Which Object Eraser Is Better?

Although it is the latest craze, the use of AI in smartphones is still limited. For now, the option to remove unwanted objects from the image is one of the most common and most appreciated. To see which solution performs better, I pitted Apple’s iPhone Clean Up feature against Google’s Magic Editor.

Google Magic Editor vs. Apple Clean Up: On-device photo editing showdown

Since the introduction of the Google Pixel 6 series in 2021, the popularity of the object rubber photo editing tool has grown significantly. Major smartphone brands such as Samsung, OnePlus, Oppo, and even services such as Canva offer this functionality. In fact, Magic Editor is accessible on any device using the Google Photos app. However, most implementations rely on cloud-based AI, and uploading photos to the cloud understandably raises privacy concerns.

A standout feature of both Google Pixel 9 series (our review) and Apple’s iPhone 16 series is the one that offers this functionality in the device. Google’s Magic Editor and Apple’s Clean Up work offline, meaning your photos never leave your device. My findings below used these devices for the most up-to-date comparison.

It is worth noting that while Apple Intelligence has improved in iOS 18.2the feature is still in beta. However, for the purposes of this comparison, I used the same version of Apple Clean Up that is available in the latest stable version of iOS 18.2.

In the galleries below, the first photo is the original, followed by the iPhone Clean Up photo, with the latest Google Magic Editor photo.

Scenario 1: Removing a fire extinguisher behind a Christmas barn

To begin with, I started with something simple: a scene of a Christmas market in Mumbai, India, with a stall selling Christmas-themed ice cream. However, a fire extinguisher in the background spoils the festive atmosphere. I used Magic Editor and Clean Up to remove the fire extinguisher, and I would say that Google’s Magic Eraser did better.

The Magic Editor effectively removed the fire extinguisher while preserving the shadows and details of the wooden wall. In contrast, Clean Up struggled, blending parts of the concrete floor into the wood wall area.

Scenario 2: Removing the Main Subject From an Image

These object removal tools are typically used to remove side or unnecessary objects from a frame, but what if you need to remove the main subject? This demonstration explores this scenario. In this image, I placed a statue like an owl on a white sofa with a pink pillow in the background, then remove the owl. The results of Magic Editor and Apple Clean Up are intriguing.

In this case, I would say that Apple’s Clean Up tool did better. The removal was cleaner, with better blending and less visible artifacts, although it preserved some shadows on the left side. On the other hand, Magic Editor struggled, leaving the pillow and the area where the owl sat with a smudged, disorganized effect.

In this shot of a boat on a lake, Magic Editor gave a significantly better result. While Apple Clean Up successfully removed the boat, Magic Editor not only removed it, but also blended the seamless area and removed the shadow from the lake.

Scenario 3: Remove people in front of a church

This photo, taken in the streets of Pescara, Italy, shows the architecture of a historic church. The original image features a lightly trafficked street with a few people standing in front of the entrance, some to the sides, and a few bicycles. After comparing the results, we say that Magic Editor did better here.

While the iPhone produced a clearer result, it missed key details, such as completely removing the steps in front of the church, leaving the man on the left, and cutting the bottom part of the streetlight on the right. The Magic Editor also struggled with the ladder, but retained the bottom of the lamppost and kicked out the man on the left.

Considering every scenario, Google Magic Editor comes out on top. While Apple’s Clean Up tool is a bit easier to use—you’ll need to dig into the photo editor tools section in Google Photos to find Magic Editor—and often produces aesthetically pleasing results, its accuracy is not always consistent.

In general, I find the Magic Editor results better (often amazed at how much it removes objects) since it works around the object being removed. That said, for a beta tool, Apple Clean Up works remarkably well. It is impressive how quickly Apple has taken it, which has already provided results in the device of this quality.

However, as with most AI tools, the object removal tools also remain finicky – the results varied every time I used Clean Up or Magic Editor on both devices. But the bottom line is that it’s amazing to have these tools available at your fingertips – something completely unimaginable not long ago.