Apple’s New Photo Feature in IOS 16 Is Real Magic
There are several features on Apple devices that remind me why I am tied to their ecosystem. Universal Control lets me switch between my Mac and iPad using the same keyboard and mouse; AirDrop makes file sharing incredibly easy; Handoff makes it easy to copy and paste between devices. And the new photo feature in iOS 16 is now part of that list because it’s too cool.
The idea is simple: in iOS 16, you can quickly and accurately “lift” an object from any photo by simply dragging it from the background. There is no need to pre-track or cut the object or use a special application or software. This feature actually works in many apps that display images, including Photos, Screenshot, Quick View, Safari, and more.
However, to use this feature, you will need an iPhone with an A12 Bionic chip, which means iPhone XS, XR or newer. While the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X will run iOS 16, their A11 Bionic chips are not compatible with this photo feature — a reminder that not all iOS 16 features are available on all iPhones .
How to Remove Items from Photos in iOS 16
There are two ways to use this feature. The first and coolest is to simply touch the subject of the photo and then drag it with your finger. Your iPhone will instantly pick up the subject from the photo and snap it to your finger as you move it across the screen. You can then use another finger to exit the photo or app and switch to another app, allowing you to drag the picture anywhere you want. For example, you can paste it into a new document in Pages or add it to a new iMessage to send to a friend.
The second way to use this feature is similar: hold the object for half a second, then lift it up. It may take a few attempts to set the correct time (it’s faster than a simple tap, but not as long as a hard press), but if successful, iOS will highlight the item, providing two options above it: “Copy” and “Share.” Click “Copy” to copy it to the iOS clipboard and you can paste it wherever you see fit. Share opens the sharing sheet so you can select exactly which app or contact you want to send the topic to.
In my use, this feature captures the subject or subjects of any photo remarkably well. Even in photos with harsh lighting and/or two or three objects in a row, iOS 16 manages to combine the group into one detachable cutout. Sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to find the right part of the photo to tap to activate the feature, and other times you may need to zoom in on an object to give iOS enough to work with, really.
And when the photo has a clear subject and background, this function is so simple that it’s just magic. While there are many amazing quality of life improvements in iOS 16, some of them even hidden away , this addition belongs to major software updates.