It took years for Android phones to catch up to the iPhone’s Live Photos. Even now, the experience often feels less refined than Apple’s implementation. A key limitation has been the all-or-nothing approach: motion photos on Android typically work as a simple on/off toggle. With the Galaxy S26, Samsung aims to improve that by introducing an Auto mode for motion photos.
As the option suggests, the Galaxy S26 will automatically save a motion photo only when it detects movement in the scene. However, there’s a catch (via Samsung Community). The Auto mode primarily applies to landscapes or static scenes with no subject movement. When the camera detects human faces or pets, it will save a motion photo, irrespective of whether there’s noticeable movement.
While this may sound like a minor tweak, it makes motion photos far more practical on the Galaxy S26. Such photos typically take up two to three times more storage than standard images since they save a short video clip alongside the still frame. Plus, you don’t need that extra data for every single landscape or static scene.
So, restricting Motion Photos to shots of people and pets — the moments you’re most likely to revisit — makes far more sense. It also keeps storage use in check.
Pixel phones already include an Auto mode for Motion Photos, automatically deciding when to capture a short video clip alongside the still image. Samsung appears to have taken a similar approach with the Galaxy S26.
Another minor change: you can now customize the camera sound for motion photos or turn it off altogether.
Since these improvements are a part of One UI 8.5, they might also make their way to the Galaxy S25 and Z Fold 7.
Action camera trick lands on the Galaxy S26 Ultra
Samsung has also introduced a new Horizon Lock feature on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Typically found on action cameras, Horizon Lock keeps the frame level even if you tilt or rotate the phone while recording. Apple offers a dedicated mode for this on the iPhone, too.
Based on early videos circulating online, Samsung’s implementation looks remarkably smooth, almost magical. The Galaxy S26 Ultra appears to keep the horizon perfectly locked even when the phone rotates dramatically. This helps it record footage that looks as if it were shot on a gimbal.
Since Samsung has not made any notable hardware upgrades to the S26 Ultra’s rear camera setup, this feature likely relies on the more powerful ISP of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip. And that means it is unlikely to come to the Galaxy S25 Ultra and other 2025 Galaxy flagships.
