I can finally share a proper look at what’s coming in the latest Spring update for Skylum’s Luminar Neo, and this one feels like a bit of a shift, especially for those of us who shoot portraits.

Now, I’ll be honest. While I’ve always liked Luminar Neo for creative edits and quick workflows, I’ve actually been leaning pretty heavily on Aperty when it comes to portrait work. It just handled skin and facial adjustments in a way that felt a little more refined straight out of the box.

This update brings a lot of those more advanced portrait tools directly into Luminar itself, which means less jumping between programs and a much smoother editing workflow overall.

Let’s take a closer look at what’s new.

If you’ve been following along with my editing workflow, you’ll know I’ve used Luminar Neo on and off for creative work and quick turnarounds. This update leans heavily into what Luminar does best, making editing faster, more intuitive, and honestly, a bit more fun.

Let’s break it down.

A Small but Important Change (That Actually Matters)

First up, the mobile app has had a subtle rebrand.

It’s now simply called Luminar, not Luminar Mobile.

That might sound like a minor tweak, but it signals something bigger, they’re clearly pushing toward a more connected ecosystem between desktop and mobile. Less “separate tools,” more “one workflow.”

Mobile Updates: Portrait Tweaks That Actually Help (Not Overdo It)

The mobile side has picked up some solid portrait-focused tools:

• Bokeh AI
  Adds depth and separation, especially useful when you didn’t quite nail that shallow depth of field in-camera.
• Face Light & Face Slim (Face AI)
  Subtle adjustments here are key. Used well, these can enhance rather than scream “edited.”
• Improved Blemish Removal (Skin AI)
  This is a big one. Cleaner, more natural results without that plastic skin look we all try to avoid.

👉 My take: This feels geared toward creators who want quick, polished results without sitting in front of a desktop for hours.

Desktop Updates: Where Things Get More Interesting

The desktop version is where this update really starts to flex.

Bokeh AI (Now Beyond Portraits)

This is probably one of the more exciting upgrades.
You can now apply bokeh effects to objects, not just people.

Think still life, product photography, even some creative composites. That opens up a lot of possibilities for controlled storytelling without needing to reshoot.

Dark Circles Removal (Face AI)

We’ve all been there, either you or your model didn’t sleep enough.

This tool is surprisingly clean. It softens without flattening the face, which is usually where these tools fall apart.

Expanded Skin AI Controls

Now includes:

• Face Skin Smoothing
• Body Smoothing
• Shine Removal (fully automated)
• New Blemish Removal tool

👉 The key here is control. You can dial things in instead of relying on a one-click fix.

Mask Feather (Finally)

This one will make editors quietly very happy.

Mask Feather softens the edges of your masks, which means:

• Better blending
• Less harsh transitions
• More natural edits overall

Simple feature, big impact.

Pricing Breakdown

For new users:

• Lifetime License: USD $119 / AUD $169
• Cross-Device (Desktop + Mobile): USD $159 / AUD $219
• Ecosystem Max (with Creative Library): USD $179 / AUD $239

For existing users:

• Ecosystem Pass: USD $69
• Upgrade Pass: USD $49

My Thoughts

This update feels less like a flashy feature dump and more like refinement in the right places.

What stands out:

• Better portrait tools without over-processing
• More flexibility with Bokeh AI (especially for still life and creative work)
• Small workflow improvements that actually save time

What I’ll be watching:

• How natural the AI results stay when pushed
• Whether photographers rely on this instead of getting it right in-camera

Because let’s be real, editing should enhance your work, not fix everything.

Should You Care About This Update?

If you’re:

• Shooting portraits and want faster retouching
• Creating still life or product work and want more control over depth
• Looking for a simpler editing workflow without jumping between apps

Then yes, this is worth a look.

Final Thoughts

The official release drops April 9th, 2026, and if the beta is anything to go by, this is a solid step forward for Luminar.

It’s not trying to replace your entire workflow, but it’s definitely making parts of it quicker and more accessible.

And honestly, anything that gives you more time to shoot instead of sitting behind a screen? I’m all for it.

Check out the run through video over on YouTube.