Credit: Jimmy Westenberg / Android Government
- Google today unveiled a new video editor for Google Photos.
- The new editor includes some new tools similar to existing photo editing tools in the app.
- Meanwhile, photo-editing features exclusive to Pixel phones are now available for non-Pixel devices, though paid for behind Google One.
Google has just added a new set of video editing tools to the Google Photos app. Google has designed the new features to edit videos simply and intuitively. Many of the features are similar to photo editing tools that Google introduced last year.
The new Google Photos video editor is now being implemented on iOS devices. Google says it will land on Android devices in the coming weeks.
Related: Google Photos: A Beginner’s Guide
In addition to updating the video editor, Google is also making Pixel-exclusive photo-editing tools available to a wider audience. Unfortunately, you have to sign in to Google One to access these tools, as well as to meet certain hardware specifications.
The new Google Photos Video Editor
If you’ve ever used the photo editor in Google Photos, the new video editing tools look very familiar. You can perform simple tasks such as pruning and cutting. However, you can also add filters, adjust lighting and exposure, and use AI-powered tools to really make your videos appear.
Check out the GIF below for some examples.
As mentioned earlier, the latest version of the Google Photos app is now available on iOS devices. Android users will see the Google Photos video editor updates later.
Pixel-exclusive photo tools pay for non-Pixel phones
Meanwhile, Google is also expanding the availability of some photo editing tools that only existed on Pixel phones before. Portrait Blur, Portrait Light and Color Pop are powerful effects that can completely change the way your photos look. You can see how Portrait Light works in the GIF below.
Unfortunately, if you do not own a Pixel device, you will not have access to these features unless you sign in to Google One. You also need a phone with at least 3 GB of RAM and Android 8 Oreo or newer. This is probably a preliminary step in getting people to pay for Google One because they are willing to deal with storage limits within Google Photos later this year.
Related: Everything you need to know about Google One
Unlike the Google Photos video editing tools, these photo tools will be available to Android users within a few days with Google One subscriptions and appropriate hardware. Pixel users will continue to see the features at no cost. Google did not say whether iOS users would see the tool.