Cobalt Image vs XP4N
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cobalt Image
Enhance your iPhone photos with advanced AI, HDR, and smart portrait modes. This app offers unparalleled control over non-raw images, featuring cutting-edge white balance and Luma curve adjustments. Access renowned digital and film emulations for professional-level editing.
- AI-enhanced picture processing
- HDR and smart portrait modes
- Advanced color models for HEIC files
- Unprecedented control over non-raw photos
- White balance and Luma curve adjustments
- Renowned digital and film emulations
- Direct editing from Apple Photos
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Please note that Cobalt Image PHOTO is available through subscription plans. The Full Access Yearly subscription provides a 7-day trial period during which you can try the full app and decide to cancel at any time. Our Digital and Film packs are renowned for their accuracy and are now available for all images taken by your favorite device. Your AI-enhanced pictures with HDR and smart portrait mode will be the starting point for our emulations. Cobalt Image PHOTO introduces a new advanced tool powered by the latest color models, specifically designed for treating AI-enhanced iPhone HEIC files. Leveraging the best color science available, it enhances and edits your cherished memories captured by the iPhone. Experience unparalleled freedom with our image editor, where you’ll be astonished by the unprecedented level of control over your non-raw photos. Our advanced color pipeline, featuring cutting-edge white balance and Luma curve adjustments, elevates the app to extraordinary heights, setting a new standard in photo editing. Features: - A complete set of renowned emulations made by Cobalt, both Digital and Film (Film available on Full Access subscription) - Advanced BW scientific conversion - Advanced White Balance - Luma curve on CIECAM16 - RGB curves on ProPhoto - Brightness, Contrast, Saturation all on CIECAM16 - Clarity - Structure - Advanced grain - Vignette The app can also be accessed directly from Apple Photos through the sharing function, allowing for direct editing of the selected photo. Standard Apple Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
XP4N
Capture stunning panoramic photos with a cinematic aspect ratio. Emulate the look of 8 distinct film types, from moody night shots to soft daylight portraits. Enjoy a simple, ad-free, and subscription-free photography experience.
- 65:24 cinematic aspect ratio
- 8 distinct film type simulations
- No ads, subscriptions, or in-app purchases
- Haptic and visual feedback
- EV compensation by swiping
- Save as lossless HEIF files
- EXIF and GPS data saving
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Based on the legendary XPAN with its unique cinematic panoramic 65x24 images, XP4N turns any scene into a movie set; every shot into a movie still. - Shoot in the amazing 65:24 cinematic aspect ratio - Simulate 8 distinct film types (some inspired by popular film types, such as Cinestill 800T) - NO ADS, NO SUBSCRIPTIONS, NO IN-APP-PURCHASES! - Use all available lenses - Haptic and visual feedback when taking pictures - Use volume up key as shutter button - EV compensation by swiping - Access to the high-resolution sensor (if available and enabled in settings) - Option to save as lossless HEIF files - Saves EXIF and GPS data in photos This app is designed to simulate the cinematic qualities of the XPAN, including emulation of 8 distinct film stocks that are often paired with this camera: NIGHT MODE Based on the Cinestill 800T film character with its moody teal cast and signature "halation" (red halos) around bright spots in the image. BALANCED MODE Inspired by Vision3 250D film stock, with its versatile personality and typical Hollywood-style color and contrast curves. DAYLIGHT MODE Based on the popular Portra 400 film; soft and warm hues and moderate contrast profile. Great for skin tones and dreamy landscapes. GRITTY MODE Inspired by the Lomography Metropolis film, which adds a "bleached" look that is reminiscent of gritty 90s movies. BLACK & WHITE MODES Following the characteristics black & white films, one mode offers a punchy and contrasty B&W style, while the other is soft and dreamy. NEON NIGHT (NEW) Enhances bright spots in night photos and adds vibrant, saturated glows for a "cyberpunk" vibe ETHEREAL (NEW) Classic soft focus mode, without the need to put grease on your lens! XP4N is consciously made to be the ultimate one-trick-pony. A point and shoot camera with only a single button: the shutter button. The internal image processing engine does the rest, based on your preferred film mode setting. (so don't expect deep camera controls... ;-). The resulting images are carefully tuned to have the pleasant silky quality of film and to get away from the oversharpened, hyper-punchy look typical of today's digital cameras.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Cobalt Image at Free against XP4N's $1.99. XP4N's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 2.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Cobalt Image is free to download; XP4N costs $1.99 up front. Cobalt Image sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per month. XP4N asks for nothing beyond the download.
XP4N holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: XP4N has 44 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Cobalt Image's written reviews are positive against 87% of XP4N's.
Cobalt Image ships an update every 5 days, XP4N every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on July 19, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cobalt Image | XP4N |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 2.3 (6 ratings) | 4.7 (44 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews | 86.8% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 6 | 44 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Subscription | Paid — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 203 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cobalt Image LTD | Bram Bos |
Customer experience
Cobalt Image
XP4N
Bugs and requests
Cobalt Image
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
XP4N
Reported bugs
2 issues- App feels laggy at times
- 48MP camera option doesn't increase image resolution
Requested features
10 requests- Portrait mode
- Tap to focus and focus/exposure lock
- Selfie mode
- Self-timer
- HDR or max-latitude mode for post-processing
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- No-filter mode
- Tri-X 400 film simulation
- Sprocket emulation
- Ability to change focus point
- Preview of image in viewfinder before capture
In-app purchases
Cobalt Image
- Cobalt Image Pro Digital$3.491 Month
- Cobalt Image Pro Monthly$5.491 Month
- Cobalt Image Pro Yearly7 Days trial$44.991 Year
XP4N
No in-app purchases









