Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra Brings Back 'Coral Reefs' with Ocean Mode Camera to Aid Marine Conservation

Samsung is using the power of smartphone photography to help save coral reefs — and it's doing it through a cutting-edge camera feature specially designed for underwater research.

Through its "Coral In Focus" initiative, Samsung has reintroduced an exclusive feature called Ocean Mode on the Galaxy S24 Ultra. This mode is tailored to help marine researchers capture vibrant and accurate images of coral reefs, eliminating the need for bulky underwater camera rigs. It enhances underwater shots by reducing the dominant blue tones and improving color contrast, which is crucial for monitoring reef health.

Working alongside marine-focused nonprofit SeyCCAT, Samsung has helped researchers in Fiji, Indonesia, and the U.S. restore coral reef ecosystems. So far, 11,046 coral fragments have been planted, reviving 10,705 square meters of reef habitat — about the size of 25 basketball courts.

How Ocean Mode Works:

• Reduces Blue Tint: Adjusts image tones to bring out the true colors of coral reefs.

• Optimized Shutter and Multi-Frame Processing: Sharpens images even when taken during movement.

• Time-Lapse Smart Capture: Allows researchers to set shot intervals so they don’t have to manually press the shutter each time — an exhausting task underwater.

• Batch Image Collection: Users select the capture duration and image count, then press the shutter once — the phone does the rest, creating a set of images essential for building accurate 3D reef models.

Samsung emphasizes that this specialized version of Ocean Mode is not available on standard Galaxy S24 Ultra models sold to the public. It's been custom-built for research use.

The feature has enabled scientists to create detailed 3D models of coral structures, allowing better analysis of reef health and development over time. Samsung says this automated imaging method not only saves time but also ensures high fidelity in every shot — crucial for studying delicate marine ecosystems.

This project forms part of Samsung's broader "Galaxy for the Planet" sustainability initiative, launched in 2021. Since the Galaxy S22 series, Samsung has also been recycling discarded fishing nets to manufacture components for its smartphones.

By blending environmental responsibility with advanced mobile technology, Samsung is proving that smartphones can do more than just take selfies — they can help save the planet, one coral at a time.