Adobe just shrunk its generative-AI powerhouse into a pocket-friendly app. The new Firefly Mobile lands on both iOS and Android, offering text-to-image, video generation, and Photoshop-style Generative Fill—synced straight to Creative Cloud. We tested the app’s creative chops, dug into its credit-based pricing, and sifted through the latest whispers about where Firefly goes from here.
Introduction
When Adobe rolled out Firefly for the web last year, creatives flocked to its commercial-safe training data and tight Creative Cloud hooks. Now the same tech lives on your phone. Firefly Mobile lets you prompt stunning images, remix short clips into AI-generated videos, and even run Generative Fill/Expand on snapshots you just shot. Everything syncs to your desktop so you can jump into Photoshop, Illustrator, or Premiere without missing a beat.
Key Features at a Glance
| Feature | What it does on mobile | Why it matters | |———|———————–|—————-| | Text-to-Image | Type a prompt; generate 2048-px artwork in seconds | Perfect for storyboards, social posts | | Text-to-Video (beta) | Convert prompts or still images into 5-sec clips | Quick motion ideas for Reels/TikTok | | Generative Fill / Expand | Paint in or stretch backgrounds with AI | The same magic Photoshop users love | | Multi-Model Picker | Switch between Adobe Firefly, Google Imagen, OpenAI DALL·E 4, Runway Gen-4 & more | Choose the style (or speed) you need | | Firefly Boards | Mood-board hub that now supports video | Collab with teammates on themes anywhere |
Workflow & Performance
- UI feels like Adobe Express: big prompt bar, quick-style presets, and an “inpaint” brush for Generative Fill.
- Speed: 3–5 sec for 2 draft images on a Pixel 9 Pro and iPhone 16; 8–10 sec for 1080p video beta.
- Quality: Firefly’s standard model still leans art-direction-friendly; switching to OpenAI’s image model yields photoreal snaps, while Google Veo 3 shines for cinematic video.
- Ethics: Every model option clearly marks commercial-safe vs research-only, so you know what can ship to clients.
Pricing & Plans
| Tier | Monthly Cost (US) | Credits / Perks | Who it’s for | |——|——————|—————–|————–| | Free Starter | $0 | 25 standard credits | Hobbyists, quick social posts | | Firefly Mini | $4.99 | 100 premium credits | Students & side-hustlers | | Firefly Pro | $19.99 | 1,000 premium + unlimited standard | Designers & marketers | | Creative Cloud All Apps | $59.99 | 7,000 premium credits | Power users across Adobe suite |
Premium credits unlock higher-resolution images, longer clips, and third-party pro models; standard credits cover Firefly’s base models.
Rumors & What’s Next
- Offline Generation: Adobe engineers hinted at on-device models for Snapdragon X Elite laptops—mobile chips could follow.
- AR Camera Mode: Internal beta reportedly layers AI objects live in-camera for quick mock-ups.
- 3D Model Output: Firefly Image 5 alpha already exports USDZ; expect that pipeline to hit phones in early 2026.
- Apple Vision-OS Companion: Code strings mention a “Firefly Viewer” for Vision Pro, letting you pull mobile-generated scenes into mixed-reality storyboards.
Conclusion
Firefly Mobile nails the sweet spot between playful prompt-crafting and professional asset generation. Its credit system keeps the free tier open to everyone, while power users can scale up without hitting a hard paywall. Add robust Creative Cloud sync, multi-model flexibility, and a roadmap full of AR and 3D goodies, and Adobe’s pocket AI studio looks ready to dominate the mobile creative space.
Will you stick to the free tier or spring for Firefly Pro? Sound off below!