Apple ProRAW gets recommended a lot without much explanation of what it is or why you would bother. Here is the plain version.
ProRAW in one line
Apple ProRAW is a RAW photo that keeps Apple's smart processing. You get the editing flexibility of a RAW file, plus the computational tricks the iPhone is good at, like its HDR and detail work, baked in as a starting point rather than thrown away.
ProRAW vs a normal photo (HEIC)
- A normal HEIC photo is finished and baked. It looks good straight away, the file is small, and there is not much room to change it later.
- A ProRAW is a DNG file with far more color and dynamic range. The files are big and they look flat until you edit them, but they hold up to serious adjustment.
If you never edit your photos, HEIC is fine. The moment you want to restyle the color or rescue a tricky exposure, ProRAW gives you room that HEIC does not.
ProRAW vs regular RAW
A plain RAW file is pure sensor data with none of the iPhone's processing, which can actually look worse than a normal photo until you work on it. ProRAW keeps the RAW flexibility but layers Apple's computational photography back in, so you start from a much better place. For an iPhone, ProRAW is usually the better RAW.
When it is worth shooting
- High-contrast scenes, low light, or anything you intend to edit, print, or apply a look to.
- Not worth it for quick snaps and selfies, where the big files are overkill.
See how to shoot ProRAW to turn it on.
What to do with a ProRAW
Edit it. The simplest route is to apply a look and export: see editing ProRAW on iPhone and applying a .cube LUT. That flat-looking file becomes the whole point once you grade it.