The Samsung Unpacked 2026 event was packed with AI announcements. Apart from the new hardware and AI improvements, two features in particular stood out: Privacy Display and Ocean Mode.
Ocean Mode, however, isn’t new. It was first launched with the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and was developed for marine researchers, giving them a way to capture more color-accurate visual data underwater and consistently monitor coral reef ecosystems over time.
Now, the company is bringing that same feature to consumers with Ocean Mode inside the Expert RAW camera app, rolling out to the Galaxy S26 series.
How Ocean Mode improves underwater photography
The issue with underwater photography is that photos have excessive blue tones. This happens because water absorbs light unevenly, and warm tones like reds and yellows disappear quickly with depth.
Ocean mode allows users to capture more color-accurate photos underwater by removing the blue tones. It also minimizes motion blur by adjusting shutter speed and utilizing multi-frame image processing. This results in clear, sharp, and color-accurate photos.
Water resistance isn’t ocean resistance
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Ocean Mode might tempt you to explore underwater photography, but you might want to hold off.
Yes, the entire Galaxy S26 series comes with an IP68 rating, which means the phones are dust-tight and can survive up to 1.5 meters (about 4.9 feet) underwater for 30 minutes. However, what many people don’t realize is that water-resistance ratings are designed for fresh water, not saltwater.
Ocean water has high amounts of dissolved salt, and salt water is highly corrosive. It can destroy your phone’s connectors, seals, and charging ports. Moreover, once the water evaporates, it can leave behind salt residue that may clog your phone’s ports and buttons.
What should we do then?
The simplest answer is to buy a water-resistant housing for your phone before you take it diving in the ocean. It will not only prevent your device from getting damaged but also increase the depth at which you can dive with your phone.
After all, 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) is not deep enough to explore underwater photography. Ocean Mode is a genuine cool edition to the Galaxy S26 series, just don’t forget to take the necessary precautions.
