Samsung Galaxy’s Ocean Mode and Coral Reef Initiative Receive International Recognition and Awards

Ocean Mode enables researchers and communities to capture high-quality underwater data for reef monitoring and coral reef restoration.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced that its “Coral in Focus” initiative, powered by Ocean Mode^[1], an advanced camera feature on the newer Galaxy mobile phones, has received multiple awards for its contributions to coral reef conservation, including Gold in the “Best Sustainability or Conservation Initiative” category at Engage for Good’s 2026 Halo Awards.

Additionally, “Coral in Focus,” a documentary tied to the initiative, received the Coastal and Island Culture Award at the 23rd International Ocean Film Festival. Samsung was separately named on Fast Company’s 2026 Most Innovative Companies list for its work advancing mobile innovation in environmental research.

These recognitions reflect the impact of Samsung’s efforts to reverse the decline of coral reefs in partnership with U.S.-based nonprofit organisation Seatrees and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego. By bringing together Galaxy’s advanced image capturing capabilities, Seatrees’ community-driven restoration model and Scripps’ knowledge on marine science, Samsung is transforming Galaxy mobile phones into powerful tools for ocean conservation.

▲ Photo captured with a Galaxy S26 Ultra equipped with Ocean Mode

Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor yet support approximately 25% of all marine life and sustain millions of livelihoods worldwide^[2]. Without intervention, many reefs are at risk of disappearing by 2050 due to climate change, pollution and overfishing.

To help address this challenge, Samsung collaborated with Seatrees and Scripps to advance coral reef restoration across a growing network of sites in Costa Rica, Fiji, the Galápagos Islands, Indonesia and the United States.

Through the “Samsung x Seatrees: Bring Coral in Focus” initiative, partners and local communities are given Ocean Mode-equipped Galaxy devices and underwater housings to capture high-quality underwater imagery with Ocean Mode, which is then used to generate detailed 3D photogrammetric models. This process improves how coral reefs are monitored and evaluated, resulting in critical insight into reef health and recovery.

Together, Samsung, Seatrees and Scripps have driven meaningful impact across restoration sites. To date, more than 20,000 coral fragments have been planted, and over 80 3D reef models have been built to support monitoring and research efforts.

▲ Side-by-side comparison of coral imagery captured on a Galaxy mobile phone with standard camera settings (left) and Ocean Mode (right), highlighting improved colour correction and reduced motion blur underwater.

Now available through Expert RAW ^[3], Ocean Mode extends these capabilities to Galaxy users, making advanced underwater imaging^[4] available to more people while reducing reliance on expensive, heavy DSLR equipment. This increased accessibility is critical to scaling coral reef monitoring efforts, particularly in regions where resources and technical infrastructure may be limited.

These accolades build on Samsung’s broader commitment to sustainability under its initiative, Our Journey: Galaxy for the Planet. From incorporating recycled materials into Galaxy devices to developing technologies like Ocean Mode with like-minded partners, Samsung continues to explore how innovation can help protect the planet.

[1]As of April 2026, Ocean Mode is supported on Galaxy S26 Series, and is expanding to the S25 Series, S24 Series, Fold 7, Flip 7, Z Tri-Fold, Fold 6 and Flip 6 throughout the first half of 2026.

[2] https://ocean.si.edu/ecosystems/coral-reefs/coral-reefs-need-you

[3]Expert RAW must be downloaded separately from the Galaxy Store, for free, before use. Supported on S26, S25, S24, S23 an S22 series devices, S21 Ultra, S20 Ultra, Note20 Ultra, Z TriFold, Z Fold7, Z Flip7, Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Z Fold5, Z Fold4, Z Fold3 and Z Fold2. Results may vary depending on editing method and/or shooting conditions including multiple subjects, being out of focus or moving subjects.

[4]Galaxy mobile phones used underwater were placed in a waterproof underwater housing. Galaxy mobile phones are not designed to be waterproof against seawater.