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

Samsung Electronics America today announced that its “Coral in Focus” initiative, powered by Ocean Mode,¹ an advanced camera feature on select 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 to 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 Seatrees, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, 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 the livelihoods of millions worldwide.² Without intervention, many reefs are at risk of disappearing by 2025 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 into Focus” initiative, partners and local communities are given Ocean Mode-equipped Galaxy devices and underwater housings to capture high-quality underwater imagery, 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 color correction and reduced motion blur underwater.

Now available through Expert RAW,³ Ocean Mode extends these capabilities to select Galaxy devices, making advanced underwater imaging available to more people while reducing reliance on expensive, heavy DSLR equipment.⁴ 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 Galaxy for the Planet initiative, which focuses on reducing environmental impact across product lifecycles and advancing solutions that support healthier ecosystems. From incorporating recycled ocean-bound 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 Smithsonian Museum of Natural History

3 Expert RAW must be downloaded separately from the Galaxy Store, for free, before use. Expert RAW app is available on Galaxy S26 series (S26 Ultra, S26+, S26), Galaxy S25 series (S25 Ultra, S25+, S25), Galaxy S24 series (S24 Ultra, S24+, S24), Galaxy S23 series (S23 Ultra, S23+, S23), Z Fold4, Galaxy S22 Series (S22 Ultra/S22+/S22), Z Fold3, S21 Ultra, S20 Ultra, Z Fold2, and Note 20 Ultra.

4 Samsung phones are IP-rated for fresh water based on lab test conditions for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. No ingress of dust; complete protection against contact (dust-tight). Water and dust resistance of device is not permanent and may diminish over time because of normal wear and tear. Salt water and chlorine water can deteriorate the watertight seals and lower a device’s water resistance without the use of a water resistant phone case (sold separately).