It’s 2025, and gone are the days when you needed a flagship phone to take stunning night shots. Thanks to improved sensors, AI image processing, and smarter software, you can now get excellent low-light photos — even on a budget phone.
Whether you love capturing cityscapes, glowing neon signs, or night-time selfies with friends, this guide will help you find the best budget phones for night photography in 2025. And the best part? You won’t have to spend over $350!
Why Night Photography Matters
Low-light performance is one of the hardest things for a phone camera to get right.
At night, poor sensors struggle — photos come out blurry, grainy, or just too dark.
A good night photography phone balances:
✅ A decent sensor size
✅ Wide aperture (to let in more light)
✅ Optical Image Stabilization (OIS) or software image stacking
✅ AI night mode for noise reduction
Top Budget Phones With Great Night Photography in 2025
1️⃣ Redmi Note 13 Pro+ 5G
Around $320
✅ Why it shines at night:
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200MP Samsung HP3 sensor with f/1.65 aperture
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OIS for sharper low-light shots
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Xiaomi’s AI night mode does great multi-frame processing
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Big 1/1.4” sensor — rare at this price
Bonus: Even the ultra-wide cam delivers decent night results.
2️⃣ Realme Narzo 70 Pro
Around $280
✅ Why it shines at night:
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50MP Sony IMX890 sensor with OIS
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f/1.88 aperture + Realme’s enhanced night mode
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Great color accuracy and dynamic range even in dim scenes
This phone punches way above its price when it comes to night shots.
3️⃣ Samsung Galaxy A15
Around $230
✅ Why it shines at night:
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50MP main camera
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Samsung’s Nightography software (trickled down from premium models)
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Decent low-light selfies with front cam night mode
The hardware is modest, but Samsung’s image processing delivers usable night shots for social media.
4️⃣ Motorola G73 5G
Around $250
✅ Why it shines at night:
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50MP main camera with quad-pixel tech (better light capture)
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Near-stock Android with minimal image processing bloat
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Surprisingly good noise control in low-light scenes
If you prefer natural-looking night shots rather than over-processed ones, this is a solid pick.
5️⃣ Poco X5 Pro
Around $270
✅ Why it shines at night:
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108MP main sensor
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Large pixel binning for better light sensitivity
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AI night mode with decent dynamic range
The night mode handles cityscapes particularly well, though it can struggle with fast-moving subjects in dim light.
What Makes a Budget Phone Good at Night Photography?
When picking a phone for night shots on a budget:
Sensor size matters. Bigger sensors = more light captured = better images.
Look for OIS. Optical Image Stabilization helps reduce blur from shaky hands.
Software night mode is key. Multi-frame stacking reduces noise and brightens shadows.
Avoid marketing gimmicks. A phone boasting “100MP!” isn’t useful if the sensor is tiny and the lens poor.
Tips to Get the Best Night Photos From Your Budget Phone
Use Night Mode — Don’t rely on auto. Night mode stacks images for better clarity and less noise.
Keep steady — Even if your phone has OIS, staying still helps. Rest on a wall, table, or use a mini tripod.
Tap to focus and adjust exposure — On most phones, tap a bright/dark spot and manually adjust exposure for balance.
Clean your lens — Smudges = bad glare and foggy night shots.
Use external lighting creatively — Small LED fill lights can add detail without ruining the natural vibe.
FAQ: Budget Night Photography Phones
Q: Can budget phones really take good night photos?
Yes! While they won’t match $1,000 flagships, phones like Redmi Note 13 Pro+ and Narzo 70 Pro offer surprisingly strong night mode shots thanks to their large sensors and AI processing.
Q: Are multiple cameras necessary for night photography?
Not really — what matters is the main camera’s sensor size + OIS + good software. Extra lenses like macro or depth are less important for low-light.
Q: Does GCam help?
If your phone supports Google Camera (GCam) ports, night shots often improve dramatically. But stick to stable, trusted builds.
Final Thoughts
Budget phones in 2025 have come a long way when it comes to low-light photography.
You don’t need to spend on a flagship anymore — with picks like the Redmi Note 13 Pro+, Narzo 70 Pro, or Poco X5 Pro, you can capture night-time memories that truly shine.
Our advice? If night photography is a priority:
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Choose phones with OIS + larger sensors
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Compare actual night samples (YouTube / review sites) before buying
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Don’t fall for megapixel marketing alone
Need help choosing between two models? Want a comparison or photo samples breakdown? Stay tuned to TechTrendsMobile.com — we’ve got your back!
