One of the technologies based on artificial intelligence that has spread the most over the years in the different brands and models of mobile phones has a first and last name: Night Mode. Sometimes you just have to slide your finger, although on other occasions to activate this tool in the Android camera we have to make life a little more complicated.
Over time, this Night Mode has been improved so that with the minimum light and increasing the exposure time, we can photograph scenarios that were previously impossible. We can still use flash, but in most cases the use of this software offers us a more satisfactory result and we do not need artificial lights. Each manufacturer integrates it in its own way and means that, to use it, we have to follow a few different steps, but don’t worry, because we will tell you what they are. In addition, we will give you a series of tips so that, when you are going to use this Android software, you know how to use it without making mistakes.
What to keep in mind: What it is and what it is for
Surely you have already noticed how more and more people manage to take images at night that seemed impossible with their smartphones. And it is something that makes sense if we know the characteristic Night Mode that has been integrated into all smartphones. This software tool that is integrated into the camera apps of the terminals manages to take night photos and obtain the best results when the presence of natural light is low or absent.
What is Night Mode in phone camera
The Night Mode is activated when, first, we turn to enable this function within the options that we find within the camera application. Basically, it is a function that, when we are in a low-light environment, we can take a snapshot with a sharper result and with greater lighting.
However, depending on the darkness of the scene , the phone may take a Night Mode photo instantly or it may take several seconds. Also, in many customization layers, if not all, they will allow us to adjust the exposure settings.
Do all phones have night mode for photos?
At first it depends on the operating system, but, essentially, practically all current smartphones have this Night Mode among the settings or options that we find within the Camera applications of the phones. However, a few years ago it was not common at all, and few users or terminals benefited from this tool.
In addition, it is quite likely that older devices did not have this feature as standard, but with the passing of updates, this software tool has been integrated into different smartphones. However, it was a function that was present rather in mid-range or high-end mobiles, so the entry-level range was left aside . Instead, over time, the presence of Night Mode has been further extended.
How Night Mode works
The operation of this software tool that is integrated into the camera apps of smartphones is quite simple. As we will see later, it will be as quick as entering this app and looking for the so-called Night Mode among the different options that this application offers us. Its operation may seem strange to us at first.
But, so that you can obtain better results, it is best to keep the mobile still until the capture is finished. As we told you before, this will depend on the work that the artificial intelligence has to do, that is, depending on the light conditions in which we want to take an image. In addition, we should try to place the phone on a solid and safe surface or use a tripod to increase stability and control the brightness of the exposure.
How to activate on your mobile camera
The main thing will be knowing how to activate this tool that is included in all Android devices, or at least most of them, since it began to be included in smartphones from version Pie (9.0). For this reason, it is time to know how this mode has to be enabled in the phones of the main brands that we find in the terminal market. In this way, you will make sure to take photos at night with your mobile without fail.
On Samsung phones
The different Samsung Galaxy smartphones have an advanced Night Mode , which is helped by artificial intelligence to obtain the best result. To take advantage of it, we only have to open the camera and slide through its quick options to the ‘More’ section. Here we see a series of options, among which we will see the mode called ‘Night’. When activated, the settings will be applied to improve photos in low light.
However, if we keep pressing on this tool, we can move it to the bottom bar so that it is always visible and more within our reach. In this way, we will avoid having to constantly enter this section to take an image when it is night or there is little natural light. In addition, we can do the same on other Android devices.
Night Mode on Xiaomi mobiles
The Chinese firm Xiaomi also has its own software tool for night photography, which changes slightly in MIUI 12 to the new photographic options menu. We will have to touch on the ‘More’ section to be able to find that button that gives us access to the night mode of the camera in Xiaomi . However, some entry-level smartphones under the Redmi sub-brand will not be able to use it.
In Huawei camera
For its part, Huawei also has a Night Mode for photos that achieves very good results. In addition, enabling this software tool does not have any complications, since it is more or less the same as what we have been seeing on other smartphones that have Android.
Therefore, to use it on a Chinese phone of this firm, we will have to go to the section called ‘ Night ‘ at the bottom and from here we can adjust some parameters such as ISO or time to give the result a little personality. The most striking thing is that we will find this tool directly in the lower bar, making it much more accessible.
On Realme devices
Realme smartphones also integrate a photo night mode that is the same in all models with Realme UI. We just have to access the native camera application and tap on the button called ‘Night’ at the bottom. As you can see, it is quite similar to other Android phones, although it is true that it is more similar to some than to others.
Once activated, we will be able to take the photo and we will see how the result changes completely. And, as is the case with Huawei mobiles, this function for the Realme camera is integrated into the lower bar of the native app of the Asian firm’s customization layer, instead of having to enter another menu.
Night photography on OnePlus
The OnePlus company is not without its own night mode and offers us the possibility of activating it with a simple gesture and button within its customization layer called OxygenOS. Therefore, once we access the camera we have a black space at the bottom, which if we slide gives us the possibility of activating the so-called OnePlus Night Landscape with which the result will be very different.
As you can see in the following image, the name of this software tool for night photography in OnePlus terminals changes its name completely . But, it will fulfill the same functions that we have been seeing throughout this article. So it will be more than enough to capture snapshot at night.
Activate it on OPPO
The possibility of using night mode on OPPO phones with Color OS is present, just like on other Android devices. Therefore, to use it on a phone from this Chinese firm, it will be as quick and easy as entering the native camera app that comes with the smartphone.
Later, to take advantage of it, we will only have to go to the options bar next to video. Here the well-known Night Mode will appear and when you touch it it will come into operation. And, as similar as this layer is to Realme UI, we see a clear difference when using this software tool.
At the live terminals
The smartphones of this brand have the Funtouch OS customization layer, also based on Android. Within these terminals, the way in which we can activate the Night Mode of the mobile camera will be quite simple. The first thing will be to enter the application, then slide through the lower options until you find the option ‘ Night ‘. Even, depending on the model that we have in our possession, we can enjoy other tools such as the Supermoon mode or the Ultra-wide Night tool.
And in other brands?
Other terminals under the Android operating system, such as all those smartphones with a stock version, including Google Pixel or Motorola, as well as Nokia, have a fairly similar camera app. In this list we also find Motorola, which only adds minor modifications.
To take a photo in night mode here, you just have to slide your finger and place yourself in ‘Night Vision’. If it does not appear in the lower bar, you must click on the three horizontal lines to access more functions. In addition, artificial intelligence does all the work here with good results.
Tips for using it
As much as this software promises great results, the truth is that we will depend to a great extent on the lenses of our mobile. In any case, we will ensure that, when taking photos with low lighting, the results are better. Although, there are also a number of key points to keep in mind.
To use this tool on Android phones, you have already seen how easy it is to activate it. However, once we decide to press the shutter button as we always do when taking a photo, we must be very careful with the movement we make with our hands. And it is that, for a few seconds, we must hold the mobile as firmly as possible.
Normally, we will have to wait between 3 and 5 seconds to take the image, but it will also depend to some extent on the software of our smartphone. In addition to that, the darker the area in which we are, the longer it will take to take the capture. And in relation to this, the better the lighting of the place where we are going to capture the snapshot, the worse the final results that we will obtain with the device’s camera.
That is why it will not hurt us to make use of a tripod for smartphones. In this way, we will only have to worry about activating the Android Night Mode of the mobile and pressing the button, since this accessory will be in charge of holding the phone.
