Pixel Perfect or Problematic? The Best AI Noise Reduction Software

Pushing your camera's ISO is often a necessary evil in photography. Whether capturing the ambiance of a dimly lit wedding reception, the sprawl of the Milky Way, or the split-second action of wildlife, higher ISOs let you get the shot. The trade-off, however, is digital noise—that grainy, color-speckled texture that can obscure fine details and degrade the overall quality of your images. There are now several contenders vying for a spot in your noise reduction workflow, but which one truly delivers the cleanest results without introducing new problems?

I put the most prominent AI noise reduction tools through real-world testing, using raw files from a variety of popular cameras, including Sony, Nikon, Fuji, and even DJI drones. I evaluated DxO's newly released PureRAW 5, Adobe's Enhance Details feature within Lightroom and Camera Raw, ON1 NoNoise AI, and Topaz Photo AI. My goal was to see how they stack up not just in noise removal, but also in detail preservation, processing speed, artifact control, and overall usability.

DxO PureRAW 5

DxO has carved out a niche for itself with software focused on getting the absolute best image quality from RAW files, and PureRAW is the prime example. Rather than being a full-fledged editor, it acts as a specialized pre-processor. You feed it your raw files, and it applies your choice of demosaicing, optical corrections, and powerful AI noise reduction before round-tripping raw-like DNG files back into Lightroom.

PureRAW 5 offers photographers several flavors of its DeepPRIME noise reduction technology. DeepPRIME XD2s, carried over from the previous version, remains the champion in my tests for sheer image quality across most cameras. It works the best to remove noise while holding onto fine textures and details, producing remarkably clean and natural-looking results, even in challenging high-ISO scenarios. It’s not the fastest, but the quality is undeniable.

XD2s is still king, with this comparison between default ACR processing and DxO's results showing just how much detail can be recovered.

New in PureRAW 5 is DeepPRIME 3, which offers a slightly different balance. It processes images noticeably faster (around 20–25% in my tests) and is perhaps a touch less aggressive by default, preserving detail while leaving a hint more noise than XD2s. It also handles chromatic aberrations well, even before specific optical corrections are applied. For batch processing large volumes of images, like a wedding or event, DeepPRIME 3 strikes an excellent balance between speed and outstanding quality.

A specialty addition is the new DeepPRIME XD3 X-Trans Beta. Fujifilm photographers have long dealt with the potential issues from software misinterpreting X-Trans sensor data, sometimes leading to "wormy" artifacts or false color. This new, specialized algorithm in PureRAW 5 looks to address those files with a bespoke Fuji-specific approach. My testing on Fuji files showed a dramatic improvement over all other methods, including previous DxO versions and Adobe Enhance. Fine details were rendered with better sharpness and accuracy, while false color issues were virtually eliminated. It’s genuinely transformative for Fuji shooters. While PureRAW is a separate purchase (around $119.99 new, with upgrades available), its DNG-based workflow integrates smoothly into Adobe-centric workflows, and for those prioritizing ultimate image quality—particularly Fuji users—it leads the pack.

Note the better color and greatly reduced color fringing, particularly visible on the white and black windows in the middle of the frame.

Adobe Enhance Details

For everyone already paying the Adobe ecosystem toll via a Creative Cloud subscription, the most accessible AI noise reduction is built right into Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC, and Adobe Camera Raw (ACR). Accessed via the "Enhance" menu, Adobe's AI-powered Denoise feature was a massive leap forward from their traditional noise reduction sliders when it was introduced.

While it’s not the noise reduction king, it does a commendable job cleaning up noisy images, offering a simple slider to control the intensity. For many users, the results are perfectly acceptable and dramatically better than what was possible just a few years ago.

The primary advantage here is undeniable convenience. There’s no need to purchase separate software, learn a new interface, or add extra steps to your workflow. You simply apply it directly within your familiar editing environment.

However, convenience comes with a slight quality trade-off compared to the specialized leader. In my direct comparisons, while Adobe Enhance was good, it consistently trailed behind DxO's DeepPRIME XD2s and DeepPRIME 3 in preserving the finest details and maintaining clarity, especially in very noisy files. It also proved to be surprisingly slow in my testing, taking significantly longer to process images than even DxO's most intensive algorithm. Nonetheless, for its seamless integration and solid performance, it remains a strong and practical choice for many photographers.

ON1 NoNoise AI

ON1 aims to offer powerful AI features, including noise reduction, often at a more competitive price point than some rivals. ON1 NoNoise AI can function as a standalone application or integrate as a plugin with software like Lightroom and Photoshop.

In my tests, ON1 NoNoise AI processed images relatively quickly, putting it in the same ballpark as DxO's faster DeepPRIME 3 method. 

It certainly reduced noise more effectively than traditional, non-AI sliders. However, the quality of the results was less impressive. I observed noticeable blotchy artifacts, particularly in smooth gradient areas like skies, which detracted from the image's natural appearance. Furthermore, it struggled with chromatic aberration, sometimes leaving behind unpleasant color fringing around high-contrast edges and fine details.

The purple fringing around the wrought iron in the ON1 sample showed how it lagged the DxO and Adobe methods in keeping the details clean.

While its speed and lower price ($49.99 at the time of publication) might seem appealing, the image quality issues placed it behind Adobe Enhance Details in my rankings. If you already have access to Adobe's tools, Enhance generally provides a better result.

Topaz Photo AI

Topaz Labs offers a suite of AI-powered image enhancement tools bundled into their Photo AI application, which includes modules for noise reduction, sharpening, and upscaling. On paper, it sounds like a comprehensive solution.

Unfortunately, my experience with Topaz Photo AI's noise reduction was fraught with problems. While it reduced noise levels, the AI was overly aggressive and prone to "hallucinations."

In dark areas, like between these two barrels, white speckles are added—these are absent in all other processed versions of this file.

The most glaring example was its tendency to invent details that simply weren't there. For example, it was creating fake stars in night sky photos and then bizarrely replicating these phantom stars onto dark foreground elements like trees or the ground.

While a bit tough to see reproduced here, the roofline was significantly darkened by Topaz's method.

It also made significant, often unwanted, global contrast adjustments that fundamentally changed the look and feel of the image. Consider the example above, where it forced the building’s roofline to be darker, almost trying to make it a part of the sky.

Even setting aside issues in the darkest areas, midtones could take on a smeared or blotchy appearance.

Compounding these issues was the slow processing speed, hampered by a lengthy analysis phase required for each image, and the trial version's inability to export files, making pre-purchase evaluation difficult. While Topaz's tools might excel in other areas, the unpredictable and often destructive nature of its noise reduction in my tests makes it impossible to recommend for NR applications.

Ranking the Noise Reduction Tools

After extensive side-by-side comparisons across numerous images and camera types, a clear hierarchy emerged based on the quality of the noise reduction and detail preservation:

1. DxO PureRAW 5 (DeepPRIME XD2s / XD3 X-Trans Beta): The undisputed champion for image quality. XD2s delivers the best overall results for most cameras, while the XD3 X-Trans Beta algorithm provides impressive, class-leading results for Fujifilm files, significantly outperforming everything else in my view.

2. DxO PureRAW 5 (DeepPRIME 3): A very close second to XD2s in quality, but faster. A good choice for balancing top-tier results with workflow efficiency, especially for batch processing, but probably not worth the upgrade for PureRAW 4 users who don't need the speedup.

3. Adobe Enhance Details (Lightroom/ACR): A solid and capable performer, offering significant improvements over non-AI methods. Its main drawback is lagging slightly behind DxO in ultimate detail preservation and being comparatively slow, but its seamless integration with industry-standard Lightroom is a huge plus.

4. ON1 NoNoise AI: While fast enough, it fell short due to noticeable artifacts like blotchiness in skies and poor handling of chromatic aberrations or details. It reduced noise but compromised image quality compared to Adobe and DxO.

5. Topaz Photo AI: Landed at the bottom due to its propensity for generating artifacts, hallucinating details, and making undesirable global image changes. The potential for damaging image integrity outweighed its noise reduction capabilities in my tests.

DxO did the best job of cleaning up this available-light, handheld shot, retaining the most detail while cleaning up the sky.

Choosing Your AI Noise Reduction Tool

AI noise reduction, in combination with ever-better sensor performance, has fundamentally improved our ability to capture clean images in challenging conditions. I know I’ve started shooting in conditions that I never would’ve considered—going handheld at over ISO 6,400 or taking my drone up well into night to capture new perspectives, confident that noise reduction will supplement what I captured.

If your primary goal is achieving the absolute best image quality possible from your raw files, with maximum detail retention and minimal artifacts, DxO PureRAW 5 stands out as the clear leader in my opinion. Its DeepPRIME algorithms, particularly XD2s for general use and XD3 X-Trans Beta for Fuji shooters, deliver unparalleled results. It requires an extra step in the workflow and a separate purchase, but for professionals and enthusiasts demanding uncompromising quality, the investment is worth it. For photographers already having access to XD2s via PureRAW 4, the upgrade is a bit less compelling and only worth it if you need processing for Fuji cameras or big shoots like weddings.

For those who are already in the Adobe ecosystem, Adobe Enhance Details is a solid choice. It delivers good, reliable results directly within Lightroom or Camera Raw, representing a massive upgrade from non-AI NR techniques. It may not reach the pinnacle of quality set by DxO, but its accessibility and ease of use should make it the default choice for many.

Based on my testing, ON1 NoNoise AI introduced too many image quality compromises to recommend over the top two. Topaz Photo AI's tendency to invent and distort details instantly disqualified it for my use, and while testing the other AI-powered features was outside the scope of this review, it’s at the bottom of my noise reduction tier list.

Ultimately, evaluate your needs and budget. Download trials where possible and test them on your own high-ISO images. But as it stands now, DxO PureRAW 5 leads the pack, with Adobe Enhance providing a solid, convenient alternative for the masses.