Prequel is a photo and video editing app that leans heavily into the AI-powered aesthetic filter space, sitting somewhere between a full-featured editor like VSCO and a one-trick novelty app. You mostly use it to slap trendy, often dramatic, filters onto your pictures—think anime-inspired looks, retro Y2K vibes, or moody cinematic tones. I downloaded it from Google Play after seeing a friend's story that looked suspiciously like a high-budget movie still, and the install count is pretty huge, so it's definitely not obscure. The app is free to download, and you can mess around with a decent chunk of filters without paying, though the really good ones (and the 4K export) are locked behind a subscription. First impression after launching it was a bit overwhelming—there's a ton of presets staring at you, and the interface is flashy, almost like the app is screaming "try me!"

Once you actually start using it, the workflow is straightforward but not always intuitive. You pick a photo from your gallery or shoot one in-app, and then you swipe through endless filter thumbnails at the bottom. Tapping one applies it instantly, and you can tweak the intensity with a slider, which is nice because some of these filters are way too strong out of the box. The onboarding tries to guide you to the paid stuff right away, which is a bit annoying, but if you ignore that and just scroll past the "premium" tags, you'll find a solid selection of free looks. I spent a good 10 minutes just swapping between "Anime" and "Film Noir" presets on a boring selfie, and the results were genuinely fun—it turned a dull photo into something that looked like a sketch. A small tip: if you're editing a video, the process is the same, but shorter clips process way faster, and you can preview before rendering, which saves you from waiting on a 30-second export that looks weird.

After a few weeks of playing with it, I'd say this app is perfect if you're into that hyper-stylized, Instagram-ready look without wanting to learn layers and masks in Lightroom. I keep it installed because it's great for lazy edits—tap once, and you're done. But honestly, if you prefer natural-looking adjustments or you already have something like Snapseed, you probably won't need Prequel long-term. The subscription price is a bit steep for what's essentially a filter pack, and there are ads between steps if you're on the free tier, which gets old. It's a fun tool for casual users who want to stand out fast, but serious editors will find it limiting. I'd compare it to Remini in spirit—both are niche magic-makers—but Prequel feels more about style than fixing flaws.

• ✨ The standout feature is definitely the AI-generated filters that go beyond usual adjustments. Unlike VSCO, which gives you subtle film looks, Prequel has presets like "Cyberpunk" or "Comic" that completely transform the photo's vibe—it'll turn a cloudy sky into neon lights or your face into a cartoon. The results are consistent too, not hit-or-miss like some other AI apps.
• ✨ Another big plus is the real-time preview for video. Most editors, like InShot or CapCut, require you to apply a filter and then render to see the full effect. But in Prequel, you can swipe through presets and watch the video change on the fly, which saves a ton of time when you're experimenting.
• ✨ The "Portrait" mode is surprisingly solid. While apps like FaceApp are known for facial tweaks, Prequel's portrait filters keep your features intact while changing the lighting and background tone. For example, a selfie taken in bad indoor light can look like it was shot in a studio with just one tap, no manual sliders needed.

• 📸 The filter variety is a major strength. Prequel offers over 300 presets, covering everything from vintage grain to futuristic glitch effects. In comparison, Adobe Lightroom has powerful tools but lacks these ready-to-use, creative styles without installing extra packs.
• 📸 The UI is designed for speed. You can go from picking a photo to saving an edited version in under 30 seconds, which beats the more cluttered interfaces of apps like PicsArt. There's no confusion about where the filters are—they're all upfront.
• 📸 It handles video well. Many photo-focused filter apps, like A Color Story, can't edit video at all, but Prequel does both smoothly. This makes it a one-stop shop for someone posting mixed media content on social platforms.

• ⚠️ The subscription model is annoying. While some filters are free, the best ones and the 4K export require a monthly or yearly payment. Apps like Snapseed or VSCO offer more free features, or a one-time purchase, so Prequel feels greedy in comparison.
• ⚠️ Performance can lag on older phones. I tried it on a mid-range device, and applying a filter to a high-res photo took a noticeable couple of seconds to render. Similar apps like Remini are more optimized for slower hardware, so this could frustrate budget users.
• ⚠️ There's no manual editing layer. You can't adjust exposure, contrast, or shadows independently—only the filter's intensity. If you prefer granular control like in Lightroom Mobile, you'll feel boxed in here.