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ON1 Resize AI 2026 vs Others: Real Results from AI Photo Enlarging




Ever wonder which photo enlarging software gives you the best results? In this post, we tested the new ON1 Resize AI 2026 against our older version and a leading competitor to see how each one handled real photos—from wildlife to AI art.

The results speak for themselves!

Mr. Patrick Smith of ON1 shares his test of the new ON1 Resize AI 2026. Read on below.


When it comes to AI photo upscaling and image enlargement, the main competitors are Topaz Gigapixel AI, Adobe Photoshop (Super Resolution), and Luminar Neo (Upscale AI). Topaz is known for its dedicated AI upscaling app, often favored for extreme enlargements. Adobe’s Super Resolution is built into Camera Raw and Lightroom, offering basic upscaling inside a familiar workflow. Luminar Neo has upscaling with limited control. Unlike these options, ON1 Resize AI combines pro-level upscaling quality with built-in tools for cropping, tiling, print preparation, and batch processing—without requiring extra subscriptions or plugins.

We’re not here to knock anyone. All of these tools aim to solve a similar problem: how to turn a small or noisy photo into something clean, sharp, and print-ready. We’re really proud of how far Resize AI 2026 has come, so we wanted to share the results directly with you.

What Is Photo Upscaling or Enlargement?
Photo upscaling (also known as image enlargement or super resolution) is the process of increasing the size of a photo without compromising image quality. It’s useful when:
 

• You crop in tight on a subject and need more resolution
  
• You want to make a big print or canvas
  
• You’re working with older or lower-res images
  
• You use AI art, stock photos, or files from mobile devices
  

The tricky part? Digital images are made of pixels—and when you scale them up, you need to create new pixels that didn’t exist before. That’s where photo enlargement software comes in—it tries to fill in the blanks without making your photo blurry or full of artifacts.

From Fractals to AI: How ON1 Resize Has Evolved
Long before AI was mainstream, ON1 led the way in image upscaling with our Genuine Fractals® technology. The technology was a patented method that utilized fractal-based interpolation to identify repeating patterns in a photo and generate sharp, high-quality enlargements.

Instead of just stretching pixels, Genuine Fractals analyzed the texture and structure of your image and used math to guess what the new pixels should be. It was smart—and it made Resize famous in the photo industry for professional-quality enlargements.

But AI goes even further.

Today, ON1 Resize AI 2026 uses deep learning models trained on millions of real-world photos. That means Resize AI can understand what it’s looking at—such as feathers, fur, eyes, grass, or clouds—and recreate missing details in a way that looks natural and sharp.

With AI, it’s not just math anymore—it’s intelligence. The software knows how to rebuild textures, sharpen edges, and smooth out noise, all while making the photo appear as if it came straight from a higher-end camera.

In short:
 

• Genuine Fractals used smart math
  
• AI uses smart learning
  
• AI models can restore detail that traditional tools simply couldn’t predict
  

Let’s Look at the Results
We tested Resize AI 2026 using four real-world photo scenarios and compared it to the older Resize AI 2023.5 and a top competitor. Here’s what we found.


Example 1: Bald Eagle (Cropped Wildlife Photo)
We began with this photo of a bald eagle taken from quite a distance. We zoomed in 4x on the eagle’s face to see how each tool handled feather texture and sharp edges.
 

What stood out:
 

• Resize AI 2026 (Best Quality): Razor-sharp details, especially in feathers and eye clarity
  
• Fast model: Clean and quick—great for batch processing
  
• Older Resize AI 2023.5: Softer with less detail
  
• Top Competitor: Smoothed out textures more than we liked
  

Bottom line: Resize AI 2026 (Highest Quality) gave the most lifelike and detailed result.


Example 2: Bird and Nest (Low Light and Texture)
This one was tricky—low light, soft edges, and lots of natural textures. We zoomed in tight on the bird’s eye and feathers.
 

What we saw:
 

• Highest Quality model: Rebuilt fine textures without adding fake sharpness
  
• Standard model: A solid upgrade over 2023.5 with better clarity
  
• 2023.5 version: Some artifacts and muddiness
  
• Top Competitor: Looked more painterly, less structured
  

Bottom line: Resize AI 2026 handled soft and complex textures really well.


Example 3: Black-winged Stilt in Grass (Feathers and Fine Detail)
This bird photo was taken from a distance, so we zoomed way in to test feather detail and sharpness.
 

What we found:
 

• Highest Quality model: Clear, natural feathers and realistic color
  
• Standard model: Looks great and sharp enough for most use cases
  
• 2023.5 version: Decent, but missing finer detail
  
• Top Competitor: Lost texture in the feathers
  

Bottom line: Resize AI 2026 gives you pro-level results—even when you crop in tight.


Example 4: Great Egret on a Stump (Feathers and Fine Detail)
This bird was photographed from far away with a foggy backdrop, so we zoomed way in to see how each model handled soft gradients, feather texture, and edge clarity.
 

What we found:
 

• Highest Quality model: Smooth tones, sharp details around the eye and beak, and natural-looking feathers
  
• Standard model: Slightly softer, but still excellent and ideal for large batches
  
• 2023.5 version: Softer overall and a bit plasticky in the fine details
  
• Top Competitor: Added some sharpness, but also noise and jagged lines
  

Bottom line: Resize AI 2026 keeps things sharp and clean—even in tricky low-contrast scenes like this one.


 

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Info and content lifted/derived from ON1 Software with permission