But even the most casual photographer knows that not every moment can be perfectly captured. There’s always someone or something that gets in the frame, or that one person wearing a neon shirt who draws all the attention. Google’s Tensor-powered smartphones, the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7 series, can fix such problems – and it doesn’t involve time traveling.
Review: Google’s Pixel 7 Pro zooms past Samsung on this one camera feature
Thanks to the company’s custom system on a chip (SoC), Tensor, every Pixel 6 and 7 model has a Magic Eraser feature you can use to magically wipe out any unwanted subjects in an image. I will say that the feature doesn’t work 100% of the time and may leave traces of editing if you push it hard enough, but how simple the tool is to use gives it Photoshop-replacing potential: Magic Eraser may be the saving grace for an otherwise imperfect picture. Here’s a walk-through of how to use the Pixel feature.
How to use Magic Eraser on the Google Pixel
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s make sure your Google Pixel supports the Magic Eraser function. Here’s a list of all the compatible devices:
Google Pixel 6Google Pixel 6 ProGoogle Pixel 6aGoogle Pixel 7Google Pixel 7 Pro
Update: Google Pixel’s magical camera feature is finally coming to iPhones (and other Android phones) Also: Comparing Google’s best phones The Pixel will take a moment to scan the image and highlight suggestions for you to erase. From here, you can tap on the subjects individually or Erase all if you’re feeling high-powered. There’s an undo toggle at the bottom should you change your mind about an edit. You can also manually highlight what you want to erase by brushing over the subject. The shading doesn’t have to be perfect; as long as it covers a specified person, place, or thing, the Pixel should be able to draw context from its surroundings and fill in the area.
