Samsung makes some of the best camera phones around. Case in point, the Galaxy S25 Ultra’s quadruple camera setup that covers all the different ranges and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 for its superb vlogging capabilities. While the hardware in its Galaxy flagships don’t disappoint, many people including myself forget about the software that powers them.
When I accidentally stumbled upon Expert RAW, a hidden camera mode in its flagship models, I discovered all the neat things it can do beyond the obvious of saving RAW photos — but it inevitably transformed how I captured photos. Even though I’m a confident photographer that frequently switches to manual mode, Expert RAW offers way more creativity.
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It makes astrophotography better
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Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra astrophotography post update.(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra astrophotography post update.(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra astrophotography post update.(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra astrophotography post update.(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra astrophotography post update.(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra astrophotography post update.(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra astrophotography post update.(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
The first thing that Expert RAW improved was how I captured astrophotography with Samsung phones. Prior to uncovering it, I’d lean on night mode like what I did with shooting astrophotography with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The results were underwhelming to say the least, which you can see from the shots above with night mode.
However, I had different feelings after discovering Expert RAW mode with the Galaxy S25 Edge — and subsequently on my Galaxy Z Flip 7. I saw a huge difference with astrophotography on the Galaxy S25 Edge, as the longer exposure capture in Expert RAW draws out the stars way better. It can take upwards of several minutes depending on which capture time you select, but longer is better just as the phone’s kept really still.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Just take my most recent snapshots with the Galaxy Z Flip 7, as the best foldable phone contender coughs up some of the best images I’ve captured all year. The nice thing about this mode within Expert RAW is that I’m given both the jpg and RAW files. At the same time, there’s a good contrast between the dark sky and the surrounding trees in many of the shots.
Silky smooth motion blur with ND filter mode
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(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
The average Joe doesn’t know the proper applications for an ND filter with a mirrorless camera, but you don’t need to know that with Samsung’s Expert RAW. Basically, it allows you to capture silky smooth motion blur — like those photos of water streams looking like fine mist, or headlights of cars streaking across a shot.
When I switch to this mode on my Galaxy Z Flip 7, it adds a layer of creativity I can’t really get with the standard shooting mode. It mimics the function of a physical ND filter, but it’s all achieved through software. By setting the shutter speed very low, while also keeping the phone extra still, you can achieve amazing results like the carousel above.
In reality, I shot it during the daytime — which makes the brighter areas of the shot look overexposed. However, the ND filter mode darkens the entire scene so that anything in motion ends up having a motion blur effect.
True-to-life aperture lens
(Image credit: Future)
This last feature I want to point out may not sound like anything new, but it can improve the way your photos come out. In Expert RAW, there’s a variable aperture mode that attempts to copy the realism of a lens aperture. Think of it much like portrait mode’s ability to blur out backgrounds, but in a much more true-to-life way.
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(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Switching to variable aperture mode does exactly this, but the results can be mixed in my experience. For example, the shot of Grogu above shows perfectly at how variable aperture mode can look realistic. I specifically placed the glass prism closer to the camera and the plant behind it, just to illustrate how the focus remains in the middle at Grogu — with the wooden surface to the left and right remaining in focus as well.
Normal portrait mode would blur out everything except for faces, but variable aperture casts a more realistic look.
Access to more settings and tools
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide / John Velasco)
Beyond the extra shooting mode, Expert RAW also crams other settings and tools that cater to enthusiasts. For example, I can enable a zebra pattern that highlights overexposed areas in a scene so that I can tone down the exposure — while false color categorizes the different exposure levels.
Obviously, I can set all the manual controls I frequently use, like the shutter speed, ISO level, color temperature, and more. But the nice thing, too, is being able to create a preset that I can access later on. That way, all of the settings are already there rather than setting them each time I use the camera.
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(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
(Image credit: Future)
If you have a Galaxy flagship, I highly recommend checking out Expert RAW because it really is one of the most underrated features. Not only does it improve my photography, but it also adds creativity that I don’t normally find in other camera apps.
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