Google Photos’ Magic Editor tool may soon be more available for everyone for free, including those without Google Pixel 8 and a Google One subscription. According to Google’s support page, Magic Editor is currently an experimental feature available only for Pixel 8 and 8 Pro users. However, clues within the latest Google Photos app suggest a new free, limited-use model might be in the works.
Currently, the Magic Editor suite (with features like sky replacement, object removal, and artistic styling) is exclusively available to Google One subscribers or those using eligible Pixel phones. However, Android Authority recently uncovered code in an APK teardown of the Google Photos app version 6.78.0.622306643 that hints at a potential “metered saves” system for Magic Editor.
So, what does that mean for you? It might translate to a limited number of free photo edits using Magic Editor each month. Think of it like a taste test — you could try those fancy editing tools but would need to upgrade to a Google One plan for unlimited access or wait until the next month for your quota to refill. Spotify is doing something similar by offering users access to 15 hours of free monthly audiobook listening time and if they want more before the new month, they got to pay.
This change makes sense because right now anyone can preview Magic Eraser, but you can’t save the results without a Google One subscription. Granted, letting users experience the editing magic of Magic Editor firsthand is a smart way to potentially entice more full-fledged subscribers.
Google is clearly pushing to further integrate AI into their services. Making Magic Editor more widely accessible to non-Pixels and non-paying Google One users, even with limitations, aligns with that goal. When could we see this change? It’s hard to say for sure, but given the code’s existence, it might not be too far off.
Hillary Keverenge
2117 Posts
Tech has been my playground for over a decade. While the Android journey began early, it truly took flight with the revolutionary Lollipop update. Since then, it's been a parade of Android devices (with a sprinkle of iOS), culminating in a mostly happy marriage with Google's smart home ecosystem. Expect insightful articles and explorations of the ever-evolving world of Android and Google products coupled with occasional rants on the Nest smart home ecosystem.
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