with professional features for full manual control. Adjust focus, ISO, shutter speed, white balance, and, on iPhone 18 Pro, aperture, to capture unbelievable images. The ultimate camera app for creative photographers. Minimalist, Intuitive Design Ditch the clutter and focus on your shot. Photon sports a sleek, minimalist design that puts essential features at your fingertips. Clearly labeled, high-contrast, easy-to-tap controls give you instant access to focus, exposure, and white balance, so you can capture the perfect shot every time. Powerful, Professional Tools Experience the best of professional photography on your iPhone and iPad. Photon Camera equips you with robust tools such as live exposure, histogram, level, a focus loupe, timer, exposure clipping, and focus peaking, ensuring you capture exactly what you want. A Native iPad Camera Photon is built for iPad. All your pro tools are there: manual controls, histogram, level, focus peaking, and loupe, with layouts designed for the larger screen. A dedicated editing sidebar gives your photos more room while keeping adjustments close at hand. Smart, Precise Editing Edit with the same precision you shoot with. Smart Selection lets you tap an object and adjust it independently: Photon detects its edges, so you can brighten your subject, cool the background, or give each its own look. Blur and Sharpen tools let you soften a background or bring out detail, across the whole image or just a selection. On iPad, a dedicated editing sidebar gives your photos more room while keeping adjustments close at hand. Smart Selection requires iOS 27. Take Creative Control with Process Control Go beyond the basics of RAW photography with Process Control. This innovative tool lets you select the level of AI processing applied to your photos on a scale from 0% to 100%. Whether you prefer unprocessed RAW purity, fully enhanced photos, or something in between, Process Control ensures your creative vision comes to life. Process Control photos open directly in the editor, ready for finishing touches. Seamless Image Browser Relive your memories in a swipe with our easy-to-use image browser. Browse through your recent captures, get detailed insights about each photo, move smoothly into the editor, and share or delete with a single tap. Why Choose Photon? Simple, clutter-free interface designed for focused photography A native camera experience on iPad Capture in any format you like, including True RAW, ProRAW, HEIF, JPEG, and JPEG XL (iPhone 16 Pro and later). Or combine RAW and non-RAW formats. Instant access to manual controls, including Best-on-iPhone focus tools and manual aperture on iPhone 18 Pro, also through Camera Control Smart Selection, Blur, and Sharpen for precise, targeted edits Professional tools like live exposure, histogram, level, focus peaking, loupe, timer, exposure clipping, reliable RAW burst shooting, and external storage (iPhone 15 Pro and later) A user-friendly image browser that doubles as your digital photo album Photon Studio companion app that shows a live preview as you shoot your photos! Free for all Photon Pro users. Join the community of aspiring photographers taking their iPhone and iPad photography to the next level with Photon. It is not just a camera; it is a tool to unleash your creative vision. Download now and start capturing the world around you in stunning detail. You can review terms of use at https://photon.cam/terms/.

About

PurePlayer Media

Features
Read full description

PurePlayer Media is a modern, fast media player for your own playlists. Add your personal playlist from your provider and enjoy a beautiful, organized viewing experience on iPhone, iPad and Mac. FEATURES - Add your own M3U or portal playlist in seconds - Clean, fast browsing of your live channels, movies, and series - Smart organization by language, platform, and genre - Rich metadata: posters, ratings, descriptions - Program guide (EPG) support for live channels - Resume watching across your devices - Multi-device sync with a simple code - Favorites, watch history, and personalized tiles - Subtitle and audio track selection - Light on resources, smooth on every device PurePlayer Media does not provide any content. It is a player for playlists you already have from your own provider or personal media collection. An active playlist from your provider is required.

Screenshots

Photon Camera4 screens
PurePlayer Media4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: PurePlayer Media at every 8 days against Photon Camera's every 3 weeks. PurePlayer Media also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Photon Camera sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and PurePlayer Media sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Photon Camera ships an update every 3 weeks, PurePlayer Media every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Photon Camera versus PurePlayer Media: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPhoton CameraPurePlayer Media
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (71 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews24.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings71 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS26.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB63 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperLateNiteSoft S.L.PUREST LTD

Bugs and requests

Photon Camera

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Manual mode crashes
  • Inability to access external storage
  • Incompatibility with certain devices
  • Unreliable photo saving and syncing

Requested features

5 requests
  • Bracketed HDR mode
  • Customizable white balance controls
  • Landscape orientation support
  • Macro mode
  • Integration with other photo apps

PurePlayer Media

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Photon Camera

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly7 Days trial$3.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • One-time purchase$39.99
1 purchases

PurePlayer Media

One-time1
  • Yearly License$12.99

Questions

Is Photon Camera free?
Photon Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is PurePlayer Media free?
PurePlayer Media is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Photon Camera or PurePlayer Media have ads?
Neither Photon Camera nor PurePlayer Media shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Photon Camera or PurePlayer Media?
Photon Camera ships an update every 3 weeks, and PurePlayer Media every 8 days. Most recently, Photon Camera was updated on November 2, 2026 and PurePlayer Media on October 24, 2026.

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