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. This year it's Apple's turn, and with the launch of the iPhone 11, ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max, the company unveiled a dramatic new Night Mode photo feature exclusive to its flagship smartphone lineup.

iphone11pronightmodecomparison
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.

In photography, the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor is measured in the "lux" luminance metric, and Apple's ‌Night Mode‌ is designed to work in environments hovering around 10 lux. For a comparison, the outdoor light level on a clear day will be around 10,000 lux, while a windowed indoor space on the same day might get somewhere between 1,000-2,000 lux. A very dark day may reach about 100 lux, but during twilight and in dimly lit indoor environments you're probably looking at around 10-15 lux, which is when Night mode should present itself as an option in the Camera UI.

night mode
When ‌Night Mode‌ is suggested but not engaged, you'll see a ‌Night Mode‌ button appear at the top of the viewfinder that looks like a crescent moon. If you think the scene would benefit from ‌Night Mode‌, simply tap the button – it will turn yellow, and display the number of seconds for exposure. If the lux is below 10, ‌Night Mode‌ will automatically engage.

night mode
With ‌Night Mode‌ enabled, you'll see a slider appear under the viewfinder that you can leave at the suggested exposure time, or use to manually select one. Depending on the lux, ‌Night Mode‌ automatically simulates a long exposure of 1, 2, or 3 seconds, but you can adjust this to anything up to 10 seconds, again depending on the environmental light level.

When you're ready to shoot, tap the shutter button, hold the phone as still as you can as the Camera simulates a long exposure, and when it’s done, you should be left with an image that effectively makes the camera seem like it can see in the dark.

how to use night mode camera iphone 11 3
If you don't want ‌Night Mode‌ engaged when shooting in extremely low light environments, you can easily turn it off by tapping the yellow ‌Night Mode‌ button when it appears at the top of the viewfinder.

Using Night Mode With a Tripod

By recruiting the help of the gyroscope in your ‌iPhone‌, ‌Night Mode‌ can detect when the device is attached to a tripod and will present longer exposure times than normally offered, enabling you to take more detailed shots in very low light.

When taking ‌Night Mode‌ shots during handheld use, you'll usually see 1-3 second delay and you can manually select up to a 10-second delay, but with a tripod you may see up to 30 seconds available in the Night mode dial.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

dz5b609 Avatar
76 months ago

Any reason this can’t come to at least the iPhone XS??
Because why else would you buy a new phone? In case you didn't know, companies most of the time their goal is to make money, not actively encourage the customer not spending money and with software becoming more and more of the differentiator instead of hardware with better specs exclusive software features are becoming more and more the reason to buy a new phone.



Night mode still lose to Huawei p30 pro.
Depends if you want the night looking as night or looking as day. I for one want my night photos to clearly be taken at night, just lightened up a bit to where I can see in the picture what I saw with my own eyes.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ErikGrim Avatar
76 months ago
Night mode is in fact very good. XS v Pro:





Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
doboy Avatar
76 months ago

Using the Slow Shutter app to achieve the same results on my iPhone 7+.
Not the same thing. This mode is shooting multiple frames at different exposures and stacking sharp ones while 7+ is just opening the shutter for longer which can result in blurry pictures due to shaking. Of course if it's on a tripod than you may achieve similar results.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jermwhl Avatar
76 months ago

I see that before and after shot and think, wow! Apple sold the XS for over $1000 with a potato for a camera.
You could technically get a third party app with a "pro" mode, that will hold open the shutter longer. That's all "night mode" is doing. Yes, there are some software processes happening in the background as well, but DSLR cameras have been able to take amazing night shots for a long time.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JosephAW Avatar
76 months ago
Using the Slow Shutter app to achieve the same results on my iPhone 7+.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ericesque Avatar
76 months ago
I see that before and after shot and think, wow! Apple sold the XS for over $1000 with a potato for a camera.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iphone 16 pro ghost hand

5 Reasons to Skip This Year's iPhone 17 Pro

Thursday July 10, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series in two months, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says iPhone Driver's Licenses Will Expand to These 8 U.S. States

Tuesday July 8, 2025 11:26 am PDT by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, providing a convenient and contactless way to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. Unfortunately, this feature continues to roll out very slowly since it was announced in 2021, with only nine U.S. states, Puerto Rico,...
macbook pro blue green

M5 MacBook Pro No Longer Coming in 2025

Thursday July 10, 2025 12:38 pm PDT by
Apple does not plan to refresh any Macs with updated M5 chips in 2025, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are now planned for the first half of 2026. Gurman previously said that Apple would debut the M5 MacBook Pro models in late 2025, but his newest report suggests that Apple is "considering" pushing them back to 2026. Apple is now said to be...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

Leaker Reveals Amount of RAM in iPhone 17 Through iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wednesday July 9, 2025 8:08 am PDT by
Three out of four iPhone 17 models will feature more RAM than the equivalent iPhone 16 models, according to a new leak that aligns with previous rumors. The all-new iPhone 17 Air, the iPhone 17 Pro, and the iPhone 17 Pro Max will each be equipped with 12GB of RAM, according to Fixed Focus Digital, an account with more than two million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature 1

Foldable iPhone Display Production Begins Ahead of Launch Next Year

Wednesday July 9, 2025 10:59 pm PDT by
Production of foldable OLED displays for Apple's first foldable iPhone have begun ahead of its expected launch next year, Korea's ETNews reports. The first foldable iPhone's displays are being produced by Samsung Display, who are establishing a production line dedicated to the upcoming Apple device its A3 factory in Asan, Chungcheongnam-do. The production line will make displays exclusively...
apple tv 4k new orange

New Apple TV Expected Later This Year With These New Features

Saturday July 12, 2025 3:09 pm PDT by
A new Apple TV is expected to be released later this year, and a handful of new features and changes have been rumored for the device. Below, we recap what to expect from the next Apple TV, according to rumors. Rumors Faster Wi-Fi Support The next Apple TV will be equipped with Apple's own combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chip, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said the chip supports ...
iphone 16 pro pro max

iPhone 17 Pro Models With BOE Displays Will Be Sold in China Only

Thursday July 10, 2025 11:59 pm PDT by
iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models with displays made by BOE will be sold exclusively in China, according to a new report. Last week, it emerged that Chinese display manufacturer BOE was aggressively ramping up its OLED production capacity for future iPhone models as part of a plan to recapture a major role in Apple's supply chain. Now, tech news aggregator Jukan Choi reports...