Phone cameras have come a long way, and with the right preset your iPhone or Google Pixel photos can look just as polished as photos from a dedicated camera. I review a lot of phones on my channel, and I edit the samples from every review with my own Lightroom presets, so I've seen which looks work best on phone photos.
In this guide I share the best Lightroom presets for iPhone and Pixel photos, with real before and after examples from my iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro Max, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7 and Pixel 6a reviews. I also show you how to use presets in Lightroom Mobile and how to get the best results from phone files.
Why phone photos need the right preset
Phones process every photo heavily before you see it. Smart HDR, sharpening, noise reduction and saturation boosts are applied automatically, so a straight-out-of-camera phone photo often looks bright, crisp and a little digital. Many presets made for camera RAW files push contrast and saturation even further, which can make phone photos look harsh.
The presets that work best on phone photos usually soften contrast, warm up skin tones and calm down greens and blues. Film-inspired and natural looks are perfect for this, because they take the digital edge off and give your photos a more timeless finish.
- Shoot RAW when you can: Apple ProRAW on iPhone and RAW (DNG) on Pixel give you far more room to edit than a JPG or HEIC.
- Choose softer presets: lower contrast and gentle colour grading suit phone files better than punchy looks.
- Expect to tweak: every phone renders colour differently, so adjust white balance and exposure after applying a preset.
The best Lightroom presets for iPhone and Pixel photos
All of these packs work in Lightroom Mobile as well as Lightroom Classic, Lightroom CC and Adobe Camera Raw. Each example below is a real photo from one of my phone camera reviews, edited with the preset named under it.
1. Hibiscus: warm, soft film look (iPhone 18 Pro Max)
Hibiscus adds a warm, low-contrast, film-like look. It's my favourite way to soften the crisp, high-contrast look of newer iPhones, and it gives skin a lovely warm glow. I edited every photo from my iPhone 18 Pro Max camera review with Hibiscus.
UneditedEdited with Hibiscus
iPhone 18 Pro Max 1x camera: unedited (left) and edited with Hibiscus (right).
iPhone 18 Pro Max 0.5x and 4x, edited with Hibiscus.
2. Disposable Film: grainy 35mm film look (Pixel 7 Pro)
Disposable Film gives your photos a soft, hazy grain, as if they were shot on a disposable film camera. It's perfect for taking the digital edge off phone photos, and it works beautifully on the Pixel's natural colours. These samples are from my Google Pixel 7 Pro camera review.
UneditedEdited with Disposable Film
Pixel 7 Pro: unedited (left) and edited with Disposable Film (right).
UneditedEdited with Disposable Film
Pixel 7 Pro 5x telephoto: unedited (left) and edited with Disposable Film (right).
Pixel 7 Pro, edited with Disposable Film.
3. Hazel: honey skin tones and rich greens (iPhone 14 Pro Max)
Hazel balances honey-like skin tones with gorgeous greens for a natural, film-like finish. It's a great choice for outdoor portraits with lots of foliage, which phones often render too green or too saturated. All the photos in my iPhone 14 Pro Max camera review were edited with Hazel.
iPhone 14 Pro Max, edited with Hazel.
iPhone 14 Pro Max 3x telephoto, edited with Hazel.
4. Aspen: clean and natural (Pixel 7)
Aspen is a clean preset that makes colours pop while keeping the photo looking natural. If you like a true-to-life look but want your phone photos to feel a little more refined, start here. I edited the RAW files from my Google Pixel 7 camera review with Aspen.
UneditedEdited with Aspen
Pixel 7 2x zoom: unedited (left) and edited with Aspen (right).
UneditedEdited with Aspen
Pixel 7 ultra wide: unedited (left) and edited with Aspen (right).
Pixel 7, edited with Aspen.
5. Amalfi: warm vintage tones (Pixel 6a)
Amalfi adds a warm, vintage tone that's lovely for travel photos, architecture and portraits. In my Google Pixel 6a camera review, I opened the RAW DNG files in Lightroom and edited them with Amalfi.
UneditedEdited with Amalfi
Pixel 6a: unedited (left) and edited with Amalfi (right).
UneditedEdited with Amalfi
Pixel 6a: unedited (left) and edited with Amalfi (right).
How to use Lightroom presets on iPhone and Pixel photos
You can apply presets on your phone with the free Lightroom Mobile app, or import your phone photos into Lightroom on your computer.
- Shoot in RAW. On iPhone, turn on ProRAW in Settings, Camera, Formats. On Pixel, turn on RAW + JPEG in the camera settings.
- Install your presets. If you use Lightroom on a computer, install them there and they'll sync to Lightroom Mobile automatically. You can also install them directly in the app.
- Open your photo in Lightroom Mobile and tap Presets, then choose a preset from your pack.
- Adjust the Amount slider to make the look stronger or softer.
- Fine-tune white balance and exposure. Phones render colour differently, so a small change to Temp, Tint or Exposure makes the preset fit your photo.
- Export at full quality and share.
Tips for editing phone photos with presets
- Lower sharpening and clarity. Phones already sharpen heavily, so extra sharpening can look crunchy.
- Watch skin tones. Phone HDR can flatten faces or make skin look orange. Use the Orange slider in Color Mixer to adjust.
- Check the greens. Phones often oversaturate foliage. Presets like Hazel and Hibiscus help, and you can tweak the Green slider too.
- Edit night photos gently. Night mode files are already heavily processed, so lower the Amount for a natural result.
- Use one preset for a whole set. Editing a series with the same pack keeps your photos and Instagram feed consistent.
Want more phone photography tips? Read my guide to the best Lightroom presets for portraits, or check out my phone camera reviews: iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro Max, Pixel 7 Pro, Pixel 7, Pixel 7a, Pixel 6a.
Lightroom presets for iPhone and Pixel: FAQ
Can you use Lightroom presets on iPhone photos?
Yes. Lightroom presets work on iPhone photos in the free Lightroom Mobile app and in Lightroom on your computer. For the best results, shoot in Apple ProRAW so you have more data to edit.
Do Lightroom presets work on Google Pixel photos?
Yes. Presets work on Pixel photos in Lightroom Mobile and Lightroom Classic. Turn on RAW + JPEG in the Pixel camera settings and edit the DNG files for the most flexibility.
What are the best Lightroom presets for phone photos?
Softer, film-inspired and natural presets usually work best, because phone photos are already sharp and contrasty. Hibiscus, Disposable Film, Hazel, Aspen and Amalfi all work beautifully on iPhone and Pixel photos.
Do I need Lightroom Mobile to use presets on my phone?
You need Lightroom Mobile to apply presets on your phone. The app is free to download. Alternatively, you can transfer your phone photos to a computer and edit them in Lightroom Classic or Lightroom CC.
Should I edit JPG or RAW phone photos?
RAW is best. ProRAW on iPhone and DNG on Pixel keep more detail in the highlights and shadows, so presets look smoother and you can adjust white balance more easily. Presets still work on JPG and HEIC files.
Why does a preset look different on my phone photo?
Every phone processes colour, contrast and white balance differently, and lighting changes from photo to photo. Adjust the Amount, white balance and exposure after applying the preset to match your photo.
Ready to edit your phone photos? Browse all my packs in the Lightroom Presets for Portraits collection, including Hibiscus, Disposable Film, Hazel, Aspen and Amalfi. If you're stuck between a few, you can buy any 3 presets and save 10%.
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