February 1, 2025

DxO PureRAW4 vs Topaz Photo AI 3

Best Image Editor: DxO PureRAW 4 vs. Topaz Labs Photo AI 3

Which image editing software is best? DxO PureRAW4 does a slightly better job with High ISO image rendering but Topaz Labs Photo AI 3 provides denoising, sharpening and upscaling in one software package making it a more versatile choice for photographers.

Photography enthusiasts and professionals alike constantly seek tools that can enhance their workflow and deliver exceptional results. Two popular solutions in the realm of image processing are DxO PureRAW 4 and Topaz Labs Photo AI 3. These software packages offer advanced features designed to improve image quality, but they cater to slightly different needs. In this blog post, I will delve into the capabilities of each tool, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases with sample images to help you determine which one best suits your requirements.

If you find articles like this one helpful, please consider using my affiliate links for DxO PureRAW 4 and Topaz Labs Photo AI 3 when you make a purchase. It provides a small commission to support my site at no additional cost to you.

FREE TRIALS

To help you decide which software is going to best suited to your workflow and genre of photography, I would recommend you try before you buy. Both DxO and Topaz Labs offer free trials of their software.

DxO PureRAW4 offers a free 14-day trial

Topaz Photo AI 3 offers a free 30-day trial

How to Make The Right Choice

Let me start by saying you can’t go wrong with either of these software choices, they are both excellent. However, it is important to note that they do serve different use cases. For example, I use both of these products. I find that DxO PureRAW4 DeepPRIME XD2 does a slightly better job at denoising my high ISO images so I make DxO the first step in my denoising process. If I am not happy with the result. I will bring that same image into Topaz Photo AI 3 either as first step or as an overlay on top of what DxO has already done.

If I need to sharpen or upscale an image I perform those tasks in Topaz Photo AI 3. So my use case has a place for both of these software products within my editing workflow. Later in this post, I have provided you with a sample ISO 12,800 image which I processed with both DxO PureRAW4 and Topaz Photo AI 3 and zoomed in tight so you can view how each software rendered the image. I also timed the processing for each so you’ll see which one is faster.

Overview of DxO PureRAW 4

The image below shows an ISO 25,600 image that has been processed through DxO PureRAW4 using the defaults, so no tweaks by me. The image will also show you the features that are available on the right hand side menu.

DxO PureRAW 4 is a dedicated RAW image pre-processor that excels in noise reduction and lens correction. Designed to integrate seamlessly with existing workflows, PureRAW focuses on improving the foundational quality of your RAW files before you begin editing in software like Adobe Lightroom or Photoshop which represent the editing software that many of you currently use.

Key Features of DxO PureRAW 4:

DeepPRIME XD/XD2 Technology:
- PureRAW 4 leverages DxO’s proprietary DeepPRIME XD/XD2 technology, a powerful AI-driven noise reduction and demosaicing engine. It excels in preserving fine details while significantly reducing noise, making it ideal for high-ISO or low-light photography. For wildlife photographers shooting at both ends of the day in low light minimizing noise is a common process in our post-processing workflow.
Lens Correction:
- DxO’s extensive lens and camera module database enables unparalleled optical corrections, including distortion, chromatic aberration, vignetting, and sharpness enhancement.
Seamless Integration:
- PureRAW 4 works as a standalone application or as a plugin for Lightroom, ensuring that it fits into your workflow effortlessly.
Ease of Use:
- The software’s minimalist interface prioritizes simplicity, enabling photographers to process images with just a few clicks.

Ideal Use Cases for DxO PureRAW 4:

Landscape and wildlife photographers dealing with high-ISO noise or lens imperfections.
Professionals looking for a pre-processing tool to optimize RAW files before advanced editing.

Overview of Topaz Labs Photo AI 3

The image below shows the same ISO 25,600 image that has been processed through Topaz Labs Photo AI 3 this time around. For the sake of comparison, I used the defaults and allowed the Photo AI software to analyze and correct the image.

Topaz Labs Photo AI 3 is an all-in-one AI-powered photo enhancement tool. It combines noise reduction, sharpening, and upscaling functionalities into a single package. Unlike PureRAW, which focuses on pre-processing, Photo AI is more versatile and caters to a broader range of post-processing needs. For those of you who have been around a while, you may remember when Topaz Labs offered denoise, sharpen and upscaling as separate tools. Those individual tools have now been discontinued in favor of one product called Photo AI, which combines all three products into one software offering.

Key Features of Topaz Labs Photo AI 3:

Autopilot Mode:
- Photo AI’s autopilot mode analyzes each image and applies the optimal combination of noise reduction and sharpening. This feature is particularly useful for users who want quick, hassle-free results.
AI-Powered Noise Reduction:
- The noise reduction in Photo AI is effective for various types of noise, making it versatile for different photography genres.
Sharpening Tools:
- The software’s sharpening algorithms help restore detail and reduce motion blur, improving the clarity of your images.
Upscaling Capabilities:
- Photo AI can upscale images up to 6x their original resolution while preserving detail, making it ideal for printing or creating high-resolution outputs.
Customization Options:
- While autopilot handles most adjustments, users can fine-tune settings to achieve specific results, offering a balance between automation and control.

Ideal Use Cases for Topaz Labs Photo AI 3:

Photographers looking to enhance detail and reduce noise.
Users needing to upscale low-resolution images for large prints or digital presentations.
Photographers who want an all-in-one solution for noise reduction, sharpening, and upscaling.

Image Head-to-Head Comparison

The image below was taken with my Nikon Z9 at ISO 12,800. You can see the resulting noise on the left side of the image. I processed this image with both DxO PureRAW 4 and Topaz Labs Photo AI 3 and have provided you with a close up view for each image so you can compare the final processed images up close.

Topaz Labs Photo AI 3 Final Image

Here’s a close up look of the processed woodpecker image shot at ISO 12,800. Note, no additional tweaks were made by me, this image represents the default settings Photo AI uses. When I edit I will take advantage of the sliders within the software which allow me to make additional tweaks as I deem necessary. It took 11.15 seconds to fully process this image on my MacBook M3 Max with 128 GB RAM.

DxO PureRAW4 Final Image

Here’s a close up look of the exact same image processed with DxO PureRAw4. As was the case with Photo AI, no additional tweaks were made by me, this image represents the default settings DxO uses. It took 16.85 seconds to fully process this image on my MacBook M3 Max with 128 GB RAM.

Feature Head-to-Head Comparison

1. Noise Reduction

DxO PureRAW 4:
- DeepPRIME XD2 is one of the most advanced noise reduction technologies available. It excels in preserving fine details and color accuracy while eliminating noise, making it ideal for high-ISO images.
Topaz Photo AI 3:
- Photo AI’s noise reduction is effective across a wide range of images but may not preserve details as well as DeepPRIME XD2 in extreme cases. However, it’s versatile and works well for general noise reduction needs.

Winner: DxO PureRAW 4 for its superior noise reduction in challenging scenarios.

2. Lens and Optical Corrections

DxO PureRAW 4:
- PureRAW’s optical corrections are unmatched, thanks to its extensive database of lens and camera profiles.
Topaz Photo AI 3:
- Photo AI does not offer lens correction features, focusing instead on enhancement and upscaling.

Winner: DxO PureRAW 4 for comprehensive lens corrections.

3. Ease of Use

DxO PureRAW 4:
- Its minimalist interface ensures a straightforward user experience, but its focus on pre-processing limits versatility.
Topaz Photo AI 3:
- The autopilot mode makes Photo AI extremely user-friendly, while the ability to customize settings caters to advanced users.

Winner: Topaz Photo AI 3 for its balance between automation and customization.

4. Versatility

DxO PureRAW 4:
- Designed primarily for RAW pre-processing, it lacks post-processing features such as sharpening and upscaling.
Topaz Photo AI 3:
- Combines multiple enhancement tools in one package, offering greater versatility for various editing needs.

Winner: Topaz Photo AI 3 for its all-in-one approach.

5. Performance and Speed

DxO PureRAW 4:
- While it delivers exceptional quality, processing times are slightly longer due to the computational intensity of DeepPRIME XD2. In my sample process speed test of the woodpecker the processing time was 16.85 seconds.
Topaz Photo AI 3:
- Photo AI generally processes images faster, especially in autopilot mode, though upscaling larger images may take time. In my sample process speed test of the woodpecker the processing time was 11.15 seconds.

Winner: Tie – PureRAW for quality, Photo AI for speed in general tasks.

6. Integration and Workflow

DxO PureRAW 4:
- Works seamlessly as a plugin for Lightroom and integrates well into professional workflows.
Topaz Photo AI 3:
- Functions as a standalone tool or plugin but lacks the specialized RAW processing pipeline of PureRAW.

Winner: DxO PureRAW 4 for professional workflow integration.

Pricing

DxO PureRAW 4:
- Priced as a one-time purchase, it represents good value for those focused on RAW pre-processing.
- MSRP: $119 USD
Topaz Photo AI 3:
- Also priced as a one-time purchase. Its broader feature set justifies the cost for users needing an all-in-one solution.
- MSRP: $199 USD to Buy

Conclusion

Both DxO PureRAW 4 and Topaz Labs Photo AI 3 are powerful tools, but they cater to different audiences and workflows:

Choose DxO PureRAW 4 if you prioritize top-notch noise reduction, lens corrections, and RAW pre-processing to optimize images before editing.
Choose Topaz Labs Photo AI 3 if you need an all-in-one solution for noise reduction, sharpening, and upscaling, particularly for a variety of post-processing tasks.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs, budget and workflow preferences. As I stated in “how to make the right choice”, I use both in my editing process depending what the specific task I am trying to accomplish on any one image. If I had to choose for noise reduction alone, I would go with DxO PureRAW4. However, for users seeking the versatility of having denoise, sharpen and upscaling in one software Photo AI 3 is the better choice.