RAW keeps more image data than JPEG, especially higher color/tonal depth, so it gives you much more flexibility in post-processing. That makes it easier to adjust white balance, exposure, contrast, and recover highlights/shadows with less image degradation than editing a JPEG.

JPEG’s main advantage is convenience: smaller files, faster capture/write times, easier sharing, and a simpler workflow because the camera has already processed the image.

Main RAW downsides:

• much larger files
• more storage required
• potentially slower burst/capture performance
• more complicated workflow, since RAW usually needs processing before sharing or printing

Main JPEG downsides:

• less color/tonal information
• less room for correction after the shot
• repeated or heavy editing degrades quality more quickly
• the image is more “finalized” by the camera’s processing

In practice, RAW is most useful when you expect to do meaningful editing or want maximum latitude from the file. If your exposure and white balance are usually right in-camera and you prefer speed and simplicity, JPEG can be a perfectly sensible default.