Ever since Apple announced the Clean Up feature in its Apple Intelligence suite, I’ve been itching to try it out on the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Finally, with iOS 18.1 Beta 3, Apple dropped the AI-powered Clean Up tool in the Photos app. But hey, I didn’t just want to try it out; I wanted to see how it stacks up against the competition – Samsung’s Generative Edit (enhanced version of Object Eraser) and Google’s Magic Editor (Advanced version of Magic Eraser). So, here’s a quick comparison:
Test 1: The Easy One
First, I tested with a photo with a simple background – nothing too complicated. All three tools managed to remove me from the background without much fuss. But here’s where it gets interesting – Samsung’s Generative Edit tool not only removed me from the picture but also added a white lane divider marking on the road. Pixel’s Magic Editor also added it, though the execution wasn’t perfect. On the other hand, the iPhone’s Clean Up tool just left the road plain, without bothering to add any extra details.
Winner: Generative Edit (Samsung Galaxy)
Test 2: The Scenic Shot
While on a trip with friends, I stumbled upon this stunning waterfall view. Of course, there were people everywhere taking hundreds of photos for Instagram. Since I had my Samsung Galaxy S23 handy, I snapped a shot with people in it, then used the Generative Edit to remove them. The result? Pretty impressive.
I later tried the same on the office’s iPhone and Pixel, and both delivered solid results. The water and trees around looked natural – nothing screamed photoshopped. So, it’s a tie between Samsung’s Generative Edit, Google’s Magic Editor, and iPhone’s Clean Up tools.
Winner: Draw
Test 3: The Tough One
Time to up the game! This time, I picked a picture that was a real challenge for all three object removal tools. It was a close battle between the iPhone and Pixel with both handling the subject’s removal and filling in details quite accurately. However, the Magic Editor’s result was more impressive because of how well it handled the edge of the office sofa. Samsung did a decent job, but it added a shadow on the wall making the image a bit dull.
Winner: Magic Editor (Google Pixel)
Test 4: The Fun Test
Okay, I know you’re probably not using object remover tools for this, but just for fun, I wanted to see how well each tool could fill the background using AI. The Clean Up tool clearly messed up the fences, while Pixel’s Magic Editor and Samsung’s Generative Edit tool did a more respectable job. But honestly, Magic Editor stole the show – it filled in the fences behind my bird with impressive accuracy. So, if you’re dealing with a complex background with tiny objects or people, Magic Editor might be your best bet.
Winner: Magic Editor (Google Pixel)
What’s the Final Take
All three object removal tools do a decent enough job of erasing objects and people from images generating the background. But if I had to pick a favorite, Magic Editor usually delivers the most satisfying results. The photos I used were purely for testing purpose, so you might not run into such tricky situations often.
That said, if you already own an iPhone or Samsung phone, you’re pretty much stuck with their built-in tools. But here’s a pro tip: Magic Editor on Pixel is available for all smartphones through the Google Photos app. So, if your current device isn’t cutting it, just download Google Photos from the App Store or Play Store and give it a shot for free.
If you found this article helpful, share it with your friends or anyone on the hunt for the best object eraser tool for their smartphone.
