Is Apple’s New 'Clean Up' Feature the Photo Editing Revolution We’ve Been Waiting For?
Apple’s latest ad showcases a tool that could change how we edit photos forever—but is it all smoke and mirrors? While Apple Intelligence’s grander promises remain delayed, the tech giant is doubling down on features that are already here. Enter Clean Up, a one-tap solution to erase photo distractions without ruining your shot. But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive in.
📸 The Problem: Photo Editing Has Always Been a Pain
We’ve all been there: you take a perfect photo… only to notice a stray photobomber, an awkward shadow, or—as Apple’s ad highlights—your own reflection glaring back from a mirror. Traditional fixes involve:
- ⏳ Time-consuming manual edits (think Photoshop or third-party apps)
- 🎨 Risk of altering your subject (overzealous AI tools often blur or distort the main focus)
- 💸 Subscription fatigue (many advanced tools require monthly fees)
Apple’s Clean Up aims to solve this with a single tap, leveraging on-device AI to surgically remove distractions. But there’s a catch…
✅ The Solution: Clean Up’s AI Magic—Here’s How It Works
Apple’s new ad demonstrates Clean Up erasing a photographer’s reflection from a mirror behind the subject—a task that previously required professional editing skills. Key advantages:
- ✅ One-tap simplicity: No manual brushing or complex layers
- ✅ Precision AI: Targets only background objects, preserving subjects
- ✅ Ecosystem integration: Works across iPhone, iPad, and macOS
Supported devices:
- iPhone 16 models, iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max
- iPad with A17 Pro/M1+ chips
- Macs with M1+ running macOS Sequoia 15.1
Unlike Adobe’s Generative Fill (which relies on the cloud), Clean Up processes edits locally—a win for privacy and speed.
⚠️ The Catch: Why Your Old iPhone Won’t Cut It
Apple’s hardware restrictions have sparked frustration:
- 🚧 iPhone 14 or older? You’re out of luck—Clean Up requires A17 Pro/M1 chips or newer
- ⚠️ Software delays: iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1 are still rolling out
- 📉 Ecosystem fragmentation: Families sharing older iPhones can’t use the feature
This exclusivity highlights Apple’s broader strategy: using software to push hardware upgrades. As one Reddit user quipped, “My iPhone 14 is suddenly ‘dumb’ now.”
🚀 Final Thoughts: A Glimpse of the Future—With Strings Attached
Clean Up is undeniably impressive—it turns a 10-minute edit into a 10-second task. But its success hinges on:
- 📈 Expanding device compatibility (Will Apple backport it to older models?)
- 🤖 Delivering delayed Apple Intelligence features (Siri’s overhaul, AI writing tools)
- 💡 Managing expectations (Not every photo will be salvageable)
For now, Clean Up is a tantalizing preview of AI’s potential in everyday tech. But with millions of users excluded due to hardware limits, is Apple prioritizing profits over accessibility? What do you think?
Let us know on X (Former Twitter)
Sources: Chance Miller. Apple highlights Apple Intelligence ‘Clean Up’ feature in new ad [Video], Apr 21 2025. https://9to5mac.com/2025/04/21/apple-highlights-apple-intelligence-clean-up-feature-in-new-ad-video/
