HEIC vs JPG
Your iPhone saves photos as HEIC, but the rest of the world mostly expects JPG. Here’s what you gain and lose with each.
| Feature | HEIC | JPG |
|---|---|---|
| Typical photo size | 1–2 MB | 2–4 MB |
| Compression | HEVC (H.265) – more efficient | JPEG – older and less efficient |
| Colour depth | Up to 16-bit | 8-bit |
| Extras | Live Photos, depth maps, bursts | Single image only |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Windows | Needs a free extension | Built in |
| Websites and apps | Often not accepted | Accepted everywhere |
Why iPhones use HEIC
Apple switched the iPhone camera to HEIC in 2017 with iOS 11. HEIC stores photos using HEVC compression, the same technology used for 4K video, which is roughly twice as efficient as the JPEG compression designed in the early 1990s. The result is that a library of 10,000 photos takes about half the storage, which matters on phones and in iCloud.
HEIC is also a container, so a single file can hold more than one image and related data. Live Photos, portrait-mode depth maps, burst sequences and HDR gain maps can all live alongside the main picture.
Image quality
At the same file size, HEIC looks better than JPG, with less blockiness and smudging in fine detail. At the same visual quality, it's about half the size. HEIC can also store 10-bit or deeper colour, which gives smoother gradients in skies and keeps more information for editing HDR photos.
For everyday viewing, a high-quality JPG converted from a HEIC looks the same on screen. The difference is mostly file size, and a little extra editing headroom in the HEIC.
Compatibility is the catch
JPG opens on every computer, phone, browser, printer kiosk and photo website made in the last thirty years. HEIC doesn't. Windows needs the HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store, and sometimes the HEVC extension too. Many websites, online forms, older versions of Photoshop and some Android apps refuse HEIC uploads. Chrome and Firefox can't display HEIC images on web pages.
Apple works around this when you share. AirDrop to a non-Apple device, email and many apps convert photos to JPG automatically. But photos copied to a PC with a cable, downloaded from iCloud.com or exported in their original format stay HEIC.
Should you switch your iPhone to JPG?
If you mostly keep photos on Apple devices and iCloud, stick with HEIC; you get more photos in the same space. If you regularly copy photos to Windows, upload them to websites that reject HEIC, or edit them in older software, switch to JPG by going to Settings, Camera, Formats and choosing Most Compatible. Existing photos aren't changed.
You can also keep HEIC and convert only when needed. Converting HEIC to JPG at a high quality setting keeps the photo looking the same, though the JPG file will be larger.
Free Tools for This
They run in your browser, so your files are never uploaded.
Questions
Is HEIC better quality than JPG?
At the same file size, yes. At the same visual quality, HEIC files are about half the size. On screen, a high-quality JPG conversion looks the same.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
Very little at a high quality setting, and it's not noticeable in normal viewing. The JPG will be larger than the HEIC.
Can Windows open HEIC files?
Yes, after installing the free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store. Some PCs also need the HEVC Video Extensions.
Do HEIC photos keep location data?
Yes, like JPG they store EXIF data, including GPS location if location services were on. Check with an EXIF viewer before sharing.