If you own a recent iPhone Pro model, you have probably noticed the small “RAW” toggle in the Camera app. Switch it on and your photos suddenly become many times larger. So is iPhone ProRAW worth it, or should you stick with standard HEIC photos? The answer depends on what you shoot and how much editing you plan to do. This guide explains what ProRAW actually is, when it beats HEIC, when it is overkill, and a simple workflow for editing ProRAW files.
What ProRAW Is and How It Differs From HEIC
When you take a normal photo, your iPhone does a great deal of processing: it combines multiple frames, reduces noise, sharpens, adjusts colour and tone, then compresses the result into a HEIC file (or JPG, if you have chosen “Most Compatible”). The result looks finished straight out of the camera, but many of the processing decisions are baked in.
ProRAW is Apple’s take on RAW photography. It saves the image as a DNG file, an open RAW format, which keeps far more of the original image data while still including some of Apple’s computational photography benefits such as multi-frame noise reduction. In practice, that means:
- More latitude in editing. You can recover more detail from highlights and shadows.
- More control over white balance and colour. You can adjust them later without the image breaking down as quickly.
- Less baked-in sharpening and processing. The photo may look flatter at first, which is normal for RAW.
- Much larger files. A ProRAW photo can be many times the size of the equivalent HEIC, especially at the highest resolution.
ProRAW is available on iPhone Pro models from the iPhone 12 Pro onwards. Higher-resolution ProRAW options were added on later Pro models. Check Apple’s support pages for the specific options on your model.
To turn it on, go to Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and enable ProRAW (on newer models this appears as ProRAW and Resolution Control). A RAW button then appears in the Camera app so you can switch it on only when you need it.
ProRAW Versus HEIC: A Quick Comparison
| Factor | HEIC (standard) | ProRAW (DNG) |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Small, efficient | Much larger, often many times bigger |
| Look straight from camera | Finished and punchy | Flatter, designed to be edited |
| Editing flexibility | Limited before quality suffers | Wide latitude for exposure, colour and tone |
| Sharing | Easy, widely supported (or converts to JPG) | Often needs exporting to JPG or HEIC first |
| Best for | Everyday snaps, social posts, memories | Landscapes, tricky light, planned edits, prints |
When ProRAW Is Worth It
ProRAW earns its file size in situations where you will actually use the extra data.
- High contrast scenes. Sunsets over Marina Bay, bright skies over HDB blocks or a dim interior with a bright window. ProRAW gives you more room to recover highlights and lift shadows.
- Mixed or tricky lighting. Night markets, hawker centres under fluorescent lights or warm restaurant lighting. You can fine-tune white balance afterwards.
- Landscapes and cityscapes you plan to print. The extra detail and latitude help when making larger prints.
- Photos you intend to edit carefully. If you enjoy editing in apps like Lightroom or the built-in Photos editor, RAW gives you better raw material.
- Important one-off moments in difficult light. A family gathering in a dim room can benefit from the extra flexibility, provided you will edit later.
When HEIC Is the Better Choice
For most everyday photos, HEIC is the smarter option.
- Quick snaps and documentation. Receipts, notes, food posts and casual shots do not need RAW.
- Fast moving subjects and bursts. ProRAW files take longer to process and save, so you may miss moments. Burst mode does not shoot in RAW.
- When storage is tight. ProRAW can fill your phone and cloud storage quickly. If you are near your iCloud limit, shoot selectively.
- When you will not edit. A RAW file you never edit often looks worse than the HEIC version because it lacks the finishing processing.
- Sharing straight to social media or chats. HEIC or the auto-converted JPG is ready to go.
If you need to share HEIC photos with people on other platforms, our guide on how to convert HEIC photos to JPG explains the options.
A Simple ProRAW Editing Workflow
You do not need a computer to edit ProRAW. The Photos app can edit DNG files, and dedicated editing apps give you more control.
- Shoot with RAW on only when you need it. Turn on the RAW toggle for the specific scene, then turn it off.
- Start with exposure. Adjust overall brightness first so the main subject looks right.
- Recover highlights and lift shadows. Pull back bright skies and windows, then open up dark areas carefully to avoid noise.
- Set white balance. Use the temperature and tint sliders, or an eyedropper on something that should be neutral grey or white.
- Adjust contrast and colour. Add contrast gently, then fine-tune saturation or vibrance. Avoid pushing colours too far.
- Sharpen and reduce noise lightly. RAW files usually need a little sharpening, but too much creates harsh edges.
- Export a shareable copy. Export a JPG or HEIC for sharing, and keep the original DNG if you might re-edit later.
If you edit for social media, our guide to shooting and editing photos for Instagram has more tips on framing and consistent looks.
Managing Storage With ProRAW
Because ProRAW files are large, a little housekeeping goes a long way:
- Delete rejects quickly. Review RAW shots soon after shooting and delete the ones you do not need.
- Keep the edited export, archive the RAW. Once happy with an edit, keep a JPG or HEIC copy in your library and move the original DNG to an external drive or computer.
- Check your iCloud plan. If you shoot ProRAW regularly, you may need a larger storage tier. Check Apple’s current options and pricing.
- Use lower resolution when it is enough. On models that offer different ProRAW resolutions, a lower one may be enough for most scenes and saves space.
ProRAW Versus Video Formats
ProRAW is only for still photos. For video, Pro models offer ProRes and Apple Log, which serve a similar “edit later” purpose but with even bigger files. If you are interested in that side, read our beginner’s guide to shooting Apple Log and ProRes on iPhone.
The Bottom Line on iPhone ProRAW
iPhone ProRAW is a powerful tool, but not a default setting. Use it for high contrast scenes, tricky lighting and photos you plan to edit or print, and stick with HEIC for everyday moments. Switch RAW on deliberately, edit with a simple workflow, and manage your storage, and you will get the best of both formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I shoot RAW on a non-Pro iPhone? ProRAW is a feature of Pro models, so it will not appear in the standard Camera app on other iPhones. Some third-party camera apps offer RAW capture, depending on the model. Check the app and Apple’s support pages for what your phone supports.
Do I need paid software to edit ProRAW photos? No. The built-in Photos app can edit DNG files, and that is enough for exposure, white balance, contrast and colour. Dedicated editing apps give more control, but you can start with Photos and decide later whether you need more.
Can I post ProRAW files directly to Instagram or send them in chats? Export a JPG or HEIC copy for sharing, since RAW files are large and not always supported by apps. Keep the original DNG if you might re-edit later. A small edited export is also faster to upload and uses less data.
Will I notice a ProRAW photo on a phone screen? Often the difference is subtle on a small screen. It shows more when you recover a bright sky or dark shadows, correct white balance in mixed lighting, or make a large print. For quick snaps, HEIC will usually look just as good.
How do I stop ProRAW from filling my iPhone and iCloud storage? Switch RAW on only for scenes that need it, and delete rejects soon after shooting. Move the original DNG files to an external drive or computer once you are happy with your edit. If you shoot ProRAW often, check Apple’s current iCloud tiers.