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A couple of years ago, taking photos at night with your phone meant grainy, unrecognizable images. Today, thanks to night mode on phone cameras, you can capture low-light shots that look like they were taken with a professional camera. Here’s exactly how to enable it, use it well, and get the most out of it.
Table of contents
Table of contents
Enable night mode on Samsung phones
Samsung has improved its night mode significantly over the past few years. If you have a Galaxy S or mid-to-high-range A series, you probably already have it available. I’ve tested night mode on several Samsung models and the process is pretty straightforward.
To enable it:
- Open your Samsung Camera app
- Swipe right through the shooting modes (the row below the shutter button)
- Look for the mode called Night
- Select it and you’ll notice the viewfinder changes slightly
- Frame your shot, hold your phone steady, and tap the shutter button
- Wait 2-5 seconds while the app processes the image
What Samsung’s night mode does is take multiple exposures and combine them into a single brighter image with less noise. Processing time varies depending on how dark the scene is: the darker it is, the more time it needs.
On more recent Samsung phones like the Galaxy S24 and S25, night mode activates automatically when it detects low light. You can force it manually, but in most situations the camera already knows when to use it.
Pro-tip: On Samsung, if night mode doesn’t appear, update the Camera app from Galaxy Store. Some older models received it through a software update.
Samsung night mode quality by model
| Model | Night Mode Quality | Exposure Time | Auto Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S25 Ultra | Excellent | 2-8 sec | Yes |
| Galaxy S24/S24+ | Very good | 3-10 sec | Yes |
| Galaxy S23 | Very good | 3-10 sec | Yes |
| Galaxy A54/A55 | Good | 4-12 sec | Yes |
| Galaxy A34/A35 | Acceptable | 5-15 sec | Partial |
Enable night mode on Xiaomi and Redmi phones
Xiaomi has a pretty competent night mode, though how you enable it can vary a bit depending on which version of MIUI or HyperOS you have. I use a Xiaomi as a secondary phone and its night mode has pleasantly surprised me, especially in the Redmi Note lineup.
The steps are:
- Open the Camera app
- Swipe through the modes until you find Night
- On some models, you can also tap More and find it there
- Once activated, point at the scene and shoot
- Keep your phone still during the exposure
What’s interesting about Xiaomi’s night mode is that on models with an ultra-wide lens, you can use night mode with that lens too. This gives you nighttime perspectives that are very striking and hard to achieve with other brands.
On Xiaomi phones with high-end Snapdragon processors (like the Xiaomi 14 or 14 Ultra), processing is fast and the results are surprisingly good. On more budget models, processing takes longer and results are decent but not spectacular.
Pro-tip: On Xiaomi, if you can’t find Night mode, open the Camera app, tap the three dots at the top right, and look in the mode options. It might be disabled by default on some models.
Night mode on Pixel, Motorola, and other brands
Google Pixel is probably the king of night mode on Android. Google’s Night Sight gives me the best results by far, especially in scenes with mixed lighting (streetlights, shop windows, neon signs).
To enable it on a Pixel:
- Open the Camera app
- Swipe down through the modes or look for the moon icon
- Enable Night Sight
- Google even suggests when to use it automatically
What makes Google’s night mode special is its processing algorithm. It combines up to 15 exposures with dynamic range adjustments that other brands don’t replicate as well. The result is nighttime photos with natural colors and details you wouldn’t expect from a phone.
Motorola uses a night mode similar to Google’s on its high-end models, and it works quite well. On more budget models like the Moto G series, night mode exists but results are more modest.
OnePlus and OPPO have very competent night modes thanks to their Hasselblad collaboration on some models. Quality is high, especially on the OnePlus 12 and later.
For other brands like Realme, Poco, or Nothing Phone, night mode is generally available on mid-to-high-range models. Enabling it is similar: open the Camera app and look for Night mode in the mode bar.
Pro-tip: If your phone doesn’t have a dedicated night mode, try the GCam app (modified Google Camera). It brings Night Sight to virtually any Android. Search for the version compatible with your model on forums like XDA Developers.
Tips for the best night photos
Having night mode enabled is only half the battle. The other half is technique. After hundreds of night photos, here are the tips that make the biggest difference:
Keep your phone steady. This is by far the most important thing. Night mode takes multiple photos and combines them, so any movement ruins them. Lean against something solid, use a wall, or ideally, a mini tripod. I’ve seen my night photos improve 300% just from using a $10 tripod.
Look for light sources. The best night photos aren’t the darkest ones—they’re the ones with interesting light points. Streetlights, shop windows, car lights, water reflections. These elements give depth and life to the image.
Don’t use flash. Your phone’s built-in flash ruins night photos. It illuminates artificially and creates harsh shadows. If you need light, find a natural source or use night mode without flash.
Experiment with Pro mode. If your camera has manual mode, try adjusting ISO (800-1600 for night shots), shutter speed (1/15 or slower), and white balance. This gives you full control over the result.
Shoot in RAW format. If your phone supports RAW, use it for important night photos. It lets you edit later without losing quality and recover shadow details that JPEG loses.
Pro-tip: The golden hour for night photos is right after sunset, when the sky still has a deep blue tone. Photos with a blue sky look much better than with a pure black sky. Take advantage of those 20-30 minutes.
Common night photo mistakes
| Mistake | Solution |
|---|---|
| Moving phone during exposure | Use tripod or rest on surface |
| Not waiting for processing | Wait until it finishes before taking another |
| Using digital zoom | Get closer physically or use optical zoom |
| Shooting in JPEG when RAW is available | Enable RAW+JPEG for flexibility |
| Not composing the shot | Think about composition before shooting |
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Which phone has the best night mode?
In 2026, the Google Pixel 9 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra give the best night mode results. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is also excellent, but on Android side, Pixels stand out for their image processing.
Can I enable night mode on any Android?
Not all phones have native night mode. Mid-to-high-range phones from the last 3-4 years generally do. If your phone doesn’t have it, you can install GCam (the modified Google Camera app) which adds Night Sight to most Android phones.
How long does night mode take to capture a photo?
It depends on the darkness of the scene and the phone. Usually between 2 and 10 seconds. In very dark situations it can take up to 15-20 seconds. Phones with more powerful processors process faster.
Does night mode work for video?
Some phones have night mode for video, but it’s not as common as for photos. Samsung and Google offer it on recent models. For nighttime video, it’s better to use Pro mode and manually adjust ISO and exposure.
Conclusion
Night mode on phone cameras has completely changed what we can do with our phones in low-light situations. You no longer need an expensive camera to take decent night photos. My recommendation: practice with your current phone, use the tips from this guide, and you’ll see your photos improve significantly.
Have you tried your phone’s night mode yet? What has been your experience? Leave a comment with your questions or your best night photos.