Instant Slow-mo is one of many additions to One UI 6.1 for the Galaxy S24 series. It's a neat little feature that lets you slow down videos when you play them inside the Gallery app. All you need is to tap and hold the screen and let the magic happen.
Although it works reliably, we found out that there is a lower and upper-resolution limit to the Instant Slow-mo feature. Specifically, you can't use Instant Slow-mo for videos with a lower-than-HD (720p) or an 8K resolution.
This rule applies to any videos, including screen recordings and video files you've received from other devices. It doesn't matter where the video originates; All that matters is that it is at least 720p and no higher than 4K for Instant Slow-mo to work.
The AI needs a high-enough resolution
We're guessing that the AI that powers Instant Slow-mo needs enough data, i.e., a higher resolution, to generate new frames and turn regular videos into slow-motion ones. Conversely, feed it too much data, like an 8K video, and Instant Slow-mo can't handle the output.
If you're recording videos with the Galaxy S24, you need not worry about the lower resolution limit. The Galaxy S24, S24+, and S24 Ultra can't record videos in a sub-HD resolution, to begin with. And you can't edit a video shot with the Galaxy S24 to have a sub-HD resolution, either.
On the other hand, you may want to avoid recording 8K videos if you want to play them in slow motion inside the Gallery app.
Furthermore, if you plan on using Instant Slow-mo for screen recordings, you'll want to set the resolution higher than 480p. You can do this by opening the Settings app on your Galaxy device, opening “Advanced features,” accessing “Screenshots and screen recordings,” and selecting a higher-than-480p resolution in the “Video quality” menu.
If you want to use the Instant Slow-mo feature, along with many other new AI-powered tools, you can pre-order the Galaxy S24 series or wait for the One UI 6.1 update to land on more Galaxy devices and hope that Instant Slow-mo will be included. If you go the S24 route before the pre-order window closes on January 31, you can benefit from free storage upgrades and other bonuses.
