Last year Apple launched its first 48MP main camera with the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max capable of shooting ProRAW images while the iPhone 14 stuck with a 12MP main lens.
This year, all of the iPhone 15 models have 48MP main cameras. While the 15 Pro and Pro Max can shoot ProRAW, there’s also a new HEIF Max 48MP mode that all of the models can use.
Even though the new HEIF Max 48MP mode enables high-resolution images at much smaller file sizes around 5MB, you may not want to use it all the time.
But when you want to capture the most amount of detail – allowing for flexible crops and edits – using the full 48MP power of the iPhone 15 camera system is what you want.
Related: iPhone 15 camera vs 15 Pro camera: What sets them apart?How to use 48MP iPhone 15 camera (15 and 14 Pro too)
Note: ProRAW 48MP image sizes range from 75-100MB+ each on the Pro models while the new HEIF Max offers improved quality at ~5MB file sizes on the 15/Plus and 15 Pro/Max
Open the Settings app on your iPhone 15/15 Plus, 15 Pro/Pro Max, or iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max Swipe down and tap Camera Now choose Formats at the top Tap the toggle next to ProRAW & Resolution Control This will just show as Resolution Control on iPhone 15/15 Plus On iPhone 14 and 15 Pro and Pro Max tap Pro Default and choose HEIF Max (up to 48MP) or ProRAW Max (up to 48MP) Now open the Camera app, make sure HEIF MAX or RAW MAX shows in the corner and is not crossed out – fire away