How to make a Hyperlapse video on the Galaxy S20

How-to
By Brian Nadel
published

Make a time-lapse video using the Galaxy S20's Hyperlapse mode

galaxy s20 hyperlapse
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Want to make time go quicker in your videos? The Hyperlapse mode on your Galaxy phone can speed up the action. And with the Galaxy S20, Samsung added night features to Hyperlapse to better enable time-lapse photography when the lights are low.

Here's what you need to know about Hyperlapse on the Galaxy S20, Galaxy S20 Plus and Galaxy S20 Ultra: Normal video matches the action being shot one-to-one, but you can speed everything up from within Hyperlapse mode. By enabling that feature, you can capture one frame for every 4-, 8-, 16-, 32- or 64 frames in real life so that when your video is played at 30 frames per second time passes quickly. It's perfect for capturing things that appear slow, like a sunset or bread baking.

It's also relevant if you own a Galaxy S10 or Galaxy Note 10. While those phones supported Hyperlapse, they'll also be gaining the Night Hyperlapse feature created for the Galaxy S20 by way of a software update.

Here's how to use Hyperlapse on a Galaxy S20 (and a Galaxy S10 or Note 10, if you've got the software update). For this approach, we're using a tripod, which will help you capture a steadier clip.

galaxy s20 hyperlapse

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

1. After you've set your Galaxy S20 on a tripod, stand or other way to keep it steady, launch the phone’s Camera. 

galaxy s20 hyperlapse

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

2. Select More from the camera menu above the shutter button, and from the ensuing options, select Hyperlapse.

galaxy s20 hyperlapse

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

3. Select your time-lapse speed. There are five choices ranging from 4X (where every minute in real life will be 15 seconds in the video) to 64X (every minute is recorded as about a second).

galaxy s20 hyperlapse

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

4. Tap the red dot at the bottom to start the video. When you're done capturing footage, tap the black square to stop. The bottom of the screen shows the elapsed time and how much video has been shot. 

galaxy s20 hyperlapse

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

5. Go to the Gallery app to retrieve your time-lapse video.

Bread baking - YouTube
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The end result? I shot this Hyperlapse video of bread baking at 64x to give you an idea of what this camera feature can do.

Brian Nadel
Brian Nadel

Brian Nadel is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in technology reporting and reviewing. He works out of the suburban New York City area and has covered topics from nuclear power plants and Wi-Fi routers to cars and tablets. The former editor-in-chief of Mobile Computing and Communications, Nadel is the recipient of the TransPacific Writing Award.

1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • bsc249
    Finally, an explanation of the different speed settings and a video example ta boot - Thx!

    Quick question: Can I use the phone for other things like calls & texts while recording in hyperlapse? If yes, how about using waze in the car to recording driving as its mounted on the dashboard?

    Edit:
    Just tested using the phone while recording - didn't work, recording stops when screen was switched to something else.

    Let's rephrase the question: Do you know if there is a setting we can change so the camera will keep recording while we switch to another app?
    Reply