In the fast-paced history of smartphone evolution, certain devices stand out not just for being good products, but for fundamentally altering the trajectory of the entire industry. One such device, released in the spring of 2018, was a flagship phone that served as a watershed moment for mobile photography. It was a handset that almost single-handedly kicked off the modern era of computational photography, demonstrating that a smartphone camera could do more than just capture a well-lit scene; it could intelligently interpret and create a beautiful image even in the most challenging conditions, particularly in the dark.
The true magic, however, was not in the hardware alone, but in the sophisticated software that fused the data from all three lenses together. The phone’s most celebrated feature was its groundbreaking “Night Mode.” Instead of taking a single, noisy photo in the dark, this mode would capture multiple frames at different exposures over a period of several seconds. Then, using advanced image processing and artificial intelligence, it would digitally stabilize the images and stack them together, pulling an astonishing amount of light and detail out of a seemingly pitch-black scene. The results were unlike anything seen from a smartphone before, producing bright, clear, and detailed low-light photos that rivaled the output of much larger dedicated cameras.
Beyond its camera, the phone was also a design trendsetter. It was one of the first major flagship devices to feature a striking “gradient” color finish, a shimmering, iridescent effect where the color of the phone’s back would shift from one hue to another depending on the light. This “twilight” colorway became an instant icon and was quickly imitated by nearly every other manufacturer in the industry, marking a shift away from the monotonous solid colors that had previously dominated the market.