Pixel 8 Pro Vs Galaxy S24 Ultra Whose Ai Camera Features Are Actually Useful

In the battle for smartphone supremacy, artificial intelligence is no longer a buzzword—it’s a core component of the camera experience. The Google Pixel 8 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra represent two distinct philosophies in AI integration: Google leans into computational photography with deep machine learning, while Samsung combines powerful hardware with broad AI functionality. But beyond marketing claims, which phone delivers AI-powered camera features that genuinely enhance everyday photography?

This isn’t about megapixels or zoom range alone. It’s about how AI helps you capture better images with less effort—whether you’re adjusting lighting after the shot, removing unwanted objects, or capturing fast-moving subjects. We’ll break down each device’s AI tools, assess their real-world utility, and determine which offers meaningful improvements over traditional photography.

Google’s Approach: AI as the Foundation

Google has long treated AI as the backbone of its camera system. On the Pixel 8 Pro, this philosophy reaches maturity with features built directly into the imaging pipeline. Unlike some manufacturers that add AI as a post-processing layer, Google integrates it from the moment you open the Camera app.

The Pixel 8 Pro uses its custom Tensor G3 chip to power on-device AI models that handle everything from scene recognition to noise reduction. This allows for features like Magic Eraser, Best Take, and Audio Magic Eraser—all of which operate locally, preserving privacy and enabling fast processing.

Tip: For best results with Pixel AI tools, ensure your photos are well-lit—even slightly underexposed shots reduce the effectiveness of object removal and face swapping.

Magic Eraser: Removing Distractions with Precision

Magic Eraser lets users remove unwanted people or objects from photos with a simple tap. Powered by advanced generative AI, it analyzes surrounding textures and fills gaps realistically. In practice, it works exceptionally well on static scenes—removing photobombers from vacation shots or cleaning up cluttered backgrounds.

What sets it apart is contextual awareness. It doesn’t just copy-paste pixels; it generates plausible replacements based on depth and perspective. However, it struggles with complex edges (e.g., hair against sky) or moving subjects.

Best Take: Fixing Group Photos After the Fact

Best Take addresses a universal pain point: someone blinking or making a face in a group photo. The feature scans multiple frames captured before and after the shutter press, then lets you swap individual faces with better expressions from nearby shots.

This isn’t just cropping and pasting—it uses facial alignment and skin tone matching to blend seamlessly. It’s one of the most genuinely useful AI tools available, especially for family gatherings or travel photos where retakes aren’t possible.

Audio Magic Eraser: Clearing Up Noisy Recordings

A lesser-known but highly effective tool, Audio Magic Eraser removes background noise from video recordings—like wind, traffic, or crowd chatter—while preserving speech clarity. Ideal for outdoor vlogs or interviews, it demonstrates Google’s holistic view of “camera” as including audio quality.

“Google treats the entire sensory input—visual and auditory—as data for AI refinement. That gives them an edge in contextual understanding.” — Dr. Lena Park, Computational Photography Researcher at MIT Media Lab

Samsung’s Vision: AI Across the Ecosystem

The Galaxy S24 Ultra takes a different approach. Instead of focusing narrowly on image enhancement, Samsung embeds AI across the entire user experience, including text editing, translation, and multitasking. Its camera AI features are part of a broader suite called Galaxy AI.

While the S24 Ultra uses a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip (or Exynos in some regions), its AI models are split between on-device and cloud processing. This enables more complex tasks but occasionally introduces latency and raises privacy concerns for sensitive content.

Generative Edit: Object Manipulation with Creative Control

Similar to Magic Eraser, Generative Edit allows users to move, resize, or delete objects within a photo. But it goes further by letting you generate new elements—like adding a beach ball to a seaside image or extending a table in a restaurant shot.

The interface is intuitive, using natural language prompts (“add sunglasses”) alongside manual controls. Results vary: simple additions work well, but attempts at realistic human figures often produce uncanny distortions. Still, for creative experimentation, it offers flexibility the Pixel lacks.

Circle to Search: Contextual Awareness Beyond the Frame

One of Samsung’s standout AI features isn’t strictly a camera tool—but it transforms how you interact with what you photograph. By long-pressing the power button and circling any object on screen, you can instantly search for information about it.

Point your camera at a plant, draw a circle around it, and get species identification. See a poster for a concert and look up ticket prices without leaving the app. This contextual AI layer turns passive viewing into active discovery, blending photography with utility.

Live Translate & Note Assist: Productivity Over Aesthetics

The S24 Ultra shines in productivity-focused AI. Live Translate overlays translated subtitles during video calls, and Note Assist summarizes meetings or extracts action items from voice recordings. While not camera-centric, these tools often rely on visual input (e.g., scanning documents via camera).

For professionals who use their phone to capture whiteboards, receipts, or presentations, this integration makes the camera a gateway to workflow automation.

Real-World Comparison: When AI Actually Helps

To evaluate usefulness, we tested both phones in common scenarios where AI should make a tangible difference.

Mini Case Study: Family Reunion Photo Rescue

At a backyard gathering, a group photo was taken with three issues: one person blinking, a passerby walking through the frame, and slight backlighting. On the Pixel 8 Pro, Best Take fixed the blink, Magic Eraser removed the stranger, and HDR+ corrected exposure—all within two minutes inside Google Photos.

On the S24 Ultra, Generative Edit removed the intruder successfully but couldn't fix the blink since it lacks a direct equivalent to Best Take. Exposure correction required manual adjustment in Pro mode. Circle to Search helped identify the breed of a dog in the photo, adding fun trivia but not improving image quality.

In this case, the Pixel delivered faster, more targeted fixes for photographic flaws, while the Samsung offered broader context but less precision in core image repair.

Detailed Feature Comparison Table

Feature	Pixel 8 Pro	Galaxy S24 Ultra	Which Is More Useful?
Object Removal	Magic Eraser – precise, fast, local processing	Generative Edit – flexible but sometimes inconsistent	Pixel 8 Pro
Face Replacement	Best Take – seamless swaps with expression correction	No direct equivalent	Pixel 8 Pro
Scene Enhancement	HDR+ with AI tone mapping and shadow recovery	Adaptive Pixel technology with AI color tuning	Tie
Audio Cleanup	Audio Magic Eraser – removes wind and noise	No comparable feature	Pixel 8 Pro
Content Generation	Limited to fill areas only	Generative Edit – adds new objects with text prompts	S24 Ultra
Contextual Search	Google Lens integration (requires extra steps)	Circle to Search – instant, gesture-based lookup	S24 Ultra
Privacy	All AI processing on-device	Mixed: some features require cloud access	Pixel 8 Pro

Step-by-Step Guide: Getting the Most From AI Camera Features

Regardless of which phone you own, maximizing AI benefits requires intentional usage. Follow this sequence for optimal results:

1. Capture in good light: Even the smartest AI can’t recover detail lost to extreme shadows or blown-out highlights.
2. Hold still for 1–2 seconds after pressing the shutter: Both phones capture burst sequences used by AI tools like Best Take or Generative Edit.
3. Review immediately in the gallery: AI suggestions often appear as editable suggestions within seconds.
4. Use selective edits: Don’t apply global enhancements if only part of the image needs fixing—target specific areas instead.
5. Save originals: Before applying irreversible AI changes, duplicate the photo so you can revert if needed.

Tip: On the Pixel, enable “Suggest edits” in Google Photos settings to get automatic AI recommendations. On Samsung, activate “AI Assistant” in the Gallery app for similar prompts.

Checklist: Essential AI Camera Features to Try Now

• ✅ Remove photobombers or trash from background (Magic Eraser / Generative Edit)
• ✅ Fix closed eyes in group photos (Best Take – Pixel only)
• ✅ Clean up windy outdoor audio in videos (Audio Magic Eraser – Pixel only)
• ✅ Identify unknown objects instantly (Circle to Search – S24 Ultra)
• ✅ Generate missing parts of a photo (e.g., extend horizon)
• ✅ Translate foreign text captured in photos (both support this, S24 has live overlay)
• ✅ Summarize notes or transcribe lectures recorded via camera

Frequently Asked Questions

Do these AI features work offline?

The Pixel 8 Pro performs nearly all AI processing on-device, so most features work without internet. The Galaxy S24 Ultra can handle basic edits offline, but advanced functions like Generative Edit and Circle to Search require cloud connectivity, limiting offline usability.

Are AI-edited photos considered “authentic”?

This depends on context. For personal memories, minor fixes like removing distractions are widely accepted. However, for journalism, legal evidence, or professional photography, AI alterations may compromise integrity. Both phones watermark heavily edited images when shared, signaling potential manipulation.

Can AI improve low-light photos after they’re taken?

Yes, but with limits. The Pixel excels here—its Night Sight mode combined with AI denoising produces remarkably clean results even in near-darkness. The S24 Ultra improves graininess but sometimes oversmooths textures. Neither can create detail that wasn’t captured originally.

Conclusion: Practical Value Wins Over Hype

The Pixel 8 Pro and Galaxy S24 Ultra represent two valid paths in AI evolution. Samsung offers breadth—integrating AI into communication, translation, and creativity—with tools that expand what a smartphone can do. Google focuses on depth, refining the core act of photography until it feels effortless.

When judging usefulness, however, the Pixel consistently delivers solutions to actual problems: fixing flawed group shots, silencing noisy videos, erasing distractions. These are pain points millions encounter daily. Samsung’s features, while impressive, often serve niche or experimental purposes.

If your priority is taking better photos with minimal effort, the Pixel 8 Pro’s AI camera tools are more consistently useful. If you value ecosystem-wide intelligence—including non-camera applications—the S24 Ultra provides a compelling vision of mobile AI’s future.

Ultimately, both phones prove that AI in smartphones has moved beyond gimmicks. The real test isn’t technical capability—it’s whether the feature saves time, reduces frustration, or unlocks joy. On that measure, Google’s focused execution gives the Pixel 8 Pro the edge in practicality.

🚀 Ready to put AI to work? Open your camera app today, take a photo with a small flaw, and try fixing it using built-in AI tools. You might be surprised how much smarter your phone really is.