Key takeaways
- Night mode and Dual Recording no longer live in the Modes menu; they are toggles in Photo and Video.
- Three new photo filters arrived: Classic Film, Pop Film and Blanc. Video filters moved to the video editor.
- Pointing the camera at a document now brings up a dedicated scan button.
- Photo Assist keeps an edit history so you can stack several generative edits before saving.
- Some Camera Assistant options, such as the 24MP output setting, were reported as Galaxy S26-only.
The Samsung One UI 8.5 camera update mainly reorganizes the camera app: Night mode is now a moon-icon toggle inside Photo mode (Off, Auto or Max), Dual Recording became a toggle inside Video mode, and Samsung added new film-style filters, an automatic document scan button, live LUT previews for Log video and a smarter Photo Assist editor. One UI 8.5 shipped first on the Galaxy S26 series and reached the Galaxy S25, S24, S23 and recent foldables through stable updates that started in May 2026.
This explainer lists what changed in the One UI 8.5 camera app, which features depend on the phone you own, and how to use the new controls. Feature availability below is based on Samsung’s release notes as reported by Samsung-focused outlets such as SamMobile, Sammy Fans and Android Authority; where a feature was only found in code or beta builds, we say so.
Key takeaways
- Night mode and Dual Recording no longer live in the Modes menu; they are toggles in Photo and Video.
- Three new photo filters arrived: Classic Film, Pop Film and Blanc. Video filters moved to the video editor.
- Pointing the camera at a document now brings up a dedicated scan button.
- Photo Assist keeps an edit history so you can stack several generative edits before saving.
- Some Camera Assistant options, such as the 24MP output setting, were reported as Galaxy S26-only.
Our top picks
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Samsung One UI 8.5 Camera Features at a Glance
| Feature | What changed | Where to find it | Galaxy S26 series | Galaxy S25 / older on One UI 8.5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Night mode toggle | Moved from Modes to a toggle with Off, Auto, Max | Photo mode, moon icon | Yes | Yes, Night mode updates vary by model |
| Dual Recording toggle | Front and rear recording now inside Video mode | Video mode | Yes | Yes |
| New photo filters | Classic Film, Pop Film, Blanc | Filters menu in Photo | Yes | Yes (arrived after S26 launch) |
| Video filters | Removed from camera; apply in editor | Gallery video editor | Yes | Yes |
| Document scan | Scan button appears automatically | Point camera at a document | Yes | Yes |
| Log video LUT preview | Live cinematic LUT preview while recording Log | Pro video with Log enabled | Yes | On Log-capable models |
| Auto Motion Photos | Saves motion only when movement is detected | Motion photo setting | Yes | Yes |
| 24MP output | New resolution option between 12MP and 50MP/200MP | Camera Assistant | Yes | Reported as not included on S25 |
| Photo Assist upgrades | Edit history, text-prompt edits, object moves | Gallery > Edit > Galaxy AI | Yes | Yes, Galaxy AI models |
Night Mode Is Now a Toggle Inside Photo Mode
This is the change most people notice first. In earlier versions you swiped to More, then opened Night as a separate mode. In One UI 8.5, Night mode sits inside Photo mode as a moon icon, usually at the bottom right of the viewfinder. Tapping it gives three settings:
- Off: standard Photo processing, fastest shutter.
- Auto: the camera decides when the scene is dark enough to use multi-frame night processing.
- Max: forces the longest exposure available. According to SamMobile, what Max means depends on the longest exposure time possible at that moment, so it varies with how steady the phone is and how dark the scene is.
How to use the new Night mode toggle
- Open the Camera app in Photo mode.
- Find the moon icon near the shutter area. If you do not see it, the scene may be bright enough that Auto stays inactive; tap the icon to open the options.
- Choose Max for static night scenes such as a city skyline, and brace the phone against a wall or use a tripod.
- Choose Auto for everyday low light, such as restaurants, so you do not get long exposures by accident.
- Hold still until the on-screen timer finishes; moving early adds blur.
Dual Recording Moves Into Video Mode
Dual Recording, which records from the front and rear cameras at once, was also moved out of the Modes list. It is now a toggle inside Video mode. That makes it quicker to switch to a reaction or vlog-style clip without leaving your normal video settings. Turn it off again after use, because the toggle can stay active the next time you open Video.
One UI 8.5 Camera App: New Filters and Where Video Filters Went
Samsung added three photo filters with a film look: Classic Film, Pop Film and Blanc. They debuted on the Galaxy S26 and later reached the S25 and other devices on One UI 8.5, according to Sammy Fans. At the same time, video filters were removed from the camera app itself. If you used to shoot with a video filter applied, you now record clean footage and add the look afterward in the Gallery’s video editor. The upside is that the original clip stays untouched, so you can try different looks later.
Document Scanning With an Automatic Scan Button
Point the camera at a page, receipt or whiteboard, and One UI 8.5 shows a scan button that crops and flattens the document. Previously, document detection relied on Scene Optimizer and a small prompt that was easy to miss. A practical tip: lay the document on a dark surface for better edge detection and keep the phone roughly parallel to the page, because automatic skew correction has less to fix and text stays sharper.
Log Video With Live LUT Previews
On Galaxy models that support Log video recording, One UI 8.5 can show a real-time cinematic LUT preview while you shoot. Log footage looks flat and grey on screen, which makes it hard to judge exposure and color. A preview LUT shows an approximation of the graded result while still recording the flat Log file, so you keep full editing latitude. This feature matters mostly to people who grade footage in an editor; casual video users can ignore Log entirely.
Motion Photos: Auto Mode and Conversion From Other Phones
Two small changes improve motion photos:
- Auto Motion Photos records the short motion clip only when the camera detects actual movement. Static shots are saved as regular stills, which saves storage.
- Converting motion photos from other Android brands. According to Sammy Fans, One UI 8.5 automatically converts motion photos received from other Android phones so they play correctly in Samsung’s Gallery.
Photo Assist Gets an Edit History and Text Prompts
Photo Assist is Samsung’s Galaxy AI editor in the Gallery. In One UI 8.5 you can stack several generative edits without saving after each one. The edits pile up in a history view, and you choose the version you want at the end. Reported additions also include text-prompt edits (describe a change such as a different shirt color), moving an object from one photo into another, and style filters that now work on any photo, not only people or pets. Generative edits add a visible watermark and metadata noting AI editing, as Samsung has done since Galaxy AI launched.
How to use Photo Assist in One UI 8.5
- Open a photo in Gallery and tap the edit (pencil) icon.
- Tap the Galaxy AI (sparkle) icon to open Photo Assist.
- Circle or select the object to move, erase or restyle, or type a prompt where available.
- Tap Generate, then keep editing; each result is added to the history.
- Swipe through the history, pick the best version and tap Save or Save as copy.
Many Galaxy AI features need a network connection and a signed-in Samsung account, so edits may fail on airplane mode.
Camera Assistant Additions: 24MP, Exposure and White Balance
Camera Assistant is Samsung’s optional app (from the Galaxy Store) that unlocks advanced camera settings. One UI 8.5 adds options to put white balance and exposure controls directly in Photo mode. A new 24MP output option for Photo and Portrait modes appeared on the Galaxy S26; Digital Trends reported that the S25 series did not get it with its One UI 8.5 update. Before launch, Android Authority also found code for HDR10+ recording in Video and Pro video modes, and a beta included a “video softening” noise-reduction option. Treat those as possible rather than guaranteed on your phone.
How to enable Camera Assistant options
- Install Camera Assistant from the Galaxy Store if you have not already.
- Open the Camera app, tap the settings gear, and scroll to Camera Assistant.
- Toggle the options you want, such as quick exposure or white balance controls in Photo mode.
- If your model supports it, set the resolution option there to 24MP for a balance of detail and file size.
| Resolution | Approx. file size | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| 12MP | 3-5 MB | Everyday shots, low light, fast saving |
| 24MP | 6-9 MB | More detail for cropping without huge files |
| 50MP | 12-20 MB | Bright landscapes, prints |
| 200MP (Ultra) | 25-45 MB | Maximum detail in good light only |
Samsung Camera Update: Rollout and Known Issues
One UI 8.5 came preinstalled on the Galaxy S26 series at its February 2026 launch. The stable update began reaching the Galaxy S25 series, Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 in early May 2026, starting in South Korea, then rolled out to the US, India and other regions, followed by the S24, S23 and older foldables later in May. The S25 download was reported at over 4 GB.
After the update, some S25 owners reported camera bugs: Hyperlapse at long zoom having trouble holding focus, and Expert RAW’s Astro mode occasionally failing to focus. Samsung typically addresses these in monthly patches, so install the latest security update before troubleshooting.
Check for the update
- Open Settings > Software update > Download and install.
- Charge to at least 50% and connect to Wi-Fi; the download is several gigabytes.
- After installing, open Galaxy Store > Menu > Updates and update the Camera, Gallery and Camera Assistant apps, which can receive fixes separately from the system update.
Note that Samsung has already moved on to One UI 9 for its newest phones, so features described here may shift again with that update.
Tips for Getting the Most From the One UI 8.5 Camera
- Leave Night mode on Auto day to day; switch to Max only for still scenes.
- Record without filters and add looks in the editor so you can change your mind.
- Use 24MP (where available) as a default if you crop often; it avoids the storage cost of 50MP shots.
- Turn on Auto Motion Photos instead of always-on motion photos to save storage.
- Back up originals before heavy Photo Assist edits, even though Save as copy keeps the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Night mode go in One UI 8.5?
It is now inside Photo mode. Tap the moon icon near the shutter and pick Off, Auto or Max. It no longer appears as a separate entry in the More or Modes menu.
Which phones get the One UI 8.5 camera features?
The Galaxy S26 series shipped with One UI 8.5. The Galaxy S25, S24 and S23 series and recent foldables received it through stable updates from May 2026. Some features, such as 24MP output, were reported as S26-only.
Why can’t I find video filters in the camera app anymore?
Samsung moved video filters out of the camera in One UI 8.5. Record your clip normally, then open it in Gallery and apply a filter in the video editor.
Is the Samsung camera update worth installing?
For most users, yes: the reorganized modes are faster to use and the new filters and scanning are useful. If you rely on Expert RAW Astro mode, check that your region’s latest patch has addressed reported focus issues.
Do I need Camera Assistant for the new features?
Only for advanced options such as exposure and white balance shortcuts or the 24MP setting. Night mode, Dual Recording, filters and document scanning work in the standard camera app.
Does Photo Assist work offline?
Many generative Photo Assist edits use online processing and require a Samsung account, so expect them to fail without a connection. Basic edits like crop and exposure work offline.
