Google drops a big 3.0 update for Snapseed on iPhone

Snapseed, the free photo-editing application from Google, has finally gotten a significant update on iPhones and iPads after years of being inactive. The Version 3.0 update features a completely new design that enhances editing speed and usability. This is the first major update to the app in over three years, and it’s evident that Google is still committed to Snapseed.

Although Android users remain on the previous version, iOS users now enjoy an updated interface, a new favorites section, and a simpler method to reach their most utilized tools. The update brings minor yet useful adjustments to user interactions with editing tools, particularly for individuals who frequently modify photos on their mobile devices.

The most prominent alteration is the redesigned layout. Snapseed has replaced the old menu system with three new sections: Looks, Faves, and Tools. Looks are predefined filters, whereas Tools provides access to more than 25 editing choices. The updated Faves section allows you to store your frequently used tools for easy access, significantly reducing time for regular users. The export options have been relocated to the top-right corner of the display, maintaining a cleaner and less cluttered interface.

A new grid view is available that showcases all your edited photos in a single location. To begin editing, simply press the circular plus button located at the bottom of the screen. The editing experience remains largely the same — you continue to swipe left or right to modify intensity — but Google introduced an arc-based slider for finer adjustments, and now you can swipe up or down for additional options within specific tools.

The tools are categorized into groups such as Adjust and Correct (containing White Balance, Curves, and Lens Blur), Retouch and Transform (featuring Healing and Perspective), Style (comprising Vintage and Black and White), and Creative, which includes Double Exposure and Text overlays. A new cinematic filter has been introduced in the Style category.

A minor yet distinct detail is the refreshed Snapseed logo — sleeker, simpler, and more contemporary. If Google’s update notes are any indication, this may not be the final change we encounter. A teaser notification in the app suggests that “more is arriving shortly,” but it’s uncertain whether the Android version will undergo a similar update.

Currently, Snapseed 3.0 is available exclusively on iOS devices. Android users can continue to download the app from the Play Store, but it is using the older version, which has not received significant updates in quite a while. It remains to be seen if Google intends to implement this overhaul for Android.