Can Budget Android Phones Take Good Night Photos?

A phone with a budget price doesn't have to have budget features. It may seem like everything in the world of tech is getting more expensive, but that doesn't mean snagging a smartphone with quality camera hardware for a nice price is impossible. For those interested in night time photography on an Android phone, plenty of options are still available if you're looking to shoot photos on a budget.

Google and Samsung both have specialized features for night photos, and both companies offer budget options for consumers. Looking around the web, users recommend both the Pixel 8 and the Pixel 9A as two affordable options, but the Samsung Galaxy A57 and Galaxy S24 also provide a fair amount of photography features without putting too much stress on your wallet. Users may want to determine if a Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy is better for night photography, but finding a quality camera on an Android smartphone for as low as $300 can be done.

A camera's specs obviously play an important role in taking quality night photos, but how a photographer composes the shot also factors into the equation. Even if budget Android phones are capable of taking good night shots, it can still be up to the user to get the composition right. There are plenty of mistakes that can make photos look worse. Keeping that in mind, along with suggestions on cheaper phones, we're also looking at tips that may help get the finer details of a night shot.

Best is subjective, but the internet has plenty of options. The Google Pixel lineup, for example, has a few solid offerings. Looking at recommendations on Reddit, for example, one user recommends the Google Pixel 8, and it isn't too hard to find a refurbished model on the internet for less than $300. Along with a 50MP main camera and 12MP ultrawide lens, the Pixel 8 also has Google's Night Sight feature that focuses specifically on taking photos of the night sky (more on Night Sight here).

A Google Pixel 8 also has Astrophotography, which also has a major focus on night time photos, such as taking long exposure shots while optimizing certain settings. However, if you're willing to spend around $500 to $600 (give or take), the Google Pixel 9A is a bit newer and features a 48MP wide lens, 13MP ultra wide lens, and Super Res Zoom up to 8x. It also supports Night Sight and Astrophotography features.

Flagship Google phones aren't the only phones with these features and a budget price, as a Samsung Galaxy A57 is in a similar price range. Along with a tri-camera system that includes a 50MP OIS Wide-angle lens, there's also a 12MP Ultra Wide and 5MP Macro lenses. This device also includes Samsung's Nightography tech that focuses specifically on optimizing night time photos. A Galaxy S24 also has similar prices if you don't mind refurbished. It features four front lenses, including a 200MP wide lens while also including Night Mode features.

With the Pixel 8 being the oldest phone on this list, it's still expected to see security updates until 2030, so users are likely fine in terms of software support. However, one important aspect of getting quality night photos is ensuring they're being shot properly in the first place. Along with properly knowing how to use the Astro photo feature on Samsung phones, an important part of night photography is getting long exposures. Controlling your shutter speed can help get more details by utilizing longer exposures (they're also fun for motion blur), as can making sure the lens keeps steady as you shoot.

It's also good to avoid zooming-in on a night time shot, as relying on digital zoom can impact overall image quality. If possible, try and get closer to your subject for a better photo. If your camera has a brightness slider option, try adjusting it too. Experimenting with shadows can also help bring out the details in a composition, so see if your smartphone camera will allow you to adjust settings like ISO, focus, and shutter speed.

The fun part of a smartphone camera is that you typically have plenty of storage for experimentation, Since there's little need to worry about film, there's plenty of opportunity to experiment with different settings and lighting options, as good night photos can take patience. A bit of outside-the-box thinking can help take more dynamic photos, as can trying multiple different vantage points for shots.