Yes—smartphone RAW can be worth editing, but it usually needs a different approach than DSLR or mirrorless RAW.

The main issue is that phone sensors and pixels are much smaller, so the files usually have less dynamic range, more noise, and less latitude for aggressive edits. Community answers also note that many phone RAW files are 12-bit rather than the 14-bit common on larger cameras, which further limits highlight and shadow recovery.

That means presets built for Canon, Panasonic, or similar cameras can easily overprocess phone files. Instead of expecting the same look, treat each phone RAW on its own merits and edit more gently—especially with contrast, sharpening, shadow lifting, and color.

Smartphone RAW is still useful when you need extra control, such as recovering highlight detail or adjusting exposure more carefully than a processed JPEG allows. But it won’t usually match the flexibility or image quality of larger-sensor cameras, especially in low light.

So the practical answer is: yes, phone RAW is worth it in some situations, but expect separate presets or manual editing rather than one preset workflow across all cameras.