Why no third-party photo editing apps on Samsung Galaxy phones?

Those who like to edit photos from time to time will find that the built-in photo editor on Samsung Galaxy phones has everything they need. It's packed with powerful features that make editing quick, easy, and efficient. At this point, third-party tools just feel redundant.

Table of Contents

• 1. Object Eraser tool to remove shadows and reflections
• 2. Resize, reposition, and remove objects with Galaxy AI
• 3. Generative Edit to fill the background
• 4. Sketch to Image
• 5. Add stickers, emojis and text to photos
• 6. Face Effects to remove red eyes, blemishes and more
• 7. Portrait Studio AI to create stunning portraits
• 8. Enhance photos with one tap
• 9. Copy and paste edits

1. Object Eraser tool to remove shadows and reflections

One of my favorite things about the built-in photo editor on my Samsung phone is that it offers a lot of basic options like cropping, rotating, or adding filters. For example, it includes a handy object removal tool that lets you remove shadows and reflections from your photos with just a few taps.

All you have to do is open the photo in the Gallery app's photo editor, tap the Tools tab (the icon with four squares arranged in a grid), and select Object Eraser . From there, you can choose the Erase Shadows or Erase Reflections option , depending on what you want to remove.

Photo editor intelligently analyzes the image and removes any shadows or reflections. It works perfectly in almost every case.

2. Resize, reposition, and remove objects with Galaxy AI

Another major reason why people stick with the built-in photo editor on their Samsung phones is because it is powered by Galaxy AI. With it, you can easily resize, reposition, and remove objects in your photos.

For example, if you want to move an object in a photo, all you have to do is tap the Galaxy AI icon in the photo editor, then tap and hold the object you want to adjust. Once the app detects it, you can use the corners to resize it or simply drag it to a different location. If you want to erase it completely, you can do so by tapping the eraser icon.

Galaxy AI not only removes the subject but also intelligently fills the space with textures and colors that match the surroundings, making the edit look completely natural.

3. Generative Edit to fill the background

For those who aren’t good at taking pictures, photos don’t always come out perfectly straight. Sometimes, objects get accidentally cut off or the subject is off-center. That’s where the Generative Edit tool on Samsung phones comes in handy.

With this feature, you can tap the Galaxy AI icon in the photo editor, use the tilt lever to align the image perfectly, then tap Generate . The AI ​​will analyze the surrounding elements and automatically fill in any areas that are incomplete or out of alignment. Whether it's fixing a curved horizon, filling in a background, or adjusting an awkward crop, it does a great job.

4. Sketch to Image

Another amazing AI feature in Samsung's photo editor is Sketch to Image. If you have an idea of ​​something you want to add to a photo — whether it's a specific object, shape, or design — you can tap the Galaxy AI icon and select Sketch to Image .

From there, you just draw a rough sketch on the screen and hit Generate . Galaxy AI will then analyze the sketch and turn it into a finished object that fits perfectly into the photo.

What people love most about this feature is that it offers a variety of variations to choose from, so you can pick the one that best suits your image. You’ll be amazed at how accurately this tool interprets simple doodles and turns them into realistic images that match the style and context of the photo.

5. Add stickers, emojis and text to photos

While apps like Instagram make it easy to add emojis and stickers to photos, many people rely on the photo editor in the Gallery app to avoid constantly switching between apps.

Whether you want to add a cute emoji, a fun sticker, or something a little more quirky, you can do it all by going to Decorations > Stickers in the photo editor. If you’re feeling extra creative, you can also add text and adjust the font, size, and color to perfectly match the mood or theme of your image.

6. Face Effects to remove red eyes, blemishes and more

Samsung's photo editor also helps you work on some of the finer details in your photos. If you want to enhance a portrait or selfie, you can go to Tools > Face Effects and adjust things like face smoothness, tone, jawline, and more.

One feature that users particularly appreciate is the ability to fix blemishes and remove red eyes with just a few taps. Whether it’s a pimple you don’t want in a photo or regular red eyes from a flash, you can quickly fix those blemishes without needing a separate app.​​​​​​​​

7. Portrait Studio AI to create stunning portraits

Portrait Studio AI is another cool feature that many people like to use from time to time. It allows you to turn any of your selfies into something unique and creative, such as a comic-style portrait, a 3D cartoon, a sketch, or even a watercolor version.

The process is incredibly easy – you just open your selfie in the photo editor, tap the Galaxy AI icon, and select the Portrait Studio option . From there, you can choose from a variety of styles – Comic, 3D Animation, Watercolor, or Sketch – and then let the AI ​​work its magic.

8. Enhance photos with one tap

For those times when you don't want to bother editing your photos, you can rely on Samsung's photo editor to enhance them. Just go to the Tone tab and tap the Auto button .

The photo editor automatically tweaks elements like brightness, contrast, saturation, sharpness, etc., making your photos look vibrant and beautiful without you having to do anything.​​​​​​​​​​​​​

9. Copy and paste edits

Photo editing can quickly become tedious when you have to make the same adjustments over and over again on multiple photos. Luckily, the Gallery app on Samsung phones has a feature that makes the process a lot easier.

Once you've made adjustments to a photo that you want to apply to other photos, tap the three-dot menu in the top corner and select Copy edits . Then, select other photos that you want to apply the same edit to, tap the three-dot menu again, and select Paste edits . That's it!

From removing unwanted objects to creating stunning portraits, your Samsung phone offers all the editing tools you could ask for, so you'll rarely find yourself needing to use third-party photo editing apps anymore.