Samsung RAW vs JPEG: Which Format to Shoot and When

For images you’re going to share without editing, choose JPEG; for images you expect to edit, especially in challenging lighting conditions, choose RAW. That’s the short answer. The long answer is more complicated because Pro mode RAW and Expert RAW don’t produce the same results, and Galaxy phones let you shoot space-saving HEIF images too.

What is the difference between RAW and JPEG on Samsung?

What JPEG gives you

With Auto HDR your phone will blend multiple exposures together and apply colour grading to create an image that generally looks decent right out of camera. A downside of shooting JPEGs in Photo mode is that the camera has already made creative decisions for you, so there’s a limit to how much you can improve the image in post. For example, if highlights are blown out in the original JPEG you’re not going to be able to recover them, and dragging up shadows is likely to result in ugly noise and colour shifts. If the processed look is what bothers you, our guide to natural-looking Samsung photos shows which settings tone it down before you reach for RAW.

Galaxy phones offer the option to save images captured in Photo mode using the HEIF format, which Samsung claims will result in files that take up less space. To turn this feature on go to Camera settings > Photos > Photo format and enable High efficiency pictures (on One UI 8.5 and One UI 9). Bear in mind that some older programs and devices may not be able to display HEIF images, so JPEG is probably still the best choice if you plan on sharing your images with other people.

What RAW gives you

Samsung’s S26 guide explains that RAW image files are unprocessed, uncompressed data that you can edit using image-processing software, and cautions that they’ll use more space. On Samsung Galaxy phones, RAW files are DNGs containing the unaltered information from the camera sensor, prior to Samsung’s image processing. Straight out of camera, DNG files will look drab and flat, because contrast and colour haven’t been tweaked.

In practice, shooting RAW buys you greater latitude to adjust your pictures. White balance is just a starting point, meaning pictures under orange streetlights can be readily adjusted. Highlights and shadows also have more headroom, which is particularly useful for shooting sunsets and other backlit subjects. Our white balance guide explains why mixed light is hard to fix in a JPEG.

Pro mode RAW or Expert RAW?

One of these modes uses HDR but not the other. Both will produce RAW files (DNG format, specifically), but they’re not the same files. Expert RAW shoots a series of images and combines them into a single 16-bit linear RAW file. Pro mode shoots DNG files the normal way, and Samsung’s FAQ for the Galaxy Camera app says HDR isn’t applied in Pro mode, so you’ll be on your own to try and balance the exposure between bright skies and dark shadows.

There are two different ways to shoot RAW with your Galaxy: Pro mode in the Camera app and Expert RAW, a free app available in the Galaxy Store. According to Samsung’s description of the app, combining frames helps improve dynamic range. Expert RAW has a few more tricks up its sleeve. Version 6.0.02.8 has a button in the top bar that opens a menu where you can choose to shoot RAW only, JPEG only, or both. Confusingly, it’s only when you choose RAW+JPEG that the app will shoot both; selecting JPEG means you won’t get a DNG file. There are also Astrophoto and Multiple exposure shooting modes, but these only work with the 12MP camera option selected. According to SamMobile, Expert RAW on the S25 Ultra can even shoot 200MP RAW images, an improvement over the 50MP limit on the S24 Ultra. Those images will eat through your available storage fast, though. Our Expert RAW guide describes editing and use of the controls.

Choose Expert RAW if you'll be doing a lot of editing, especially for night photography and landscapes with a lot of contrast. Choose RAW (in Pro mode) if you want access to some manual controls without switching apps or if your Galaxy phone doesn't support Expert RAW. Samsung's support page says Expert RAW is available on some A-series "models with advanced camera systems", but doesn't specify which. The Galaxy Store should be able to tell you if your Galaxy A phone supports Expert RAW. Our Expert RAW vs Pro mode comparison sets the two side by side, from the controls on One UI 9 to file sizes and the Labs tools.

How do I turn on RAW in Samsung Pro mode?

Depending on your version of One UI, the location of this setting may vary, so choose the path that is applicable to your phone. This setting will only have an effect when shooting in Pro mode. All other modes (e.g. Portrait, Night) will continue to save in either JPEG or HEIF regardless of what is selected here.

In most situations shoot RAW and JPEG. The advantage of this is that the JPEG image is immediately available for previewing and sharing, while the DNG RAW file can be worked on later in Gallery.

When should I shoot RAW instead of JPEG on a Samsung?

Shoot RAW and JPEG for a week and find out how many DNG files you actually open for editing. Chances are, on most photo trips, you’ll only come home with a handful of images that you’ll want to edit, and most likely those are the ones that would be worth saving in RAW.

How do I edit Samsung RAW files on my phone?

If you do want to try editing your own RAW files then you can do it on your phone using an app like Snapseed, which can open and edit RAW files (using its RAW Develop tool) and is free (with no subscription), according to its Play Store listing. Lightroom Mobile is the other common choice, and our Lightroom vs Snapseed comparison explains how the two differ. If you pick Lightroom, our Lightroom mobile guide walks through importing DNGs from a Galaxy.

If you shoot RAW and JPEG, Samsung cameras save a JPEG version of every photo they take along with the RAW file, which you can compare your edited version against to see if you’ve done any better. If you can’t consistently do better than Samsung’s JPEG then you’re probably better off just sticking with JPEGs. When editing images, tackle white balance first, then exposure, then highlights and shadows with colour and sharpening last of all.

Storage and sharing

Samsung points out that RAW files are uncompressed images, which means they take up a lot more space than JPEGs. When is it OK to shoot in RAW mode? Any time you think a scene might need the extra editing room. After editing, you can always delete rejected DNG files. However, before uploading your photos to social media, convert them to JPEGs first, as that is the image format these services are looking for.

If you regularly shoot in RAW mode, you should periodically move your DNG files to cloud storage or your computer. The RAW file should always be considered your master copy. Our Pro mode guide discusses the settings that determine whether or not a RAW file is worth keeping.