After 10 Years, Snapseed Gets a Major Update with Version 3.0
After nearly a decade of silence, Google has finally released Snapseed 3.0—a long-awaited update to one of the most beloved mobile photo editing apps. First launched in 2011 and last significantly updated in 2015, Snapseed has been a staple for photographers looking for powerful, on-the-go editing tools. With version 3.0, the app gets a complete visual overhaul, new film-style filters, updated editing controls, and a streamlined interface designed for today’s mobile workflow. Best of all it’s still free!
Snapseed 3.0 is currently only available for iOS and iPad OS. An Android version of the app has not yet been announced.
In this post, we’ll take a look at what’s new, what’s improved, and whether Snapseed 3.0 is worth the wait.
What’s New in Snapseed 3.0?
- Modernized Interface – Snapseed 3.0 features a redesigned interface, with edited photos displayed in a grid and a circular floating action button for starting new edits
- Toolbar Redesign
- Looks: One-tap filters on the left
- Faves: Center tab to pin your most-used tools
- Tools: Full editing suite on the right
- Export options moved to top-right corner
- 31 New Film-Inspired Filters
- Found under the new Film style category in Tools
- Based on classic film stocks like Kodak Gold, Polaroid 600, and Fujifilm Superia
- In addition to Film Styles, there are also styles for Glow, Retrolux, Vintage, Black & White, HDR Scape, Drama, Noir, and Grunge. I especially like the Glow Style that offers several preset looks plus the ability to adjust the glow manually with a circular slider.
- Arc-Style Adjustment Controls
- New circular sliders for more intuitive editing
- Swipe up/down to choose adjustments, left/right to fine-tune
- Enhanced RAW & JPEG Editing
- Expanded RAW format support
- Improved non-destructive editing and better EXIF metadata handling
- Performance & UI Upgrades
- Faster load times and smoother performance
- Updated app icon with a cleaner green leaf design
- Apple Pencil Support
- While it is not specifically mentioned in the Snapseed documentation, the Apple Pencil works with Snapseed 3.0.
What’s Not New in Snapseed 3.0?
- A solid line up of global image editing tools including some fun tools like double exposure, and the ability to add frames.
- A Selective edit tool using Control Point Technology to adjust Brightness, Contrast, Saturation, and Structure to specific areas of the photograph.
- The tool integrates well with Apple Photos, allowing you to easily access photos in the library and with multiple options to save an edited photo back to the library (update original, save a copy with edits you can revert, and export a copy with permanent changes.
- The Healing Brush / Remove Tool is still lagging behind other apps that utilize AI technology to improve the ability to remove unwanted objects, and the results from the Healing Brush tool still aren’t that great.
Final Thoughts on Snapseed 3.0
Snapseed 3.0 is a thoughtful and welcome update to one of the most popular mobile photo editing apps. With a refreshed design, easier access to tools, and a new set of film-style filters, it feels more modern while still delivering the powerful editing experience users love. The addition of features like the Faves tab and arc-style controls makes the editing process faster and more intuitive. For iPhone and iPad users, the free Snapseed 3.0 is a great reason to revisit (or stick with) this classic photo editor. Let’s hope the Android version of Snapseed 3.0 is coming soon.
Written by Martin Belan
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2 Comments
Etomography Major Tom
I can see why some might enjoy aspects of the new Snapseed release, and I respect the effort that went into refreshing the app. But as someone who has done well over 10,000 edits with the previous version, I feel compelled to share another perspective.
The earlier Snapseed was not just a casual tool — it was genuinely powerful, even for professional-level editing. The new version, however, has lost much of that strength. The interface may look more modern, but in terms of usability and precision it feels like a step backward.
For serious editors, it has become much harder to work efficiently, and that’s a real loss.
Of course, new users may still find it appealing at first glance, but I worry they won’t stick with it. And those of us who relied on Snapseed every day now feel we’ve lost one of the best free editing tools ever made.
I would encourage Google to consider bringing back the older version alongside this one — even under a different name. There is still global demand for a tool that combines simplicity with real professional depth. That way, both new and experienced users could be well served.
Many Thanks
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Etomography Major Tom
Etomography One
lbelan
Thanks for providing your perspective on the new Snapseed release Tom!