Is HEIC better than JPG?

HEIC is the more efficient format: at similar visual quality, an HEIC photo is often around half the size of the equivalent JPG. It can also store more color depth and extra data such as Live Photo frames and depth maps. JPG wins on compatibility. Practically every device, app, website, and printer accepts it.

For most iPhone users, the best approach is to shoot in HEIC to save storage and create JPG copies only when a specific destination needs them.

Both formats use lossy compression, which discards detail the eye is unlikely to notice. HEIC uses a newer compression method (HEVC) that is better at keeping fine texture, smooth gradients, and edges intact at smaller file sizes. JPG dates from 1992 and shows blocky artifacts and color banding sooner as files get smaller.

In everyday photos viewed on a phone or laptop, most people cannot tell a well-made JPG from an HEIC. The difference shows up as storage savings across thousands of photos, and in skies, shadows, and other subtle tones when you edit.

Apple devices, recent Android phones, and current versions of macOS open HEIC natively. Windows may need the HEIF and HEVC extensions from the Microsoft Store, and many websites, online forms, older photo editors, and print services still only accept JPG or PNG.

If you regularly send photos to people on different devices or upload them to forms, compatibility problems can cost more time than the storage you save.

On an iPhone, open Settings, then Camera, then Formats. “High Efficiency” captures HEIC; “Most Compatible” captures JPG. High Efficiency is the default and the better choice if you mostly view photos on Apple devices.

There is also a transfer setting under Settings, then Photos: “Transfer to Mac or PC”. With “Automatic” selected, the iPhone converts photos to JPG when you copy them to a computer over a cable, so you get compatible files without changing how you shoot.

Convert a copy when a website rejects your upload, a recipient cannot open the attachment, a print service requests JPG, or software you rely on shows a blank preview. Keep the HEIC original as your master file, since converting cannot add detail back and a JPG copy is slightly lower quality.