HEIC vs JPEG: Complete Quality Comparison
Should you keep HEIC or convert to JPEG? Here's everything you need to know about both formats including quality, file size, and compatibility.
Quick Comparison
🍎 HEIC
- 50% smaller file sizes
- Better compression technology
- Limited device support
- Apple devices only (mostly)
📷 JPEG
- Universal compatibility
- Works everywhere
- Larger file sizes
- Industry standard since 1992
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | HEIC | JPEG |
|---|---|---|
| File Size | ~50% smaller | Baseline (100%) |
| Image Quality | Excellent (HEVC-based) | Very Good |
| Compatibility | Limited (Apple, iOS 11+) | Universal |
| Windows Support | Requires codec | Native |
| Web Support | Very limited | 100% support |
| Email Attachments | Often blocked | Always works |
| Transparency | Yes | No |
| Multiple Images | Yes (sequences) | No |
| Editing Software | Limited support | Universal support |
Image Quality: The Technical Details
HEIC Quality Advantages
HEIC uses the HEVC (H.265) video codec for still images, which provides:
- Better compression: Same visual quality at half the file size
- 16-bit color: More color information than JPEG's 8-bit
- Better detail preservation: Less compression artifacts
- Transparency support: Like PNG but with better compression
When Quality Differences Matter
In practical terms, you'll notice HEIC's quality advantages when:
- Zooming in on photos (HEIC preserves more detail)
- Images with gradients (HEIC has less banding)
- Editing and re-saving (HEIC degrades less)
- Low-light photos (HEIC handles noise better)
File Size Comparison: Real Examples
Example: 12MP iPhone Photo
Recommendation: Convert HEIC to JPEG at 90% quality for the best balance of quality and compatibility. File will be ~40% larger but still maintain excellent quality.
When to Use Each Format
Keep HEIC When:
- Storing photos on your iPhone (saves space)
- Sharing with other iPhone/Mac users
- You have limited storage space
- You need maximum quality in minimum size
- Using iCloud Photo Library
Convert to JPEG For:
- Sharing with non-Apple users
- Uploading to websites or social media
- Email attachments
- Printing services
- Editing in non-Apple software
- Viewing on Windows/Android devices
Common Questions
Does converting HEIC to JPEG lose quality?
Yes, technically, but the loss is minimal if you use 85-100% quality. At 90% quality, the difference is imperceptible to the human eye in most photos. The gain in compatibility is usually worth the small quality tradeoff.
Will HEIC replace JPEG?
Unlikely in the near future. JPEG has 30+ years of universal support. While HEIC is technically superior, JPEG's compatibility advantage is enormous. A new universal format (like AVIF or JPEG XL) might eventually replace both.
Can I convert JPEG back to HEIC?
Yes, but there's no benefit. Converting JPEG to HEIC won't restore lost quality or reduce file size significantly. It's like converting MP3 to FLAC—the original quality is already lost.
Which format is better for professional photography?
Professional photographers typically use RAW formats (like DNG, CR2, NEF) which preserve all camera data. For delivery to clients, JPEG is standard due to universal compatibility. HEIC is great for personal use but problematic for professional delivery.
Need to Convert HEIC to JPEG?
Convert with 90% quality for the perfect balance of quality and compatibility.
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