Flagship Android phones with an "Expert RAW" or "Pro" mode can fill storage fast because RAW photos are dramatically larger than normal shots.

Short answer: find RAW photos by filtering your gallery for the RAW or .dng format, then bulk-delete the ones you have already backed up or no longer need.

Why RAW files are so heavy

Normal photos and RAW photos behave differently on the sensor:

  • JPEG or HEIF: processed, compressed, usually 2-5 MB per shot
  • RAW (.dng): uncompressed sensor data, usually 20-100 MB per shot

A single photoshoot in RAW mode can add 5-10 GB to your phone. Unless you are editing in a desktop tool like Lightroom, RAW output is mostly storage you do not need.

Filtering your gallery for RAW

Gallery apps mix JPEG and RAW into the same view, so size filtering is the fastest way to find them.

Google Photos:

  1. open Google Photos
  2. type RAW into the search bar
  3. long-press to select, then delete

Samsung Gallery:

  1. open Samsung Gallery
  2. tap the search icon
  3. scroll to Types and tap RAW
  4. long-press to select, then move to trash

Stopping future buildup

If you do not need RAW, turn off Pro / Expert RAW mode in your camera. This prevents the same cleanup problem from repeating.

Better next routes

If large videos are also in the mix, continue with The Hidden Cost of 4K and 8K Video: Why Your New Phone Fills Up Instantly.

If you want the broader Android cleanup path, use the Android space cleanup route.