Apple has finally jumped into the AI photo editing arena with its new Clean Up tool, available with the iOS 18.1 update. This feature, similar to Google’s Magic Eraser and Samsung’s Object Eraser, allows users to effortlessly remove unwanted elements from their photos. But does Apple’s late entry into the game deliver on the promise of seamless photo retouching? Let’s find out.
The Limitations of Object Removal Tools
Before diving into the Apple vs. Samsung comparison, it’s crucial to understand the inherent limitations of object removal tools. These tools, powered by generative AI, are designed to simplify photo editing by removing distractions, but they aren’t magic wands. Think of them as basic erasing tools, not sophisticated AI editing solutions like Google’s Magic Editor or Samsung’s Generative Edit. This means they excel at removing smaller objects but may struggle with large groups or complex scenes.
The Battle of Basic Object Removal
Let’s kick things off with a basic comparison, focusing on the core functionality of Apple’s Clean Up and Samsung’s Object Eraser. We tested both tools on a series of photos, carefully analyzing the results.
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Photo 1: Cat at the Park:
In this photo, we aimed to remove two large leaves and two cars from the background. Apple’s Clean Up emerged victorious, producing a more natural-looking result with minimal digital artifacts. Samsung, on the other hand, left behind noticeable blurriness and distorted the house window.*
Photo 2: Pikachu-themed Car:
Next, we tackled a photo featuring a Pikachu-themed car, removing a distracting orange cone and a person in the background. While both tools successfully removed the elements, Samsung introduced noticeable blotches, whereas Apple achieved a cleaner result, albeit with some imperfections in the area where the person was removed.*
Photo 3: Disneyland Train Station:
This photo presented a simple edit – removing a stray tree branch against a clear blue sky. Both tools successfully completed the task, but Samsung left behind a slightly darker blotch, while Apple’s Clean Up maintained a clean background without any digital artifacts.Moving Beyond Basic Edits
Now, let’s see how these tools perform on more challenging photos with greater clutter.
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Photo 4: Birthday Party:
In a photo of a family gathering, we tested the tools’ ability to remove a leg, a person in the background, and some chairs. Apple clearly outperformed Samsung in this scenario. While Samsung managed to remove the elements, it left behind numerous digital artifacts and blotches, even failing to re-add a portion of the table. Apple, while not perfect, demonstrated a greater effort in preserving the image’s integrity and avoiding unnatural artifacts.*
Photo 5: Daughter Before School:
This photo featured a student walking in the background, a red car, and a planter. Both tools performed admirably, removing the distracting elements. Apple replaced the removed person and car with a repeating pattern resembling road poles, while Samsung opted for smoothing the area. Both tools added more fence to camouflage the removal, but Samsung’s fence had a slightly burnt appearance. Apple’s rendition of the planter looked more realistic, whereas Samsung’s appeared flattened.*
Photo 6: D23 2024:
Our final test involved removing a sign and a white rope. Apple’s Clean Up showcased a clear victory. Samsung left a blurry blotch across the pavement where the rope was, while Apple seamlessly integrated the removal, maintaining a smooth pavement appearance. Additionally, Samsung introduced a blurry smudge on the sleeve where the sign was, while Apple produced a clean, artifact-free result.Apple Clean Up: Worth the Wait?
With Apple’s Clean Up tool, the company has finally caught up to its competitors in the AI photo editing realm. Though Apple was late to the party, the performance of Clean Up, particularly when compared to Samsung’s Object Eraser, justifies the wait. For iPhone users, this tool offers a powerful and convenient way to enhance their photos, removing unwanted distractions with impressive results.
The battle between Apple Clean Up and Samsung Object Eraser demonstrates the rapid advancement in AI technology, allowing us to manipulate photos in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. As these tools continue to evolve, it will be fascinating to see what future enhancements and creative possibilities emerge.
