Best phones for low light photography

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What do you mean by low light?

Low lighting refers to the poor lighting that is often inside our homes, in bars and clubs, and when outside at nighttime. Low light is usually the darkest light level that you can still take a photo in and have it come out ok.

What do you need for low light photography?

• High megapixel cameras to capture detail (particularly in darker lighting where edges can blur)
• Special camera features such as Night mode
• Wide aperture range to let in as much light as possible
• Shutter speed control to best capture the sharpness in the image
• A tripod to stabilise the camera as much as possible. Any movement will blur the photo. 

Other than that, you should consider more general features that could help, such as: 

• Big screen for the best view of your photos or videos
• Large storage capacities to keep all of your photography
• Decent battery life so your phone doesn’t die while you’re taking long time-lapse videos or shooting for hours

Best phones for low light photography

Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Price: From £1,144.99

Photography features:

✔ Night mode allows for improved photography in dim lighting

✔ Laser AF sensor enhances the performance and appearance of images in low lighting conditions

✔ Optical image stabilisation is automatically activated on every photo and video, reducing motion blur 

✔ Good zoom capabilities: 3x or 10x optical zoom, and 100x super resolution zoom

✔ Slow-motion on videos to capture every minute movement

✔ Blink detection so photos aren’t ruined by someone having their eyes closed

✔ Panorama mode

✔ Portrait mode for selfies

✔ AI technology employed as image suggestions to turn an amateur into a professional 

✔ Comes with an AI scene optimiser that recognises and enhances your photos depending on the subject. There’s 30 modes, including Dog, Cat, Food, Beaches, Sky, Mountain, Sunrise, Sunset, Snow, etc.

If you’re interested in other Samsung phones, there’s plenty of options to find the right one for you.

If a good battery is the most important feature for you, skip straight to our list of the Samsung phones with the best battery life.

Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra

Price: £700

Photography features:

✔ Ultra high resolution megapixels make photos clear, colourful, and detailed in every light

✔ Laser AF sensor is ideal in low lighting

✔ Night mode enlarges pixels, so photos taken in low light are well-lit and crisp

✔ ISO ensures the image is blur-free and stabilised

✔ Shutter speeds allow you to capture all the sharp, minute details in each photo

✔ Manual focus means you can control and adjust the camera lenses to make sure your low-lighting photos are picture-perfect

✔ Cinematic style lets you shoot up to 120 frames per second for a super smooth video

✔ Multiple zoom options: 3x hybrid optic, 5x optical zoom, 30x or 50x super resolution zoom

✔ Video effects like Blur, Big Circle, Colour Point, and Glitch allow you to enhance and edit your work

✔ Advanced AI technology can take a single photo and turn it into multiple formats

✔ Super Steady mode keeps videos clear and shake-free, even while you’re moving

Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max

Price: From £1,07.99

Photography features:

✔ Night mode aids photos being taken in dim lighting without needing to use the flash

✔ Advanced red eye correction on photos - especially useful at nighttime when camera flashes can affect people’s faces

✔ 12x digital zoom, 2.5x optical zoom in, 2 optical zoom out, 5x optical zoom

✔ Auto image stabilisation so photos are clear and blur-free

✔ Burst mode takes multiple photos at once

✔ Portrait mode and lighting with six effects: Natural, Studio, Contour, Stage, Stage Mono, High-Key Light Mono

✔ Panorama mode

✔ Geo-tagging on photos, so you can remember where you were when looking back

To learn more about the other 12s in the iPhone range, check out our guide.

Or, if you want an Apple iPhone but aren’t sure which model would suit you best, use our list to find out which iPhone is right for you.

Google Pixel 6

Price: £599

Photography features:

✔ Built-in sensors allow you to capture more colour, detail, and 150% more light than the Pixel 5

✔ Night Sight with Astrophotography and Night Side mode removes the need for a flash, making photos look rich and colourful

✔ Dual exposure controls lets you adjust the brightness and shadows independently of each other

✔ Portrait light lets you highlight different parts of the face or focal subject

✔ HDR+ technology automatically adjusts lighting and colour to make photos appear more professional

✔ Magic Eraser can remove strangers and objects from the background

✔ Live HDR+ feature previews a copy of your image before you take it 

✔ Portrait mode

✔ AI recommendations for better shots

If you like the look of this Google model, check out what else the brand has to offer.

Xiaomi Mi Note 10 Pro

Price: £266.99

Photography features:

✔ Amazing light sensitivity due to the 9-in-1 binning technology and enlarged pixels

✔ Night mode 2.0 delivers sharp and clear images in dim or dark lighting conditions

✔ 2x zoom on the Telemacro camera

✔ ISO provides automatic noise buffering, dynamic colouring, and more vivid details for the best photos

✔ AI technology aids with long exposure shots and clear portraits

✔ Manually adjust camera settings to get the best picture

✔ ShootSteady feature keeps videos blur-free

✔ Dual video option allows you to film two shots simultaneously

Huawei P40 Pro

Price: £699.99

Photography features:

✔ Night mode for photos in dim lighting

✔ RYYB colour filter array brings in 40% more light, range, and low noise

✔ Ultra Vision sensor picks up everything clearly, even in low lighting

 ✔AI Portrait Studio generates 45% better colour precision, lighting, and clarity

✔ Automatic image stabilisation

✔ 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zom, and 50x max zoom let you capture the smallest details 

✔ Cinematic features on video, like slow-motion and time-lapse

✔ Distortion correction

✔ Autofocus

✔ AI technology can remove people or objects in the background, as well as suggest better shots or angles

Check out our list of the best Huawei models to date.

OnePlus 9 Pro

Price: From £829

Photography features:

✔ Night mode enhances any images taken in dim or dark lighting conditions. Helps ensure every colour and detail pops without looking hazy or grainy

✔ Video Nightscape means you can record in 8K in the dark and still see what’s going on

✔ Vibrant Colour Effect Pro provides accurate colour reproduction 

✔ Super Stable feature stops photos and videos from blurring in all light conditions 

✔ Autofocus

✔ Smart Scene Recognition

✔ Portrait mode ensures the main subject of the piece is in focus while the background is blurred

✔ Timelapse and hyperlapse capabilities 

✔ Cat/Dog focus

✔ Panorama mode

Keep reading

Check out our masterlist of the best camera phones in 2023. Or, if you’re on a budget, you might want to browse our recommendations of the best camera phones under £400.

Learn how to take great photos and edit them.

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