HEIC vs JPG
iPhones save photos as HEIC by default, but most of the world still expects JPG. HEIC keeps photos smaller with more color information; JPG opens on every device and website without extra steps.
Short answer
Keep HEIC on your iPhone if storage matters and you mostly stay within Apple devices. Choose JPG, or convert, whenever photos go to Windows PCs, websites, forms, print services or people on other platforms. Converting HEIC to JPG at high quality loses very little visible detail.
| HEIC | JPG | |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy, HEVC (H.265) intra-frame coding | Lossy, 8×8 DCT blocks |
| Quality at the same size | Noticeably better detail | More artifacts at small sizes |
| File size for photos | Often around half of a comparable JPG | Baseline |
| Color depth | Supports more than 8 bits per channel | 8 bits in practice |
| Transparency | Possible in the spec; not used by cameras | No |
| Extras | Depth maps, HDR information, multiple images | Single image |
| Browser support | Safari only | Universal |
| Windows | Needs Microsoft Store extensions | Opens natively |
| Metadata | EXIF including date and GPS | EXIF including date and GPS |
| Best for | Storing photos on Apple devices | Sharing, uploading, printing |
Storage vs compatibility
HEIC uses the same compression technology as modern 4K video, which describes detail more efficiently than JPG’s 1990s design. On a phone holding tens of thousands of photos, that saving adds up to many gigabytes, which is why Apple made it the default.
The cost is compatibility. Because HEVC requires patent licensing, Chrome, Edge and Firefox don’t display HEIC, and Windows needs add-ons from the Microsoft Store. Many websites and forms check the file type and simply reject HEIC uploads. The HEIC format page covers that support picture in detail.
Which should I use?
It depends on where your photos end up:
- Everything stays in iCloud Photos and on Apple devices: keep HEIC
- You regularly copy photos to a Windows PC: keep HEIC on the phone, set Settings › Photos › Transfer to Mac or PC to Automatic
- You upload photos to websites, marketplaces or forms often: switch the camera to Settings › Camera › Formats › Most Compatible
- A one-off batch of HEIC photos someone sent you: convert with HEIC to JPG
- You need a lossless copy for editing: HEIC to PNG
What changes when you convert
The JPG will usually be larger than the HEIC, because JPG needs more bytes for the same quality. At Pixellin’s default quality of 90 the visible difference is minimal. Depth data and extra HDR information don’t carry over, and Live Photos become still images.
Pixellin’s converter also leaves out EXIF metadata, so the converted JPGs don’t reveal where or when a photo was taken. That is helpful before posting online, but if you rely on dates for sorting, keep the HEIC originals.
Switch between HEIC and JPG
Questions
Is HEIC better quality than JPG?
At the same file size, yes: HEIC keeps more detail and can store more color depth. At the sizes iPhones actually save, both look very good, and most people can’t tell the difference on screen. The real differences are storage space and compatibility.
Should I switch my iPhone to JPG?
Switch if you often upload photos to websites or share with Windows and Android users, and don’t mind photos using more storage. If you mostly stay within Apple devices, HEIC saves space, and you can convert the occasional photo when needed.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
A little in theory, because the photo is compressed again with a less efficient method. At a high quality setting the loss is very hard to see. Avoid converting the same photo back and forth repeatedly.
Why is the JPG bigger than my HEIC?
JPG compression is less efficient than HEIC, so it needs more bytes to reach similar quality. A JPG roughly twice the size of the HEIC is normal. Lower the quality slider or resize the photo if you need a smaller file.