How to Shoot RAW Photos on iPhone — Bayer RAW vs ProRAW Explained
Everything you need to know about shooting RAW on iPhone. The difference between Bayer RAW and ProRAW, and which format to use for maximum editing flexibility.
RAW photography gives you maximum editing flexibility — but on iPhone, "RAW" is more complicated than it appears.
What is RAW Photography?
When you shoot a JPEG, your camera makes hundreds of decisions: how to expose highlights, how much noise reduction to apply, how to map colors. These are baked permanently into the file.
RAW photography preserves the original sensor data before these decisions are made. When you open a RAW file in Lightroom, you make all those decisions with the full original data available — dramatically more control, especially in recovering blown highlights or lifting dark shadows.
Two Types of RAW on iPhone
Apple ProRAW (.DNG with Apple processing)
ProRAW is available via Settings → Camera → Formats → Apple ProRAW. It sounds like true RAW — but it isn't.
ProRAW is a DNG file that Apple's ISP has already processed with Smart HDR and Deep Fusion. Multiple frames have been merged. Noise reduction has been applied. Color mapping has been done.
The advantage: ProRAW files look great right out of camera. The disadvantage: the processing is already baked in. You're editing a result, not original sensor data.
True Bayer RAW (via Iris Pro)
True Bayer RAW is the actual sensor mosaic data — the pattern of red, green, and blue photosites on the sensor, captured before Apple's ISP touches it. It looks flat straight from camera, but contains the maximum information your sensor captured.
Iris Pro captures true Bayer RAW by communicating directly with the camera sensor via Apple's AVFoundation APIs, bypassing the ISP entirely.
Why True Bayer RAW Matters
The "Plastic Skin" Problem: Apple's Deep Fusion aggressively reduces noise in skin tones. The result can look waxy or artificial. True Bayer RAW has natural, film-like grain that most photographers prefer.
Maximum Editing Latitude: True sensor data has the most headroom. If you want to make dramatic tonal adjustments in Lightroom, Bayer RAW gives you more to work with.
No Multi-Frame Artifacts: ProRAW merges multiple frames, creating occasional blending artifacts — watercolor effects in foliage, ghosting in clouds. Single-frame Bayer RAW has none.
How to Shoot RAW on iPhone
Method 1: Apple ProRAW (Built-in)
Settings → Camera → Formats → Enable Apple ProRAW → Tap RAW badge in Camera app.
Best for: Maximum compatibility, immediate results, easier workflow.
Method 2: True Bayer RAW (Iris Pro)
- Download Iris Pro
- Select RAW capture mode
- Use manual ISO, shutter speed, and focus controls
- Files export as standard DNG compatible with Lightroom, Capture One, and Apple Photos
Best for: Maximum editing flexibility, natural grain, zero AI processing.
The Bottom Line
- If you want easy RAW with great out-of-camera results: Apple ProRAW in the native Camera app
- If you want maximum editing control with zero AI interference: Iris Pro Bayer RAW