Samsung Galaxy S25 Gets Galaxy S26’s Horizontal Lock Camera Feature With One UI 9 Beta

Samsung is giving its Galaxy S25 lineup another reason to try the One UI 9.0 beta. The first beta release has started rolling out with several new additions, and one of the more interesting upgrades is aimed directly at people who record a lot of video.

The Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra are gaining Horizontal Lock, a camera feature Samsung originally introduced with the Galaxy S26 series. It is designed to keep the horizon level during Super Steady Video recording, even when the phone itself moves or rotates.

For anyone who has tried filming while running, jumping, or following fast-moving action, this could be a surprisingly useful upgrade.

What Is Horizontal Lock on Samsung Galaxy Phones?

Horizontal Lock is an enhancement for Samsung's Super Steady Video mode. Instead of allowing the horizon to tilt as the phone changes orientation, the feature uses motion data from the device to keep the scene visually level.

The technology relies on the phone's gyroscope to track how the handset is moving. Samsung can then compensate for that movement while recording, helping maintain a consistent horizontal perspective in the finished video.

The feature becomes particularly useful in situations where keeping the phone perfectly steady is difficult. Think about recording someone running, capturing a sports activity, or filming while moving through a crowded environment.

Even if the phone rotates substantially during the recording, Horizontal Lock is designed to prevent the horizon from swinging along with it.

Galaxy S25 Gets a Feature That Started With the Galaxy S26

Samsung initially introduced Horizontal Lock on the Galaxy S26 series earlier this year. Its arrival on the Galaxy S25 family is not entirely unexpected, though.

The feature is also available on the Galaxy S26 FE, which uses Samsung's Exynos 2500 processor. That made it reasonable to expect Samsung to eventually bring the functionality to some of its previous flagship hardware.

With the One UI 9.0 beta, that expectation is now becoming reality. Owners of the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra can use the feature as part of the new beta software.

Samsung has also expanded the feature beyond the S25 family, with the Galaxy Z Fold 7 receiving Horizontal Lock support through its One UI 9 update.

How to Turn On Horizontal Lock

Finding the feature does not require digging through complicated camera settings.

On a supported Galaxy phone, open the standard Camera app and switch to Video mode. From there, tap the Super Steady icon, represented by the running-person symbol.

You should then see the Horizontal Lock option, represented by a running person inside a square. Select it to enable the stabilization feature before starting your recording.

Once enabled, the camera will use the phone's motion sensors to help maintain a level horizon while you move.

There Is One Important Recording Limitation

Horizontal Lock sounds impressive, but Samsung does place some restrictions on how you can use it.

When the feature is enabled, video recording is limited to QHD resolution at up to 60fps. That is lower than the 4K 60fps option available when recording standard video without Horizontal Lock.

For everyday action clips, the tradeoff may not matter much. QHD can still provide plenty of detail, while the improved horizon stability could be more valuable than maximum resolution when you're moving quickly.

However, creators who specifically need 4K footage at 60fps will need to stick with the regular video recording mode.

A Useful Upgrade for People Moving Between Galaxy Phones

Camera features such as Horizontal Lock can make a new Samsung phone more appealing, but software updates are only one part of the upgrade experience. When moving from an older Galaxy device to a newer model, users also have to deal with years of accumulated photos, videos, contacts, documents, and app data.

That is where a reliable transfer solution can make the transition easier. Whether you are handling a whatsapp transfer, moving clone phone files, or simply looking for a convenient way to complete a photo transfer, Smart Transfer provides tools designed around moving and managing content between devices. Instead of manually sorting through individual files, users can transfer the information they actually need while also managing their phone's storage.

This can be especially useful when a new Galaxy phone becomes the main device for capturing photos and videos. Keeping your older content organized before the switch means you can start using new camera features such as Horizontal Lock without carrying unnecessary digital clutter into the new phone.

Why Horizontal Lock Could Matter for Galaxy S25 Users

Super Steady Video already exists to reduce unwanted camera movement, but Horizontal Lock addresses a slightly different problem.

Traditional stabilization focuses heavily on reducing shaking and unwanted movement. Horizontal Lock adds another layer by helping maintain the orientation of the scene itself.

That distinction matters when the person recording is also moving. A stabilized video can still look awkward if the horizon constantly tilts from one side to another. Keeping that horizon level can make action footage feel much more controlled.

It is the kind of feature that may not sound essential on paper, but becomes useful once you start recording in challenging situations.

One UI 9 Continues to Expand the Galaxy S25 Experience

The addition of Horizontal Lock shows that Samsung is continuing to bring newer camera capabilities to older flagship hardware rather than keeping every feature exclusive to the latest Galaxy generation.

For Galaxy S25 owners, the One UI 9.0 beta therefore offers more than cosmetic changes. Features like Horizontal Lock can directly affect how the phone is used, particularly for people who frequently record moving subjects or action scenes.

The Galaxy S25 series may no longer be Samsung's newest flagship family, but updates like this help extend its camera capabilities and keep the devices feeling current.

For now, users interested in trying Horizontal Lock will need the relevant One UI 9 software release. As Samsung continues testing the update, additional features and changes could arrive before the final version reaches the wider Galaxy S25 user base.