Smartphone photography has made incredible strides over the past few years, especially when it comes to capturing low-light scenes. Night mode, once a novelty, is now a standard expectation in high-end smartphones. Two standout flagships from Samsung — the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 Ultra — illustrate just how dramatically low-light photography has improved. In this article, we’ll dive deep into a comparison between the night mode performance of these two photography powerhouses.

The Evolution of Night Mode in Samsung Galaxy Ultra Series

Samsung’s commitment to innovation in mobile photography is evident in the evolution between the S21 Ultra and the S23 Ultra. Night mode, a feature designed to illuminate dim settings with better exposure, clarity, and lower noise, has gone through significant enhancements over just a couple of generations.

  • Galaxy S21 Ultra (2021): Introduced with a strong camera setup, featuring advanced computational photography and capable night mode performance for its time.
  • Galaxy S23 Ultra (2023): Comes equipped with a revamped 200 MP main sensor and enhanced software algorithms that elevate night photography to the next level.

Let’s explore how these two devices handle traditional night mode conditions and see why the S23 Ultra is widely regarded as a low-light photography champion.

Hardware and Sensor Differences

One of the main reasons for the gap in night mode performance lies in the hardware itself. The Galaxy S21 Ultra sports a 108 MP primary sensor, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra has a 200 MP sensor — nearly double the resolution. But it’s not just about megapixels.

  • Sensor Size: The larger sensor on the S23 Ultra collects more light, which is critical when shooting in dark environments.
  • Pixel Binning Technology: The S23 Ultra utilizes 16-to-1 pixel binning, effectively combining pixels to create larger “superpixels” that are excellent in capturing light data at night.
  • Improved OIS: Enhanced Optical Image Stabilization reduces motion blur caused by hand movements during long exposures.

When comparing these specs alone, the S23 Ultra is clearly built for better low-light performance, but real-world usage adds even more context.

Software and Image Processing

Hardware is only part of the equation. Samsung has invested heavily in AI and computational photography to back up its lenses. Night mode is an operation of intelligent software just as much as it is of good camera sensors.

The S23 Ultra comes with enhanced image processing through the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, offering faster and more efficient processing capabilities compared to the S21 Ultra’s older Exynos 2100 or Snapdragon 888 variants.

  • Noise Reduction: Photos taken with the S23 Ultra suffer far less from image noise. AI-based multi-frame processing sharpens images while minimizing graininess common in dark photos.
  • Dynamic Range: The S23 Ultra produces shots with greater contrast and details in both the brightest and darkest parts of the image.
  • Detail Preservation: Thanks to a smarter AI scene optimizer, the S23 Ultra maintains facial details, textures, and colors better in poorly lit environments.

When looking at real-world photographs, these software boosts translate directly to better visual results.

Real-World Comparison: S21 Ultra vs S23 Ultra

To truly appreciate the advancements, let’s walk through some example scenarios that test night mode’s capabilities on each device.

Urban Nightscape

City scenes with varied lighting conditions can challenge any night mode. When shooting with the S21 Ultra, there’s often a soft glow around bright light sources, and shadowed areas can “muddy” out. With the S23 Ultra, sharpness is retained near neon signs, and deep blacks aren’t crushed — a sign of outstanding dynamic range.

Portraits in Low Light

Taking portraits at night without artificial lighting is difficult. The S21 Ultra does a decent job, but it tends to blur finer features and struggles with color accuracy. The S23 Ultra, enhanced by AI, renders skin tones naturally, improves facial detail, and adds pleasing bokeh — all without sacrificing sharpness.

Indoor Low-Light Scenes

The S21 Ultra frequently uses flash or lengthens exposure time to cope with dim interiors. This often results in washed-out skin colors and unnatural highlights. In contrast, the S23 Ultra intelligently brightens the scene while keeping it true-to-life, without relying on harsh flash exposure.

Speed and Usability of Night Mode

Beyond image quality, responsiveness and ease-of-use also matter. There’s little joy in a camera that struggles to capture an image when a moment is fleeting.

  • S21 Ultra: Night mode can take 2–4 seconds to capture and process an image, depending on the light conditions. Often requires manual activation.
  • S23 Ultra: Night mode is often activated automatically when needed. It captures and processes images within 1–2 seconds, allowing users to snap more spontaneous shots in the dark.

This speed difference makes photographing at night with the S23 Ultra feel more fluid and intuitive, especially when capturing moving subjects or quick scenes.

Nitpicking Night Mode: Where S21 Ultra Still Holds Up

While the S23 Ultra is a leap ahead, the S21 Ultra is by no means obsolete. In scenarios with ambient lighting — like street lamps or holiday lights — the S21 Ultra delivers impressive sharpness and serviceable night images. For the average user, it’s still very capable, especially if paired with some post-processing tricks.

Additionally, the S21 Ultra’s night mode still holds its ground in terms of:

  • Ultra-wide night shots with decent clarity
  • Zoomed night shots using Samsung’s periscope lens innovations
  • Manual control in Pro Mode for patient and experienced users

So if you’re still using an S21 Ultra, there’s no need to rush out and upgrade — unless you’re a dedicated night photographer or someone who demands the best image quality regardless of lighting.

Final Verdict: Is the Upgrade Worth It for Night Photography?

The S23 Ultra demonstrates how far we’ve come in mobile photography in just two years. With substantial improvements in sensor design, AI enhancements, and faster processing, Samsung has proved that night mode is more than a gimmick — it’s a legitimate tool for superb low-light photography.

Here are the key reasons the S23 Ultra wins in night mode:

  • Superior sensor and pixel binning technology
  • More effective noise reduction and improved detail retention
  • Faster capture and processing speed
  • Better color accuracy and contrast

If capturing nighttime memories or moody evening shots is an essential part of your mobile photography, the Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a night mode experience that is well worth the investment. For casual users, however, the S21 Ultra still remains a competent contender. Either way, Samsung has built two excellent devices — and we all benefit from the lighting progress they pack in our pockets.