Pixel’s Best Feature Copied by Samsung?

Yes, Samsung has adopted Google Pixel’s most distinctive feature—the Magic Eraser-style object removal tool—in its Galaxy devices, rebranding it as “Object Eraser.” This article explains exactly what was copied, how the two implementations differ, and what it means for you as a smartphone buyer.

Background: The Pixel’s Signature Feature

Google introduced Magic Eraser with the Pixel 6 series in October 2021. It was marketed as a flagship AI-powered photo editing tool that lets you remove unwanted objects, people, or distracting elements from a photo with a simple tap or brush stroke. The feature was built on Google’s computational photography expertise and Tensor chip’s on-device machine learning. It quickly became one of the most talked-about Pixel exclusives, often cited as a primary reason to choose a Pixel over other Android flagships.

Samsung, meanwhile, had its own photo editing tools but none that matched the one-tap intelligence of Magic Eraser. In early 2022, Samsung announced its own version called “Object Eraser” as part of One UI 4.1, initially for the Galaxy S21 series and then expanded to other recent models. This was a clear acknowledgment that Google had created a feature users genuinely wanted—and Samsung decided to bring it to its own ecosystem.

How Magic Eraser Works

Magic Eraser uses a combination of computer vision and generative fill. When you select an object, the phone’s algorithm identifies its boundaries, removes the pixels, and then reconstructs the background using surrounding textures, lighting, and patterns. The result is a seamless patch that looks as if the object was never there.

Key aspects of the Pixel implementation:

• Automatic object detection: The phone suggests objects it thinks you might want to remove (e.g., photobombers, shadows, reflections).
• Manual selection: You can also circle or brush over any area to remove it.
• On-device processing: All computation happens locally on the phone’s Tensor chip, so no internet connection is needed and your photos never leave your device.
• Integration with Google Photos: Magic Eraser is deeply integrated into the Google Photos app, which is the default gallery on Pixel devices.

How Samsung’s Object Eraser Works

Samsung’s Object Eraser is functionally similar but has a few differences. It is available in the Samsung Gallery app, not Google Photos. You open a photo, tap the pencil icon (or the “Suggestions” button), and select “Object Eraser.” The phone will either automatically detect objects or let you manually circle them.

Key differences from Magic Eraser:

• Processing method: Samsung uses its own AI algorithms, which are also on-device, but the underlying technology is not identical to Google’s.
• Availability: Object Eraser is available on many Galaxy phones, not just flagship ones, provided they run One UI 4.1 or later.
• Additional tools: Samsung’s version often includes “Shadow Eraser” and “Reflection Eraser” as separate tools, which are not part of Magic Eraser’s core feature set.
• Output quality: In side-by-side tests, Magic Eraser tends to produce slightly more accurate background reconstruction, especially on complex textures, but Object Eraser is very close and sometimes better in specific scenarios like removing shadows.

How to Use These Tools

Using either tool is straightforward:

1. Open the photo in Google Photos (on Pixel) or Samsung Gallery (on Galaxy).
2. Tap the edit icon (pencil or slider).
3. Look for “Magic Eraser” (Pixel) or “Object Eraser” (Samsung). On some Samsung phones, you may need to tap the three-dot menu to find it.
4. Wait for automatic suggestions, or manually circle/brush over the object you want to remove.
5. Tap “Erase” or the checkmark to apply.
6. Save the edited photo as a copy or overwrite the original.

Both tools work best on clear, well-lit subjects. They struggle with objects that blend into the background or when the background is highly repetitive (like a crowd of similar people).

Common Problems and Limitations

While these tools are impressive, they are not perfect. Common issues include:

• Ghosting: Sometimes a faint outline of the removed object remains, especially if the background is complex.
• Distortion: The generated background may look warped or blurred, particularly if the removed object was large.
• Inability to handle multiple objects: Removing several objects at once can cause artifacts.
• Processing time: On older phones, the AI processing can take a few seconds, which some users find slow.

If you encounter these problems, try zooming in and using a smaller brush, or use the clone stamp tool in a full photo editor as a fallback.

Comparison: Pixel vs. Samsung

When deciding which phone to buy, the object eraser feature alone may not be a deciding factor, but it’s worth comparing:

• Integration: Pixel’s Magic Eraser is seamlessly integrated into Google Photos, which is the default gallery and photo backup service. Samsung’s Object Eraser is in Samsung Gallery, which is also good but less universal if you switch to another Android phone later.
• AI accuracy: In most real-world tests, Magic Eraser has a slight edge in handling complex backgrounds, but the difference is often negligible for casual users.
• Extra features: Samsung offers Shadow Eraser and Reflection Eraser, which are handy for specific use cases like removing glare from windows or shadows on faces.
• Availability: Samsung’s feature is available on a wider range of devices, including mid-range A-series phones, whereas Magic Eraser is exclusive to Pixel devices (and some Google Photos subscribers on any phone, but that’s a different story).

Both are excellent, and the choice really comes down to your overall preference for the phone’s ecosystem.

Cost and Alternatives

There is no additional cost for either feature—they are built into the phone’s software. If you don’t own a Pixel or a recent Galaxy, you have alternatives:

• Google Photos: The Magic Eraser is available to all Google Photos users, but only for free for a limited number of edits per month (as of 2024, it’s 10 per month for non-Pixel users). Pixel owners get unlimited use.
• Third-party apps: Apps like TouchRetouch, Snapseed (with the healing tool), and Adobe Photoshop Express offer similar object removal, though they may require manual effort.
• Desktop software: For serious editing, Adobe Photoshop’s Content-Aware Fill is the gold standard, but it’s not a mobile solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Samsung’s Object Eraser a direct copy of Magic Eraser?

It’s a functional clone—Samsung implemented the same concept (AI-powered object removal) with its own algorithms. The user experience is similar, but the underlying code and some features differ.

Which one is better: Magic Eraser or Object Eraser?

For most users, they are comparable. Magic Eraser has a slight edge in background reconstruction accuracy, while Object Eraser offers additional tools like Shadow Eraser. Try both if you can, and see which you prefer.

Can I get Magic Eraser on a Samsung phone?

Yes, if you use Google Photos and have a Google One subscription (or are a Pixel owner), you can access Magic Eraser in the Google Photos app on any Android phone, including Samsung. However, the integration is not as seamless as on a Pixel.

Does Object Eraser work on all Samsung phones?

No, it requires One UI 4.1 or later. Most Galaxy S21 and newer flagships, as well as many A-series phones, support it. Check your phone’s software version in Settings > About Phone.

Do these tools work offline?

Yes, both Magic Eraser and Object Eraser process images entirely on-device, so they work offline and your photos are not uploaded to any server.

Will Samsung add more Pixel features in the future?

Samsung has historically adopted popular features from competitors (e.g., Always-On Display, dark mode). It’s likely they will continue to bring similar features to their devices, but Google also innovates with new Pixel-exclusive features like Photo Unblur and Best Take.

Related

• Hierarchical Storage Management: How It Keeps Data Accessible
• Why Power Cords & Plugs Get Hot: Causes & Fixes
• Quantum Phase Stability: What It Means