I thought I had the best iPhone camera settings simply because I have the iPhone 16 Pro Max — the latest and greatest smartphone from Apple.
However, I was humbled quickly when I saw Mashable’s professional photographer, Joe Maldonado, shooting out in the field with a highly tuned iPhone 14 Pro. Although we were taking the same photos, and despite using the best handset out of Cupertino, Maldonado’s photos turned out more crisp, sharper, and more vibrant than mine.
What gives?!
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
At first, I thought a dirty lens was the issue. But even after carefully cleaning the sensors with a microfiber cloth, Maldonado’s photos were still far superior to mine.
Finally, I asked, “Wait, how does your iPhone 14 Pro take better pictures than my iPhone 16 Pro Max?”
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“It’s all about the settings,” Maldonado said.
Best iPhone camera settings, according to an expert
So how do you get the crème de la crème of photo quality out of your iPhone? Follow these steps — and thank our pro photographer Maldonado later.
- iPhone
- preferably a recent Pro model
Step 1:
Go to ‘Settings’
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Step 2:
Tap on ‘Camera’
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Step 3:
Tap on ‘Formats’
You’ll find “Formats” between “Record Sound” and “Preserve Settings.”
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Step 4:
Ensure the following 3 settings are toggled on
Here, make sure “High Efficiency” under Camera Capture is ticked as well as “24 MP” under Photo Mode. Plus, make sure “ProRAW & Resolution Control” is toggled on.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon
Step 5:
Tap on ‘Pro Default’
Make sure that there’s a checkmark next to “ProRAW Max (Up to 48MP).” There should also be a checkmark next to JPEG-XL Lossy (this is only available for the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max).
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Step 6:
Go back to ‘Camera’ menu and tap on ‘Preserve Settings’
Make sure the following are toggled on: Camera Mode, Creative Controls, Macro Control, Exposure Adjustment, Night Mode, Portrait Zoom, ProRaw & Resolution Control, Live Photo. Like the menu name suggests, this ensures that your current settings are preserved every time you open the Camera app.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Step 7:
Return to ‘Camera’ menu
Enable ‘Grid’ and make sure ‘Level’ is toggled on. According to Maldonado, these settings help him line up his shots. Plus, ensure that ‘Portraits in Photo Mode,’ ‘Prioritize Faster Shooting,’ ‘Lens Correction,’ and ‘Macro Control’ are enabled, too.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon
And that’s it as far as the Settings app is concerned.
While you’re actually in the Camera app itself, Maldonado suggests that users toggle “Raw MAX” on.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Plus, while shooting, make sure you’re hitting “1x” (the main sensor known as the wide camera) to get the best-quality photos.
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Now, go out there with your newly tweaked iPhone and let us know in the comments if you notice a difference.
