Google is offering new photo-editing features to all Android users—for a price. If you’re carrying anything other than a Pixel-brand handset, you’ll need to be a paying Google One subscriber in order to use them.
The paywalled tools include machine learning-powered effects like Portrait Blur, Portrait Light, and Color Pop, initially released last year with the Pixel 5. All three work for new photos and past images—even those without depth information. (Your device must be running Android 8.0 or above and have 3GB of available RAM.)
Google One membership is like having VIP access. Existing versions of these functions are still available via the free Google Photos app, but a subscription earns extra perks, like new AI-powered filters and a new video editor.
Employ the “dynamic” option to automatically enhance brightness and contrast where needed, while “sky suggestions” makes pictures pop by adjusting the color and contrast for dramatic results. “Think of these as super filters that apply complex edits with just one tap,” product manager Zachary Senzer wrote in a blog announcement.
Google is also introducing a new video editor that lets you trim, stabilize, rotate, and crop clips, not to mention change perspective, add filters, and apply granular edits (brightness, contrast, saturation, etc.). Already available in Google Photos on iOS, these features will roll out to most Android users in the coming weeks.
Starting at $1.99 per month, Google One members can enjoy additional perks like 100GB of storage, premium support, Google Store rewards, extended free trials, and more. These editing features are still available to Pixel owners at no additional cost.
