A handheld communication device comprising: at least one imaging sensor configured to generate raw image sensor data; a memory component configured to store raw image data; a processor coupled to the memory component, the processor configured to perform processing of raw image sensor data in at least two operational modes including a normal-power operation mode and a low-power operation mode, the low-power operation mode consuming less power than the normal-power operation mode; and a control module stored in the memory component, the control module including instructions configured to operate the processor to: determine a low-power condition that is based on at least one of a battery charge level being below a certain threshold value and an estimate of how long the battery charge of the handheld communication device will last until the battery charge is depleted; and in response to determining the low-power condition, operate the handheld communication device in the low-power operation mode, wherein operating in the low-power operation mode comprises: receiving raw image sensor data from the at least one imaging sensor, storing the raw image sensor data in the memory component, and unless selected by a user for sharing, delaying post-processing of the raw image sensor data until the handheld communication device is operating in the normal-power operation mode, wherein the post-processing includes performing one or more image-processing operations on the raw image sensor data. at least one imaging sensor configured to generate raw image sensor data; a memory component configured to store raw image data; a processor coupled to the memory component, the processor configured to perform processing of raw image sensor data in at least two operational modes including a normal-power operation mode and a low-power operation mode, the low-power operation mode consuming less power than the normal-power operation mode; and a control module stored in the memory component, the control module including instructions configured to operate the processor to: determine a low-power condition that is based on at least one of a battery charge level being below a certain threshold value and an estimate of how long the battery charge of the handheld communication device will last until the battery charge is depleted; and in response to determining the low-power condition, operate the handheld communication device in the low-power operation mode, wherein operating in the low-power operation mode comprises: receiving raw image sensor data from the at least one imaging sensor, storing the raw image sensor data in the memory component, and unless selected by a user for sharing, delaying post-processing of the raw image sensor data until the handheld communication device is operating in the normal-power operation mode, wherein the post-processing includes performing one or more image-processing operations on the raw image sensor data. determine a low-power condition that is based on at least one of a battery charge level being below a certain threshold value and an estimate of how long the battery charge of the handheld communication device will last until the battery charge is depleted; and in response to determining the low-power condition, operate the handheld communication device in the low-power operation mode, wherein operating in the low-power operation mode comprises: receiving raw image sensor data from the at least one imaging sensor, storing the raw image sensor data in the memory component, and unless selected by a user for sharing, delaying post-processing of the raw image sensor data until the handheld communication device is operating in the normal-power operation mode, wherein the post-processing includes performing one or more image-processing operations on the raw image sensor data. receiving raw image sensor data from the at least one imaging sensor, storing the raw image sensor data in the memory component, and unless selected by a user for sharing, delaying post-processing of the raw image sensor data until the handheld communication device is operating in the normal-power operation mode, wherein the post-processing includes performing one or more image-processing operations on the raw image sensor data.