Apple Reveals New Night Mode Photo Feature Exclusive to iPhone 11 Series

Tuesday September 10, 2019 1:23 PM PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple today announced the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and the ‌iPhone 11‌ Max, all-new models that boast improved cameras, and specifically, a dramatic new Night Mode photo feature.


Last year, Google introduced its impressive Night Sight camera mode, a software-based feature that allows users to take detailed pictures in dark environments using Google Pixel smartphones.

Apple's new ‌Night Mode‌ (not to be confused with the new Dark Mode interface option in iOS 13) is Apple's rejoinder to Google's Night Sight, and from the little we've seen so far, the results do look at least on par with the Pixel.

When using the camera app on any of Apple's 2019 iPhones, the new ‌Night Mode‌ feature comes on automatically when an indoor or outdoor scene is dark enough to warrant brightening, resulting in natural colors and reduced noise.

In short, new iPhone users should see an immediate improvement when shooting in low light environments, without having to adjust any exposure settings.

The all-new Ultra Wide and Wide cameras in Apple's latest iPhones offer several other advancements that photographers can look forward to. As always, stay tuned to MacRumors for a full hands-on preview of all the new features.

Related Roundups: iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro
Tags: September 2019 event, Night Mode Guide
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 11 (Buy Now), iPhone 11 Pro (Buy Now)
47 comments

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UnLiMiTeD558
10 weeks ago
Apple could easily enable this feature on their older models, this is purely a software feature since it’s been on androids now for a few years. Can’t tell me apples last couple generation chips can’t handle this process. But they won’t enable it since they won’t make money doing that
Rating: 11 Votes
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Paradoxally
10 weeks ago

I'm disappointed in this, Google can do it across their entire lineup!


Google isn't in the business of selling phones when your data will make them way more money.
Rating: 6 Votes
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avatar77
10 weeks ago

Apple could easily enable this feature on their older models, this is purely a software feature since it’s been on androids now for a few years. Can’t tell me apples last couple generation chips can’t handle this process. But they won’t enable it since they won’t make money doing that


Sad but true. This kind of stuff really ticks off your customers, Apple. Fortunately, there are/will be third party apps that will do the same thing. Still not as good as having in the stock camera app.
Rating: 6 Votes
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zekkragnos
10 weeks ago

Is it coming to previous model phones too?

Seriously did you read the tittle or the article at all? Wow
Rating: 5 Votes
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macduke
10 weeks ago
I'm glad they showed a real example. Yeah, you're going to lose a decent amount of clarity and a lot of dynamic range, but it's far better than a completely unusable photo. And their example photo does seem to be more of an extreme case. Respect for that.
Rating: 3 Votes
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NickName99
10 weeks ago
Glad to see this feature!
Rating: 3 Votes
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CWallace
10 weeks ago

Apple could easily enable this feature on their older models, this is purely a software feature since it’s been on androids now for a few years. Can’t tell me apples last couple generation chips can’t handle this process. But they won’t enable it since they won’t make money doing that


You could always go third-party app. NeuralCam is getting strong reviews and it is only like $2.99 at the moment. I added it to my iPhone XS Max, though I have yet had a chance to try it.
Rating: 3 Votes
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Sasparilla
10 weeks ago
Nice to see this (finally). Wonder why it took so long, I was really expecting it last year.

Apple should roll this out for the past several generations (Google, when they came up with this on the Pixel, rolled it out for all prior Pixels at the time).
Rating: 2 Votes
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dynAdZ
10 weeks ago

Is it coming to previous model phones too?


"...exclusive..."
Rating: 2 Votes
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bayelrey80
10 weeks ago

I'm disappointed in this, Google can do it across their entire lineup!


Yeah but the video is trash though, especially the sound. There's always gonna be some kind of compromise. I want to see how fast this process takes place because Night Mode on the Pixel takes up extra time between shots for post-processing.
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Did you read the title of this post? Exclusive.

Maybe, maybe not. A lot of this has some really crazy real-time processing. I think they said it takes 9 photos all before they even snap the photos, and then a longer exposure, and weaves that all together using machine learning? Or was that for another mode?


That's more for this "Photo Fusion" feature being released later in the year. Admittedly, the photo of the guy in the sweater demo'ing this looked crazy good.
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This is delayed tho right?
Not coming out until later in the year

That's the Photo Fusion feature that's coming out later. Night Mode will be ready from the jump.
Rating: 2 Votes
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