Smartphone cameras have come a long way from their humble beginnings. If you’ve ever wondered why your photos don’t quite match what you see in professional photography, the answer often lies in the file format. Learning how to shoot RAW photos on your phone can transform your mobile photography, giving you the same level of control that professional photographers have used for decades.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about smartphone RAW photography. You’ll learn what RAW format actually means, why it matters for your photos, and exactly how to enable it on both iPhone and Android devices. By the end, you’ll have all the tools to start capturing images with significantly more detail and editing flexibility.
What Is RAW Format in Smartphone Photography?
RAW format is exactly what it sounds like: raw, unprocessed image data captured directly from your phone’s camera sensor. Unlike JPEG or HEIF files, which get compressed and processed by your phone before saving, RAW files preserve every bit of information the sensor captures.
Think of it this way: when you shoot JPEG, your phone makes decisions for you. It adjusts white balance, applies noise reduction, boosts contrast, and compresses the file to save space. All of this happens automatically and permanently. Once that JPEG is saved, you can’t undo those changes.
RAW files work differently. They contain the pure sensor data without any of that automatic processing. This means you make the creative decisions later during editing rather than letting your phone decide for you in the moment.
Understanding DNG Format
Most Android phones and many camera apps save RAW files in DNG (Digital Negative) format. Adobe developed this universal RAW format so photographers wouldn’t need different software for each camera brand. DNG files from your phone work in virtually any photo editing application that supports RAW processing.
The beauty of DNG is its universality. Whether you’re editing in Lightroom, Snapseed, or specialized RAW editors, your phone’s DNG files will open and process correctly.
What Is Apple ProRAW?
Apple introduced ProRAW for iPhone 12 Pro and later Pro models. This format combines the benefits of traditional RAW files with Apple’s computational photography. You get the editing flexibility of RAW while still benefiting from iPhone’s advanced image processing like Deep Fusion and Smart HDR.
ProRAW files are larger than standard RAW files, typically around 25MB per photo. But they offer exceptional quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions where you’d normally choose between RAW’s flexibility and Apple’s computational enhancements.
Why You Should Shoot RAW on Your Phone?
The benefits of shooting RAW become apparent the moment you start editing your photos. Here’s what you gain when you switch from JPEG to RAW on your smartphone.
Greater Dynamic Range: RAW files capture significantly more detail in both highlights and shadows. When you shoot a sunset with JPEG, the sky often blows out to white while foreground details disappear into darkness. RAW preserves this information, letting you recover details that would otherwise be lost.
Better Highlight and Shadow Recovery: I’ve recovered details from apparently blown-out skies and lifted shadows that looked completely black in the original shot. RAW gives you this latitude because the file contains actual sensor data rather than processed pixels.
Accurate White Balance Control: Your phone’s automatic white balance often gets things wrong, especially in mixed lighting. With RAW, you can adjust white balance after the fact without degrading image quality. JPEG files lock in white balance, making corrections much harder.
Superior Color Accuracy: RAW files typically capture 12-bit or 14-bit color depth, compared to 8-bit in JPEG. This means billions more colors are recorded, giving you smoother gradients and more accurate color reproduction during editing.
Non-Destructive Editing: Every edit you make to a RAW file can be undone or adjusted later. The original sensor data remains intact. With JPEG, each edit degrades quality slightly because you’re working with already-compressed data.
How to Shoot RAW Photos on iPhone?
Enabling RAW on iPhone depends on which model you own. Here’s how to get started with RAW photography on your iPhone.
For iPhone 12 Pro and Later Pro Models (ProRAW)
If you have an iPhone 12 Pro, 13 Pro, 14 Pro, 15 Pro, or later Pro model, you can shoot Apple ProRAW directly in the native camera app:
Step 1: Open Settings and scroll down to Camera.
Step 2: Tap Formats and ensure High Efficiency is selected.
Step 3: Toggle on Apple ProRAW under the Photo heading.
Step 4: Open the Camera app. You’ll see a RAW icon in the top right corner. Tap it to enable ProRAW capture.
Step 5: The icon turns yellow when ProRAW is active. Take your photo as normal.
ProRAW files save alongside regular photos in your camera roll. They’ll show a RAW badge in the Photos app so you can identify them easily.
For Other iPhone Models
Standard iPhone models don’t support RAW in the native camera app. You’ll need a third-party app to capture RAW files. Apps like Halide Mark II, Lightroom Mobile, and Camera+ 2 all support RAW capture on any iPhone released in the last several years.
How to Shoot RAW Photos on Android and Samsung In 2026?
Android phones vary widely in their RAW support, but most recent Samsung, Google Pixel, and flagship devices from other manufacturers offer RAW capture. Here’s how to enable it on the most common Android phones.
Samsung Galaxy Phones
Samsung’s native camera app includes a Pro mode that supports RAW capture:
Step 1: Open the Camera app on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
Step 2: Swipe to More and select Pro mode.
Step 3: Look for the RAW icon in the interface. It typically appears as a small RAW button.
Step 4: Tap the RAW icon to enable RAW capture. Some models offer RAW+JPEG option to save both formats.
Step 5: Take your photo. RAW files save to your gallery alongside regular images.
Samsung RAW files save in DNG format, compatible with most editing software.
Google Pixel Phones
Google Pixel phones support RAW capture through the native camera app:
Step 1: Open the Camera app.
Step 2: Swipe up from the bottom to access More settings.
Step 3: Tap the gear icon for Settings.
Step 4: Enable RAW+JPEG control under Advanced.
Step 5: Return to the camera. A new RAW toggle appears. Enable it before shooting.
Other Android Devices
Most Android phones from manufacturers like OnePlus, Xiaomi, and Huawei include RAW support in their Pro or Manual camera modes. Look for Pro mode in your camera app, then check for a RAW or DNG option in the settings. If your native camera doesn’t support RAW, third-party apps like Lightroom Mobile or ProShot work on virtually any Android device.
Best Third-Party Camera Apps for RAW Photography
Third-party camera apps often provide more control over RAW capture than native camera apps. Here are the best options for serious smartphone photographers.
Halide Mark II (iPhone): This is my go-to RAW camera app for iPhone. Halide offers intuitive manual controls, focus peaking, histogram display, and excellent RAW capture. The interface strikes a perfect balance between power and usability. It supports both standard RAW on all iPhones and ProRAW on compatible models.
Lightroom Mobile (iPhone and Android): Adobe’s free mobile app includes a capable camera with RAW support. The advantage here is seamless integration with Lightroom’s powerful editing tools. You can shoot RAW and immediately start editing without leaving the app.
ProShot (iPhone and Android): ProShot turns your phone into something resembling a DSLR camera. It offers full manual control over exposure, focus, white balance, and ISO. The app supports RAW capture and provides helpful overlays like histograms and level indicators.
Camera+ 2 (iPhone): A long-time favorite among iPhone photographers, Camera+ 2 offers excellent RAW support along with advanced features like macro mode and slow shutter speeds. The editing tools built into the app work well with RAW files.
How to Edit RAW Photos on Your Phone In 2026?
Shooting RAW is only half the equation. To get the most from your files, you need to edit them properly. Here’s a basic workflow for editing RAW photos on your phone.
Step 1: Choose Your Editing App: Lightroom Mobile remains the most powerful option for RAW editing on both platforms. It offers comprehensive tools and cloud sync. Other excellent options include Snapseed (free and surprisingly capable), Darkroom (iPhone), and RAW Power (iPhone).
Step 2: Start with Exposure: RAW files often look flat and dull straight out of camera. This is normal. Begin by adjusting exposure to set your overall brightness. Don’t worry about making it perfect yet.
Step 3: Recover Highlights and Shadows: This is where RAW shines. If your sky is too bright, pull down the highlights. If shadows are too dark, lift them. You’ll be amazed at how much detail you can recover compared to JPEG.
Step 4: Adjust White Balance: RAW files typically open with the white balance your phone detected. But you can change this completely. If the auto white balance was wrong, select a preset or use the temperature slider to get accurate colors.
Step 5: Add Contrast and Clarity: After recovering dynamic range, your image might look a bit flat. Add contrast to give it punch. Clarity or texture adjustments can enhance detail without going overboard.
Step 6: Fine-Tune Colors: Use saturation and vibrance controls carefully. RAW files often need some color enhancement, but too much looks unnatural. Subtle adjustments work best.
Remember that RAW editing is subjective. Develop your own style by experimenting with different adjustments.
When to Shoot RAW vs JPEG on Your Phone?
RAW isn’t always the right choice. Understanding when to use each format helps you balance quality with practicality.
Shoot RAW When:
You’re photographing high-contrast scenes like sunsets, backlit portraits, or interiors with bright windows. RAW’s dynamic range advantage really matters here.
You plan to do significant editing. If you want creative control over the final look, RAW gives you that flexibility.
You’re shooting in challenging lighting conditions. Mixed lighting, low light, or unusual light sources all benefit from RAW’s white balance flexibility.
You want maximum image quality for printing or professional use. RAW files maintain quality through editing better than JPEG.
Stick with JPEG When:
You’re taking casual snapshots for social media. The processing your phone applies to JPEG often looks better straight out of camera for everyday photos.
You need to share photos immediately. RAW files require editing before they look their best.
Storage space is limited. RAW files are 10-15 times larger than JPEG, which adds up quickly.
You’re shooting rapid bursts. Some phones struggle with RAW during fast continuous shooting.
Storage Considerations
RAW files consume storage fast. A typical phone RAW file ranges from 15-30MB, compared to 2-4MB for a high-quality JPEG. ProRAW files on iPhone can reach 25MB each. If you shoot RAW regularly, consider these strategies:
Transfer RAW files to your computer regularly and delete them from your phone. Keep only the JPEG versions for mobile viewing.
Use cloud storage like Google Photos or iCloud to back up RAW files. Some services offer specialized photography plans with more storage.
Shoot RAW+JPEG mode if available. This gives you a shareable JPEG immediately while preserving RAW for serious editing.
Battery Impact
RAW capture uses more processing power than JPEG, which can drain your battery faster. The difference isn’t dramatic for occasional shots, but during extended photography sessions, expect slightly reduced battery life. Carrying a portable charger helps for all-day shooting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you shoot RAW on your phone?
How do you shoot RAW photos on iPhone?
How do I click a raw photo in my phone?
Should I shoot in RAW or JPEG on iPhone?
Conclusion
Learning how to shoot RAW photos on your phone opens up creative possibilities that simply aren’t available with standard JPEG capture. You gain control over dynamic range, white balance, color accuracy, and the overall look of your images. Whether you’re using an iPhone with ProRAW or an Android device with DNG support, the fundamental benefits remain the same.
Start by experimenting with RAW in challenging lighting situations. Compare your edited RAW files to your phone’s JPEG output. You’ll quickly see why so many photographers consider RAW essential for serious mobile photography. With practice, shooting and editing RAW will become second nature, and your photos will reflect your creative vision rather than your phone’s automatic processing decisions.