Hasselblad Phocus Mobile arrives on Android 16 years after its initial iOS release

After a long wait of over 16 years since its debut on Apple devices, and six years after the release of the version 2 for iPhone users, Hasselblad has finally made available its official Android app.

The new release substantially expands the operational capabilities for professional photographers, bringing to smartphones and tablets an entire ecosystem of management and processing of files.

The app is compatible with medium-format camera models X2D II, X2D 100C, as well as the pairing of 907X and CFV 100C, offering a complete workspace that covers the entire image workflow, from preview display to final export at ultra-high resolution.

Hasselblad, official Android app arrives 16 years after the iOS version

Hasselblad Phocus Mobile
Credits: Hasselblad

The software transfers to mobile devices the renowned proprietary Hasselblad Natural Colour Solution. This system ensures that tonal transitions, color authenticity, and the most complex details in the highlights are preserved at every stage of the workflow, exactly as captured by the sensor.

Files can be transferred to your device via Wi-Fi wireless connection or by using a USB-C cable. Once loaded into the workspace, photographers have the option to apply ratings using a star-rating system to streamline selection and quickly organize photo sessions.

An important aspect concerns HDR display support: using suitable hardware devices, the HDR files captured with the X2D II 100C camera show well-defined shadows and color transitions that are extremely faithful. The software allows selective adjustments specifically for high-contrast files, which can be saved and shared in the formats Ultra HDR JPG or HDR TIFF.

AI Processing for High ISOs

One of the most significant new features of this app version is the Hasselblad Natural Noise Reduction system. This sophisticated algorithm, trained by analyzing hundreds of thousands of native medium-format shots, intervenes on RAW files captured in low light conditions or during night sessions.

Processing a single 100 MP image typically takes between 15 and 20 seconds, and offers two distinct approaches based on creative needs.

The Purity mode concentrates the computing power on maximum noise suppression to return extremely clean files, while the Detail mode prefers to maintain a slight and natural luminance grain to preserve the micro-textures and the original sharpness of the scene.

This feature proves invaluable for owners of the 907X CFV 100C, which, lacking an integrated stabilization mechanism, often requires faster shutter speeds offset by higher ISO sensitivity.

Demanding requirements: do not expect mid-range support

The application goes beyond simple conversion, including an advanced photo-editing package. Professionals can adjust classic parameters such as exposure, tone curves, and white balance, then move on to advanced adjustments applying optical corrections, geometric alterations, or monochrome conversions.

Batch editing of parameters is widely supported, a feature essential to accelerate repetitive workflows, allowing the final package to be exported in JPG, TIFF, HEIF or in the proprietary RAW format 3FR.

To ensure the smoothness of these operations, the software requires devices with at least 12 GB of RAM running Android 12 or higher.

However, to take advantage of AI-based noise reduction features and to enjoy accurate color rendering on displays, the Swedish company recommends using devices updated to Android 16 and powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processors or newer models.