Samsung, Pixel and other modern Android phones have excellent low-light and Pro modes that capture the aurora well. You just need to take manual control.
Here's how to set it up.
Use Pro or Night mode
Open the camera and switch to Pro mode (Samsung) or use Night mode. Pro mode lets you set shutter and ISO manually, which gives the best aurora results.
Manual settings that work
- Shutter: 5–15 seconds (shorter for active aurora)
- ISO: 800–3200
- Focus: manual, set to infinity (∞)
- White balance: ~3500–4000K
- Save as RAW if available
Keep it steady
Any multi-second exposure needs a tripod or a solid surface, plus a 2–3 second timer so tapping the screen doesn't cause shake.
Pixel & Night Sight
Google Pixel's Night Sight and astrophotography mode work automatically — just mount the phone, keep still, and let it expose. For the full technical breakdown see our camera settings guide.