Introduction: The Rise of AI in Smartphone Photography
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the most transformative technologies in modern smartphones. From enhancing photos to powering smart assistants, AI is now at the heart of user experience. However, one of its most practical and popular applications began with photography—specifically AI object removal.
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Initially introduced as a niche feature, AI-powered object erasers are now found across most flagship devices. These tools help users erase unwanted objects or people from their photos with just a few taps, improving overall image quality and focus. Google pioneered the concept with its Magic Eraser, but the competition has quickly caught up—and, in some cases, may have even taken the lead.
In this in-depth comparison, we’ve tested and ranked the best smartphones for AI object removal in 2025 to determine which device offers the most accurate, efficient, and user-friendly experience.
Phones Tested for AI Object Eraser Capabilities
After extensive testing, we selected four flagship smartphones that represent the cutting edge of AI in photography:
- Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (Galaxy AI)
- iPhone 16e (Apple Intelligence)
- Google Pixel 9 Pro XL (Gemini AI / Magic Eraser)
- Xiaomi 15 (AI Erase 2.0)
These devices were tested using 20 real-world photos taken on a mix of smartphones to ensure a fair and objective comparison. Photos were grouped into two categories:
- Casual Distractions: Random people, street signs, construction cranes, etc.
- Challenging Edits: Hands covering faces, sunglasses, cluttered backgrounds, and photobombers.
How Each Phone’s AI Object Removal Tool Works
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra – Galaxy AI with Generative Edit
Best Overall Performance
- AI Tool Name: Generative Edit (Galaxy AI)
- Internet Requirement: Yes (requires active internet + Samsung account)
- Usability: Easiest – one tap access
- Performance: Fastest and most accurate
- Limitations: Adds a watermark, resizes images to 12MP
Samsung leads the pack with its Galaxy AI object remover. It’s incredibly fast and intelligent in identifying unwanted elements. You can loosely circle an object, and the AI detects and removes it with precision. Impressively, it works equally well on humans and in complex backgrounds.
Apple iPhone 16e – Clean Up (Apple Intelligence)
Best for Privacy-Conscious Users
- AI Tool Name: Clean Up (within Apple Intelligence)
- Internet Requirement: Only for initial setup
- Usability: Two taps to start
- Performance: Decent but inconsistent
- Limitations: Currently not available in China
Apple’s Clean Up tool is integrated into the Photos app and supports offline use once downloaded. While it’s privacy-focused and works smoothly, it often requires multiple attempts to fully erase a subject. It sometimes struggles with recognizing human silhouettes and smaller objects.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL – Magic Eraser + Pixel Studio
Most Automated Object Detection
- AI Tool Name: Magic Eraser (Google Photos) + Pixel Studio
- Internet Requirement: No
- Usability: Moderate (3 taps to access)
- Performance: Good automatic detection, average manual masking
- Limitations: No major improvements in recent versions
Although Google Magic Eraser was the pioneer in this space, it hasn’t seen significant upgrades. Its best feature remains automatic detection—where it suggests what to remove when you open an image. However, for manual editing, it often needs multiple inputs to remove larger or complex elements.
Xiaomi 15 – AI Erase 2.0
Most Room for Improvement
- AI Tool Name: AI Erase / AI Erase Pro / AI Erase 2.0
- Internet Requirement: Yes (possibly routed via Chinese servers)
- Usability: Four taps and slow performance
- Performance: Poor recognition accuracy
- Limitations: Inconsistent, sometimes fails completely
Xiaomi’s AI object eraser is the least user-friendly of the bunch. It’s slow, hard to access, and frequently fails to select entire objects. Removing a simple person might take 8–10 separate attempts. It also has a tendency to reset your work unexpectedly.
Ranking: Best Phones for AI Object Removal in 2025
Final Verdict: Which Phone Should You Choose for AI Object Removal?
If AI-powered object erasing is an important feature for you, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is currently the best smartphone for the job in 2025. It delivers fast, accurate, and intuitive editing with minimal effort. Apple’s Clean Up is a solid choice for iOS users but requires more manual input. Google’s Magic Eraser still works well but needs improvements, while Xiaomi’s AI Erase 2.0 is still far from perfect.
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Whether you’re erasing photobombers, cleaning up your landscape shots, or perfecting a portrait, AI object removal is a handy tool that’s getting better with every smartphone generation.
FAQs: AI Object Removal on Smartphones
Q1: Can AI object removal work offline?
Yes, Apple and Google allow offline usage after initial setup. Samsung and Xiaomi require an internet connection.
Q2: Does object removal affect image quality?
Samsung resizes and adds a watermark. The others generally retain resolution but results may vary.
Q3: Can I remove people from photos with AI?
Yes, all tools support this, but Samsung and Google perform better in handling human silhouettes.