Most phone photos are saved as JPEG or HEIC: finished images with processing "baked in". RAW capture saves far more of the original sensor data, giving you room to fix exposure, colour and detail afterwards. On phones, RAW is usually stored as a DNG (Digital Negative) file.
If you've ever wanted more control over your phone photos, RAW is where to start.
What is a RAW file?
A RAW file holds the sensor's data with minimal processing:
- More colour depth: typically 10–14 bits per channel vs 8 bits in JPEG
- More dynamic range: recover highlights and shadows
- Adjustable white balance without quality loss
- No heavy sharpening or noise reduction applied (or much less)
DNG is an open RAW format created by Adobe and used by Android and Apple, so it opens in most editors.
"True RAW" vs computational RAW
Phones complicate things because their magic comes from combining multiple frames.
| Type | What it is | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Single-frame RAW | One exposure, minimal processing, noisier | Pro/Manual mode RAW on many Android phones |
| Computational RAW | Multi-frame merged, then saved as DNG | Apple ProRAW, Samsung Expert RAW, Pixel RAW |
Computational RAW keeps the noise benefits of stacking while leaving tone, sharpening and colour largely up to you. It's the best of both worlds for most people.
Which phones support RAW?
- iPhone Pro models: Apple ProRAW (Settings → Camera → Formats → ProRAW).
- Samsung Galaxy S and Z series: Expert RAW app, plus RAW in Pro mode.
- Google Pixel: Settings → Advanced → RAW + JPEG control.
- Most Android flagships and many mid-rangers: RAW in Pro/Manual mode.
Photo by Jakub Zerdzicki on Pexels
When should you shoot RAW?
Shoot RAW for:
- High-contrast scenes (sunsets, backlit subjects)
- Landscapes you want to edit carefully
- Tricky mixed lighting (white balance)
- Photos you plan to print or edit seriously
Stick to JPEG/HEIC for:
- Quick snaps and social media
- Fast-moving subjects (RAW can be slower)
- Saving storage: RAW files are 10–75MB each
A simple editing workflow
- Shoot in RAW + JPEG (if your phone offers both) so you have a ready-to-share copy.
- Open the DNG in Lightroom Mobile or Snapseed.
- Adjust exposure, then highlights down and shadows up.
- Set white balance (temperature and tint).
- Add texture/clarity and light sharpening.
- Apply noise reduction gently, especially for night shots.
- Export as high-quality JPEG.
Storage tips
- RAW fills storage fast. Use cloud backup or move files to a computer regularly.
- On iPhone, choose ProRAW 12MP for smaller files, 48MP only when needed.
Video tutorial
Conclusion
RAW and DNG give you control that JPEG can't: better highlights, cleaner shadows and accurate colour. Computational RAW modes make it practical on phones without losing multi-frame quality.
If mobile photography is your passion, compare phones with strong RAW support on infozme's best camera phones list.
Cover photo by Jakub Zerdzicki on Pexels. This article was written with the help of AI.
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