Cellebrite Deconstructed: Logical vs. Physical Extractions

Not all forensic extractions are created equal. Many prosecution experts rely on "Logical Extractions"—essentially a "snapshot" of what the phone is willing to give up through standard APIs.

The danger for defense attorneys? Logical extractions miss the "Unallocated Space." This is where deleted messages, hidden system logs, and third-party app remnants reside.

If your discovery material only contains a PDF report from a Logical extraction, you are missing 40-60% of the device's story. We advocate for "Full File System" or "Physical" imaging whenever possible to ensure no exculpatory evidence is left in the shadows.