The new Windows Photos app goes native for editing and viewing, but power users are mad about the web-based gallery

Microsoft has introduced an updated Photos app for Windows 11, boasting a new native editor and image viewer alongside an entirely new gallery. This update is part of the company's ongoing initiative to enhance Windows 11's performance and user experience by addressing previous issues and optimizing resource consumption. The rollout begins with Windows Insiders, followed by a wider release to all Windows 11 users later in the year.

The new editor offers a range of features. The Crop tool aids in adjusting framing, composition, and aspect ratio, while Enhance allows for fine-tuning of light, color, and overall photo appearance. The Repair function enables users to mend flaws and imperfections, while Stylize modifies the image's look and feel. A noteworthy addition is Relight, which corrects lighting and exposure during post-processing.

This editor also supports editing HDR, HEIC, and WebP images, along with AI-powered background object removal. Microsoft claims the object removal tool utilizes a next-generation AI model, providing superior quality and faster processing compared to previous versions.

Despite the improvements, the move to a web-based gallery has sparked criticism among power users. Reddit and X users have expressed dissatisfaction, deeming the new gallery, which is essentially a web wrapper based on OneDrive Photos, as slower and less user-friendly compared to the previous native WinUI 3 gallery. This redesign, while aiming to enhance speed, photo-first design, smoother navigation with arrow keys, improved HDR viewing, and support for new file types like SVG, has not entirely satisfied those seeking a more traditional experience.