Comparison of iOS 27 photo tools versus Photoshop in image quality and editing capabilities.

iOS 27’s Stunning AI Photo Tools Outperform Photoshop in Real-World Tests

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Written by Sam Johnson

2026-09-25

In 2023, Adobe introduced generative AI features in Photoshop that streamlined object removal and extended photos. While effective, they often involved manual adjustments. Meanwhile, Apple’s iOS 27 has unveiled significant updates to its Clean Up tool and a brand-new Extend function, sparking curiosity about how these tools measure up against Adobe’s established offerings.

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Exploring iOS 27’s New Features

With the help of Jürg, a photographer who traverses Switzerland and Europe, a series of captivating photos were tested to evaluate the performance of these tools. See more of his photography on Instagram. To gauge the results, three photos were used to test object removal and three for image extension.

All visuals were captured on an iPhone 17 Pro Max and edited with the iOS 27.0 system on an iPhone 18 Pro Max. The Clean Up tool offers three settings: Auto, Fast, and High Quality, and all tests defaulted to Auto. These photo editing tools showcase the advancements made in iOS 27.

For the Photoshop comparison, a MacBook Pro running Adobe Photoshop 27.10.0 was used. Object selections were made with the Object Selection or Lasso Tools followed by Generative Fill, leaving the AI prompt blank.

The Extend tool in Photos limits expansion compared to Photoshop, which can extend images extensively. For consistency, Apple’s Photos extension served as the reference, which Photoshop matched in size.

Making Things Disappear

The first test involved removing a red chair from in front of a striking yellow door. The Clean Up tool did an impressive job, creating a realistic texture that retained the original shadows and lighting. Although a rivet was unintentionally removed, the outcome was minimal work for Photoshop correction.

Photoshop’s efforts left visible artifacts, making the door appear mismatched with shadows resembling oil stains. The door’s rivets were poorly aligned, exhibiting a less clean and realistic finish than Clean Up.

Another impressive Clean Up performance was removing a red plate from a red table. It not only achieved seamless removal but even added reflections from nearby objects. Some crumbs remained, but this was easily rectified.

While Photoshop successfully extracted the plate, it left behind out-of-place shadows, making the table appear dirty.

Image comparison of iOS 27 Extend and Photoshop Generative Fill outputs.
Left: iOS 27 ExtendRight: Adobe Photoshop Generative Fill

This photo showcased Clean Up’s limitation. Attempting to remove figures left visible remnants and artifacts, particularly around plant life.

In contrast, Photoshop cleanly erased the figures and achieved a seamless fill, avoiding phantom shadows commonly associated with AI tools.

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Adding to the Picture

The Extend tool tackled an old staircase photo. While iOS 27 misinterpreted some structural aspects, Photoshop more accurately extended the staircase, matching texture and detail.

Apple’s tool extended a scenery image with convincing details, notably in the landscape and architectural elements. Conversely, Photoshop’s version was filled with visual inaccuracies and odd modifications.

In another test, Extend produced a coherent scene, accurately replicating details despite minor oddities, such as a misplaced radiator. Photoshop failed to match the realism, resulting in glaring anomalies.

Overall, while neither tool is flawless, iOS 27’s updates deliver significantly more realistic results. It’s important to note that Photoshop requires a subscription, though it doesn’t consume AI credits during Generative Fill use. Apple may impose limits in the future but currently provides impressive out-of-the-box capabilities.

These tools’ effectiveness varies based on scene complexity and photographic demands. Have you explored Apple’s new Clean Up and Extend tools? Share your experiences!

Source: 9to5mac.com

Frequently asked questions

How do iOS 27 photo tools compare to Photoshop?

iOS 27’s Clean Up tool creates realistic textures and retains original lighting, whereas Photoshop may leave visible artifacts and poorly aligned elements. The Extend tool in iOS 27 can convincingly extend images, although it may misinterpret some details, while Photoshop may result in visual inaccuracies and anomalies.

What devices were used to test iOS 27 photo tools?

Photos were captured on an iPhone 17 Pro Max and edited with the iOS 27.0 system on an iPhone 18 Pro Max. The comparison with Photoshop was conducted on a MacBook Pro running Adobe Photoshop 27.10.0.

Do iOS 27 photo tools perform better with object removal?

The Clean Up tool in iOS 27 effectively removes objects like a red chair or red plate with minimal artifacts, sometimes even adding reflections. However, it struggles with more complex scenes such as removing figures, where Photoshop performs more cleanly.