In the realm of smartphone photography, few features have garnered as much attention as low-light performance. With each generational leap, manufacturers strive to push the boundaries of what a smartphone camera can accomplish in dark conditions. Samsung’s flagship phones have long been at the forefront of this race. Recently, the release of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra has drawn comparisons to its previous iteration, the S22 Ultra, especially when it comes to night photography capabilities. This article dives deep into their performances to evaluate just how much has truly changed.
The Evolution of Night Mode
Samsung’s Night Mode has evolved substantially over the years. Introduced as a novelty feature, it has now become a core functionality for users who need to capture detail-rich images even in very low light.
With the S22 Ultra, Samsung delivered respectable results, employing multi-frame processing and AI scene recognition to brighten up images while attempting to keep noise in check. By the time we get to the S25 Ultra, the improvements in software algorithms, advanced hardware capabilities, and better sensor technology make for an enticing upgrade—especially for photography enthusiasts.
Camera Hardware Comparison
- S22 Ultra – Quad-camera setup with a 108MP primary sensor, 12MP ultra-wide, and dual 10MP telephoto lenses. Night photography greatly benefited from software optimization on this device.
- S25 Ultra – Upgraded with a rumored 200MP primary sensor, significantly improved night capability through a larger sensor surface area, and second-generation telephoto optics for enhanced low-light zoom shots.
Both phones feature LiDAR-like autofocus systems and excellent image stabilization, but the S25 Ultra utilizes next-generation hardware that yields significant light intake improvements and improved computational photography algorithms.
Night Photography Real-World Testing
The real measure of night photography prowess lies in real-world scenarios. Controlled comparisons between the two models highlight stark differences in image clarity, shadow detail, and overall exposure balance.
1. Low-Light Landscape Photography
When capturing cityscapes or night skies, the S22 Ultra still holds its own with impressive noise reduction and color processing. However, the S25 Ultra pushes boundaries with its new AI-enhanced Nightography features that produce brighter, cleaner, and more natural-looking images without overexposing highlights or turning shadows into muddy textures.
The S25 Ultra handles complex lighting situations with ease, preserving contrast between lit and unlit areas while maintaining crisp edges. Stars are more distinguishable, and artificial lighting doesn’t overpower the rest of the frame.
2. Portraits in the Dark
Night portraits are notoriously challenging, especially on smartphones. Skin tones, background blur (bokeh), and noise levels all add complexity. In side-by-side testing:
- S22 Ultra – Tends to soften detail around facial features to reduce noise, sometimes introducing unrealistic smoothing.
- S25 Ultra – Delivers higher detail retention with advanced AI skin tone mapping. Backgrounds also receive more natural bokeh transitions due to improved sensor depth perception.
In particular, the S25 Ultra’s image processing pipeline avoids the plastic-like smoothing of faces while maintaining bright, vibrant colors. Moreover, noise is handled gracefully, allowing for environment details to stand out rather than fade into blackness.
3. Motion in Low Light
Photography at night becomes challenging when subjects are in motion—children playing, pets, or even walking crowds. The shorter exposure required for stopping motion often limits light intake. Here, the S25 Ultra shines again:
- The S22 Ultra still struggles with motion blur unless assisted by additional lighting.
- The S25 Ultra, equipped with improved shutter algorithms and faster sensor readouts, mitigates motion blur more effectively while keeping images bright and sharp.
This makes the newer model especially ideal for capturing candid or action-oriented evening moments.
Detail and Color Science
Nighttime photography isn’t only about brightness. The way a camera handles detail, color accuracy, and shadows can significantly affect overall image quality.
The S22 Ultra, by default, brightens shadows and slightly oversaturates colors to present a more ‘punchy’ image. While appealing to some, this results in lost mood and atmospherics in darker scenes.
On the other hand, the S25 Ultra:
- Maintains a balanced dynamic range between highlights and shadows.
- Preserves subtle tones that contribute to an atmospheric and realistic nighttime capture.
- Utilizes real-time white balance correction in challenging light conditions, reducing the orange or blue cast commonly seen in older devices.
Software and Post-Processing Enhancements
The difference isn’t just hardware. The computational photography improvements in the S25 Ultra play a huge role in delivering superior night shots. Leveraging Generative AI Noise Reduction and deep-layer neural scene analysis, the S25 Ultra actively learns to distinguish between detail and grain—something its predecessor struggled with in extremely low-light environments.
Notably, the Expert RAW Mode on the S25 Ultra enables night professionals to make the most out of DNG files, preserving dynamic range and color information for post-editing without loss of quality. While available on the S22 Ultra, the newer model’s RAW captures exhibit less chromatic noise and greater shadow fidelity.
Zoom Capability at Night
The S22 Ultra offered decent zoom even at night, thanks mostly to optical stabilization and AI sharpening. However, lighting was still a limiting factor beyond 10x magnification. The S25 Ultra introduces major upgrades:
- The new sensor allows for more light per pixel, improving brightness and clarity during zoomed-in shots.
- Better AI assistance detects subjects more intelligently at a distance and brightens only where necessary.
- Noise is reduced when zoomed in, especially helpful in concert or sports lighting environments.
User Experience and Ease of Capture
Night photography is not just about technical capability—it’s also about how easy it is for the average user to capture a great photo without fine-tuning settings manually. The S25 Ultra has improved auto scene detection, faster focus in darkness, and even a dedicated low-light video mode. These refinements collectively reduce the number of failed shots caused by motion blur, poor exposure, or out-of-focus subjects.
The S22 Ultra, while reliable, demands a steadier hand and sometimes multiple attempts to get a clean result in pitch-black environments.
Conclusion: A Worthwhile Upgrade?
For many users, the S22 Ultra still delivers excellent night photos, holding its ground in dim environments with thoughtful software tricks and powerful hardware. It’s particularly appealing to those who enjoy dramatic color and a brighter-than-reality aesthetic in low light.
However, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra represents a genuine leap forward for night photography. With improved sensors, more capable AI algorithms, better handling of motion in low light, and finer control over RAW imagery, it brings more cinematic and true-to-life results. The difference is especially noticeable in portraiture, zoom, and ultra-low ambient lighting environments.
For photographers and enthusiasts prioritizing night photography, the S25 Ultra is not just an iterative improvement—it’s a substantial evolution. Samsung has not only refined its Night Mode but redefined the expectations of what a smartphone can achieve after dark.
