Start with a stable main-camera view and check the Expert RAW features on your installed version. A guide showing an old Labs icon may describe a different app layout from the one on your S24 Ultra or S25 Ultra.
Samsung's regular Night mode, Expert RAW and Astrophoto options are related tools with different controls. Identify which one you are using before copying settings from a screenshot or comparing another person's image.
Check the app before going outside
Samsung lists the S24 and S25 families among devices supported by Expert RAW. Feature availability and layout can depend on the model, software and region. Install or update the official app through the route provided on your phone rather than a third-party download.
Samsung's S25 Expert RAW walkthrough shows entry through Camera, More, then Expert RAW. Check that route, open the app's settings and identify any available astrophotography or special-photo controls before leaving home.
| What you find | Next step |
|---|---|
| Expert RAW opens and Astrophoto is available | Make a short stable test capture |
| Expert RAW opens but Astrophoto is absent | Check official updates, supported settings and the current help for your device |
| A tutorial's sky-guide icon is missing | Do not assume the camera is faulty; layouts and features change |
| Only regular Night mode is available | Use it for an initial star comparison while resolving app support |
Open Astrophoto and make a test capture
Samsung's current support sequence is: open Expert RAW, tap the flask control, select Astrophoto, then choose Short, Medium or Long. Start with Short for a rehearsal. Use the focus control and slider if adjustment is needed, then tap the shutter and leave the phone still through the countdown.
If that control is absent, check the app's special-photo or Labs settings and return from a high-resolution setting to the standard supported mode. Interface placement and prerequisites can change. The linked Samsung instructions show the documented sequence; do not select Astroportrait when you want an ordinary sky scene.
Make a main-camera reference image
Use a tripod or secure support and start at 1x with a broad, dark composition. Keep bright lamps out of the frame. Take an ordinary Night mode reference image first, so you have a result to compare with the longer Astrophoto workflow.
Then select the available Astrophoto mode in Expert RAW and use the shortest sensible trial offered by that version. Keep the phone still through capture. Check the saved file for focus, star shapes, foreground movement and a washed-out background before choosing a longer capture.
Do not begin with the highest zoom or the largest megapixel setting simply because the Ultra model offers them. The specific capture mode may restrict resolution or lenses. Follow what the app supports and assess the resulting image.
S24 Ultra versus S25 Ultra: compare a result, not a label
Use the same direction, support and similar sky conditions for a meaningful comparison. Record which camera, app version and mode made each file. A brighter processed preview is not evidence that it retained more useful stars.
The upgrade question becomes clearer if you list the actual problem: a camera mode you cannot access, unreliable focus, noise at your preferred output size, or the effort required to edit. Darker skies and better support can improve both phones, so control those before attributing a difference to hardware.
A practical troubleshooting order
If the image is doubled, stabilize the mount and remove cable tension. If the sky is pale, try a darker direction or shorter available capture. If focus is soft, enlarge stars and make a new comparison after carefully setting focus in the supported controls.
If a long sequence fails, test a shorter one and confirm storage, battery and whether the app stays active. Do not leave a phone in exposed weather just because the countdown is long. If a feature remains unavailable, use Samsung's current support instructions rather than forcing an old tutorial's menu path.
Spend where the problem is
A secure phone clamp is useful if the device shifts. A telescope adapter is only relevant when you want to connect to an eyepiece; it does not improve a phone's wide-sky capture. Our cross-brand phone guide explains these separate paths.
Compare the Pixel 9 workflow or iPhone workflows by your intended task, not by a promise that one brand always wins. For a difficult sky, apply the target-selection principles in our light-pollution guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Astrophoto button?
Look in the current Expert RAW app and its special-photo or Labs controls. The exact layout varies; verify the instructions for the installed software and phone.
Should I use the longest capture time?
Test a shorter capture first. A longer run can also record foreground movement, cloud or dew and may not improve the result you want.
Is this the same as Samsung Moon zoom?
No. A wide field of faint stars and a bright lunar close-up are different subjects. Use a separate workflow for each.