This is the exact time most Brits go to bed

New research has lifted the lid on how Brits operate after dark

Despite the rise of late-night scrolling, binge-watching and after-hours work, the research suggests Britain still maintains a relatively early bedtime compared with the popular image of a nation burning the midnight oil.

The study, commissioned by Samsung to celebrate new nightography features included in the Galaxy S26 Ultra, found 10.27pm is the exact time most people hit the hay.

More than three quarters of Brits (78%) say they use the late evening hours to focus without interruption, using the quiet of the night to concentrate on tasks, plan ahead or work creatively. Meanwhile, 27% say they actually prefer nighttime to daytime, feeling more alert or energised once the sun goes down.

While the national bedtime sits at 10:27pm, younger generations are far more likely to push beyond that.

Gen Z go to bed at 10:41pm on average, but they are also far more likely to stay up well past midnight. On average, they remain awake after midnight three nights a week, compared with the national average of two nights and just once a week among Baby Boomers.

Sleep routines also vary significantly between generations.

Older Brits tend to stick to more rigid schedules, with 84% of Baby Boomers saying their bedtime is consistent. Among younger people, things are much less predictable. Just 45% of Gen Z say their bedtime is consistent, while 57% of Millennials admit their sleep schedule is irregular.

Inspired by the intimate moments that take place under the cover of night, an emotive new film starring Ashley Walters has been released today, filmed on the Galaxy S26³ Ultra to celebrate  its low light video and photography capabilities.  

The film features a host of characters and their respective journeys or activities during after dark as it follows a nurse leaving her son to go to work, a blossoming romance and an established one. We also see glimpses of a dad rocking his newborn, a taxi driver and maintenance worker starting their shifts under the cover night. 

The original poem, ‘The Night is Ours’, underpins the narrative as it explores the idea that with the night comes both unexpected freedom and self-expression, ‘a space between one day / And the next’ where ‘the day loosens its grip’ and ‘cities breathe’, but also a humble working life as while ‘some rest’ as ‘others rise’ and for them ‘the night is too long’ 

Ashley Walters said “I flew back from Budapest to work on this short film for Samsung and it was an amazing shift. I’ve always felt most creative at night; something about those quiet hours helps you really focus and get the ideas flowing. But what blew me away was the incredible detail that the  camera on the device could pull out of the shadows. The way it captures the world, even in low light, exactly as we see it is impressive to say the least." 

Annika Bizon, Mobile Experience VP of Product and Marketing at Samsung, said “The night is an important part of modern life, whether people are catching up on work, enjoying some time to themselves or socialising.  

Many people feel more focussed and creative after dark and with the new Galaxy S26 Ultra, we can ensure that those late-night bursts of creativity or unforgettable social gatherings are documented with stunning clarity, transforming fleeting experiences into lasting memories."