Galaxy S21 series finally gets astrophoto feature in Expert RAW app!

Samsung has finally introduced support for astrophotography on the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, and Galaxy S21 Ultra through the Expert RAW app. First introduced on the Galaxy S22 series, the astrophotography mode lets users take long exposure shots of the stars and the sky, and we had expected it to arrive on the Galaxy S21 and Galaxy S20 series with the One UI 5.1 update.

That didn’t pan out, but the wait is finally over for those looking forward to the astrophotography feature on the Galaxy S21, S21+, or S21 Ultra. Support for it is included with the latest Expert RAW app update on Galaxy S21 smartphones that have received the April 2023 update.

Galaxy S21 owners can now take high-quality photos of the night sky

The astrophotography mode, as mentioned above, uses long exposures to capture photos of the night sky, stars, and constellations. It also shows you the location of constellations so you know where to point the camera. However, before you get too excited, it’s worth pointing out that the quality of astro photos depends on how clear the skies are in your region (city-dwelling folks might not get the best results).

Abhijeet Mishra / SamMobile

Abhijeet Mishra / SamMobile

If you own a Galaxy S21, S21+, or S21 Ultra, you will need to download the latest version of Expert RAW from the Galaxy Store. The April 2023 security update is a prerequisite for the astrophotography mode, so make sure to check if your phone has been updated to the latest firmware from its Settings » Software update menu.

Support for astrophotography in the Expert RAW app will also arrive on other Samsung flagships, including the Galaxy S20 series and the Galaxy Z Fold devices, in the near future. Samsung hasn’t revealed a timeline, but hopefully the company will not make users wait too long.

Thanks for the tip, Mehmet!

Abhijeet Mishra - Executive Editor

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First Samsung device: SGH-D500

Abhijeet's writing career started with custom ROM guides for Samsung devices (including the original Galaxy S), and he moved to SamMobile in mid-2013 and worked up the ranks to Editor-in-chief. His first Samsung phone was the D500

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