As announced last week, the new Zoom Enhance feature in Google Photos is now rolling out to the Pixel 8 Pro. Once you have access to this update, you’ll find the “Zoom enhance” tool in the Tools tab of the Google Photos editor, alongside other features like Magic Eraser, Unblur, and Portrait Blur. However, Google notes that this feature is still in its early stages and may produce unexpected or inaccurate results.
How to use Zoom Enhance
To use Zoom Enhance, you can zoom in and pan to the desired area of an image before tapping “Enhance details.” The enhancement process takes a few seconds, with a near real-time animation showing the progress. This feature works entirely on-device, even in Airplane Mode, as long as the image is stored locally on your device.
Google also provides some tips for using this feature:
– Try cropping different areas of the image to see different generated details.
– After enhancing, pinch to zoom in further and compare the results by tapping and holding the image.
You can provide feedback on the feature directly from the app, which Google says will help improve Zoom Enhance for everyone. You also have the option to reset the image or save a copy.
Current performance
In one example, the text “NO TRESPASSING” became noticeably sharper after using Zoom Enhance, though the smaller text beneath it remained difficult to read. This suggests that while the feature can improve image clarity, it might not yet deliver perfect results in all cases.
Availability on other devices
Zoom Enhance is currently available with version 6.95 of Google Photos on the Pixel 8 Pro. If you don’t see the feature immediately, try force-stopping the app. Google has also announced that Zoom Enhance will be available on the upcoming Pixel 9 Pro, 9 Pro X, and 9 Pro Fold.
