Dhruv Bhutani / Android AuthorityWith the iPhone 16 series now available and the iOS 18 release upon us, the focus is on Apple’s AI features. Among the new AI additions, object removal from images stands out as a highlight.
This feature has been a standard on top Android phones for years, with the Pixel’s Magic Eraser appearing as far back as the Pixel 6 series and Samsung’s Object Eraser debuting with One UI 3 in 2021. Given Apple’s reputation for refining features before release, I decided to put it to the test.
In this comparison, I tested Apple’s Clean Up against the Pixel Magic Eraser, Google’s Magic Editor, Samsung’s Object Eraser, and Generative Edit tool from Galaxy AI. The results were surprising.
Scenario 1: Removing a coffee cup from a table
For the initial test, I took a simple shot of an espresso on a table to see how each tool handled objects like the cup and the book behind it. Each tool had its strengths and weaknesses, with Google’s Magic Editor delivering flawless results.
Samsung’s tools also performed well, successfully removing the cup but leaving some shadows. The Generative Edit tool even retained the shadow caused by a lamp.
Scenario 2: Removing a flower vase with foliage
Next, I attempted to remove a vase from a table with a clean backdrop. This proved to be a challenging scenario for all the AI image editing tools, with all having their own issues.
iOS 18’s Clean Up did a good job, leaving no visible traces of the vase but casting a shadow. Magic Editor did even better, while Samsung’s tools struggled, with Generative Edit swapping out the vase for a different one.
Scenario 3: Removing chairs from a diner
To test the tools’ ability to remove objects against structured backgrounds, I tried removing chairs from a diner scene. The iPhone’s Clean Up and Google’s Magic Editor excelled here, maintaining consistent lines and color balance.
Magic Eraser tried but fell short, while Samsung’s tools failed to match up, leaving floating elements or swapping objects entirely.
Scenario 4: Traffic against a building
I challenged the tools by trying to remove traffic from a scene with a barricade. While Clean Up and Magic Eraser did well, Magic Editor struggled. Samsung’s tools also had mixed results, with Generative Edit producing unnatural results.
Scenario 5: Removing people from a photograph
In the final test, I attempted to remove myself from a photo in front of a boat. Each tool had its strengths, with Magic Editor and Generative Edit performing well in recreating the backdrop accurately.
Overall, the comparison showed the strengths and weaknesses of each AI object removal tool, with Google’s Magic Editor standing out as a strong performer.