In an era dominated by sleek digital imagery, a wave of nostalgia is sweeping through social media feeds, where smartphone photos are increasingly styled to mimic the warm, grainy aesthetic of analog film. According to a recent guide published on CNET, this trend has gained significant traction in the past few years, with users seeking out dreamy pastel tones and realistic film grain to counter the polished perfection of modern phone cameras. Whether driven by a backlash against generative AI-generated fakes or simply a fashionable embrace of retro vibes, the shift is accessible to anyone with a basic smartphone, no high-end device required.
The CNET article, titled "Give Your Phone Photos a Warm, Dreamy Analog Film Look With These 3 Tricks," outlines practical methods to achieve this effect using everyday tools. Its author, a photographer who frequently works with both analog and digital setups, emphasizes that the goal is to dial back the "clinical accuracy" of contemporary phone sensors. "While many photographers -- myself included -- have turned to analog cameras loaded with rolls of Kodak, you can get those dreamy film vibes using just your phone," the guide states, highlighting how overprocessed images from devices often result in "fake-looking images with unnatural-looking highlights and shadows and crunchy details."
One of the simplest approaches draws from traditional photography techniques: applying a physical filter to the phone's lens. Mist filters, in particular, soften harsh edges and introduce a natural bloom to highlights, evoking the organic feel of film. The author recommends products like PolarPro's CineGold filter, which imparts a warm glow, and the CineBlack variant, which deepens shadows while enhancing highlight effects. These filters, typically 63mm threaded, can be adapted to smartphones via mounts such as Moment's QuickLock system. "I use mist filters in most of my photography, especially PolarPro's CineGold filter, which adds a warm glow to images," the CNET piece explains, noting that while PolarPro offers iPhone-specific options, universal filters provide versatility across devices.
Complementing filters, clip-on lenses from brands like Moment add subtle optical imperfections, such as softening and minor aberrations, that counteract the oversharpened output of digital sensors. The guide advises shooting in raw formats for maximum editing flexibility—ProRaw on iPhones or DNG on Android devices—to bypass automatic sharpening. Even without raw, slightly overexposing shots by tapping and adjusting the brightness slider can yield brighter, film-like results reminiscent of stocks like Kodak Gold or Portra 400, especially in sunny outdoor settings such as California beaches or alpine mountaintops.
"Many film stocks -- including Kodak Gold and Portra 400 -- often look their best when shot in bright outdoor scenes," the author notes, underscoring the importance of capturing a strong base image before editing. This method doesn't demand the latest gadgets; older handsets work fine, as long as users focus on composition over megapixel counts. For those looking to elevate their skills, the guide references a separate CNET tutorial on phone photography basics.
Beyond hardware tweaks, built-in phone features offer a quick entry point for film emulation. Recent iPhones feature Apple's Photographic Styles, which allow real-time adjustments to color and saturation in HEIF or JPEG modes—though not compatible with ProRaw. Samsung Galaxy users can leverage the My Filter tool to borrow color tones from reference images, which the author has found effective when layered with additional edits like grain addition.
"Samsung's My Filter tool allows you to essentially steal the color tones from other images," according to the CNET guide, which acknowledges mixed results but praises its potential for creating a filmic atmosphere. Devices from other manufacturers, such as the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and OnePlus 15, include preset looks worth experimenting with. However, the article cautions that while these tools provide a starting point, they rarely fully replicate analog film's nuance without further post-processing.
For the most transformative results, editing apps emerge as the third pillar of the strategy. The guide steers clear of emulating specific stocks like Kodak Gold or CineStill 800T, instead prioritizing a general vintage aesthetic tailored to personal taste. Popular options include VSCO, known for presets inspired by real films, though full access requires a subscription. "I've used VSCO's desktop presets for many years and they're certainly some of the best around," the author shares, recommending it for one-tap applications.
Adobe Lightroom stands out as an industry staple, available on mobile with a vast ecosystem of third-party presets. Packs from Moment or VSCO's new Lightroom-compatible set can instantly infuse filmic qualities into phone shots, even those from ProRaw iPhones. The author reports positive outcomes applying these to images like a detailed fence shot, despite their design for professional cameras from Canon or Leica.
Yet, for budget-conscious users, Google's Snapseed app steals the spotlight as a free powerhouse. Available on both iOS and Android, it boasts advanced tools including film-inspired looks that mimic actual stocks. "Snapseed has various film looks you can apply to your photos and they're all free," the guide enthuses, detailing how users can swipe through options to preview effects.
To enhance the analog illusion, the author suggests layering adjustments in Snapseed: adding heavy grain to mask digital sharpness, reducing structure and sharpening to zero in the Details tool, and using Dehaze to soften clarity. Further tweaks via the Adjust tool—lowering Ambience—and a subtle Lens Blur contribute to the desired haze. "I love using Snapseed, because I can go back to different tools and layer the effect again and again, resulting in a photo with a color style that's uniquely my own," the CNET article quotes, praising its depth despite being gratis.
This editing philosophy prioritizes vibe over precise replication. "When I'm editing, I'm not trying to mimic a particular film stock... Instead, I'm just trying to achieve what feels like an authentically vintage film aesthetic," the guide clarifies, encouraging experimentation. The result? Images like a darkened giraffe photo revived into something "beautifully filmic" with minimal effort.
The surge in analog-inspired phone photography reflects broader cultural currents. As AI tools flood platforms with hyper-realistic but soulless visuals, many creators are reclaiming authenticity through these accessible hacks. CNET's guide arrives amid a renaissance in film emulation, with apps and accessories proliferating to meet demand. Photographers, from hobbyists to pros, report greater satisfaction with the tactile, imperfect charm these methods unlock.
Looking ahead, experts anticipate further integration of film-like processing in future phone software updates, potentially blurring lines between digital and analog even more. For now, the three tricks—physical filters, built-in presets, and app-based edits—democratize the trend, inviting anyone to infuse their snapshots with nostalgic warmth. As the author concludes, it's about personal preference: "It's all about personal preference here so I encourage you to play around as much as you want to find what looks best to you."
This approach not only revives old-school aesthetics but also challenges the notion that advanced hardware is essential for compelling photography. With tools like Snapseed proving effective across devices, the barrier to entry remains low, fostering creativity in an increasingly digital world.