What it does
ReLens is a powerful photo and video editing application for mobile devices. It leverages AI and computational photography to replicate the effects of professional DSLR cameras. The app's core function is to give users granular control over depth of field, allowing them to create realistic background blur (bokeh) and apply advanced color grading and lens effects to their photos and videos.
Where it shines
ReLens stands out with its deep and intuitive editing controls. The 'Depth Edit' feature (03:30) provides a visual map of the photo's depth, which users can directly manipulate. This turns an abstract concept into something tangible. Another impressive moment is the AR Preview at 04:39, where the app projects the edited image into the user's real environment, offering a unique 3D perspective on the depth effects. The Pro Camera mode (10:57) is also a highlight, giving photographers the manual controls they are accustomed to, like ISO and shutter speed adjustments, directly in the app.
UX highlights
- Interactive Tutorials: The app uses animated overlays to guide users through complex features, like the Depth Fix tool (03:42), making them easy to understand.
- Proactive Explanations: When a process like AI analysis takes time, a small link appears asking "Why Take Long" (01:38), which explains that the processing is done locally for privacy. This builds trust.
- Granular Control: Features like the aperture slider (01:44) and multi-point focus give users precise control over the final image, mimicking a real lens.
- Saving Edit Recipes: Users can save their combination of edits as a 'Recipe' (10:00), allowing them to quickly apply a consistent style to other photos.
- Visual Depth Mapping: The black and white depth map (03:30) is a brilliant way to help users visualize and edit the focal planes of their image.
- Customizable Watermarks: The app offers extensive watermark customization (08:44), including adding an author name, which appeals to serious photographers.
Monetization & growth
ReLens employs a multi-layered monetization strategy. During onboarding, it presents a soft paywall (00:44) with monthly, yearly, and lifetime options, highlighting the daily cost to make prices seem smaller. The yearly plan is marked with a "3 Days Free Trial" banner to encourage conversion. Premium features, marked with a diamond icon or 'VIP' tag, trigger the paywall again if a non-subscribed user tries to access them (05:03). When saving a video, the app offers to remove the watermark by upgrading (13:21), creating another conversion point.
Who it’s for
This app is designed for amateur and professional mobile photographers who want to achieve a DSLR-like aesthetic without carrying bulky equipment. It appeals to users who understand concepts like aperture and depth of field and desire more creative control than standard phone camera apps provide. The extensive feature set and manual controls are tailored for those who are serious about post-processing and developing a signature style.
Notes & opportunities
The app is incredibly feature-rich, but this can also be overwhelming. The home screen presents numerous options at once (01:19), which could be streamlined. While the tutorials are helpful, they are located in the settings menu. Surfacing these tutorials more contextually within the editor could improve discoverability. Finally, the app asks for photo library access twice (01:31 and again after a failed purchase), which could be a point of friction for some users.