iOS 13 release date, features: 3 major ways Apple is improving the Photos app

From the enhanced organization of images to new built-in editing tools, Apple clearly wants to perfect the Photos app through iOS 13 coming out later this year. The system-wide Dark Mode was one of the widely rumored new features on iOS 13. But it has become more apparent that Apple spent significant time and effort in developing improvements and new features for the Photos app.

iPhones, even the earlier models, are known for having some of the best cameras in the smartphone market through the years. The iPhones coming out this year will likely receive an upgrade in this department, so it only makes sense to complement that with a substantially enhanced Photos app through iOS 13.

More organized photos, improved library on iOS 13

One of the first things iOS 13 users will notice in the revamped Photos app is the way the images are organized. The software update groups all photos by years, months, and days. The main idea is to put the best shot image first whether the user is scrolling by month or day with the help from machine learning technology.

This also means that screenshots, duplicate images, and other pictures considered “clutter” will be automatically hidden, so iOS 13 users can focus on revisiting important memories captured through their device. Expect a more interactive Photos app as Live Photos and videos will automatically play, without opening them and no audio, while scrolling through the library.

iOS 13 has better Photo editing tool, more video editing options

The editing tool in the Photos app has been improved several ways on iOS 13. For one, Apple streamlined the editing modes (seen on the top center) only to Adjust, Filters, and Crop. The Plugins control is relocated to the top right corner of the screen while the Magic Wand is placed in the bottom. More editing options are available under the Adjust and Crop mode compared to iOS 12. Each adjustment and filter can be toned down or increased through dedicated controls, just like on Instagram.

Probably one of the most exciting features on iOS 13 is the new video editing tools. Users will have the option to rotate, crop, correct the perspective, add a filter on videos from the Photos app. When in doubt, an auto-enhance option is also available.

Advanced portrait adjustments

iOS 13 adds Portrait Lighting Control that practically allows users to have the basic tools in editing photos that a professional studio normally would. The main point is to be able to adjust the lighting to a person’s liking that ultimately affects the brightness and sharpness of an image as well as the smoothness of the subject’s facial features.

Previous versions of the iOS introduced the Stage Light Mono feature. It lets users apply a monochromatic or black and white effect on a portrait and with a black background. The iOS 13 will add the High-Key Mono option that does practically the same thing but with a white background. However, MacRumors reports that both these features are exclusive to iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR.