If you’re an iPhone user, you’ve likely noticed that your photos are saved in a file format called HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container).
But what exactly is the HEIC file type, and how does it differ from other file formats like PNG and JPG? Let’s delve into the details.
What is the HEIC File Format?
HEIC, which stands for High Efficiency Image Container, is a photo and image format developed by Apple and introduced in 2017 with iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra.
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HEIC is based on the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) standard created by the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) in 2015.
At its core, HEIC uses a more advanced compression standard called HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) to reduce image file sizes substantially compared to older formats like JPEG.
Why Did Apple Adopt HEIC for iPhones?
The main benefit of HEIC is its smaller file sizes. HEIC images take up around half the storage space of equivalent JPEGs. For iPhone users who are constantly struggling with limited storage, particularly as their photo libraries grow, this difference is crucial.
HEIC allows iPhones to save more photos and videos without requiring expandable storage like many Android devices do. That’s why Apple made HEIC the default format to help minimize iPhone storage issues.
Benefits of HEIC beyond Smaller File Sizes
Besides reduced storage usage, HEIC offers a few other benefits:
- Allows higher-quality images in a smaller package
- Enables Live Photos and Burst mode photos on iPhones
- Retains more metadata like image resolution, camera settings, and location
However, HEIC does come with one major downside:.
The Compatibility Problem with HEIC
Due to being relatively new and proprietary to Apple, HEIC compatibility issues frequently crop up when sharing photos shot on an iPhone with other devices and apps.
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Neither Windows nor older Android versions support the format natively. Users often struggle opening HEIC files unless they manually convert images first or install additional software.
Newer Android 10+ devices incorporate HEIC support. But otherwise, wider adoption remains limited until other software and devices update appropriately.
Converting HEIC Images for Better Compatibility
To ensure broader compatibility with non-Apple products, iPhone owners can convert HEIC pictures to more widely usable formats like JPEG before sharing them.
How to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone
If you don’t want to worry about HEIC files at all, you can simply set your phone or tablet to always use the JPG format:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Camera > Formats > Most Compatible.
You can have the best of both worlds, though—you can save space on your device with HEIC but automatically convert images to JPG when you transfer them to your computer.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap Photos.
- In the Transfer to Mac Or PC section, tap Automatic.
Just keep in mind that conversion comes at the cost of potentially larger file sizes and reduced image quality. You lose some benefits of HEIC in exchange for better compatibility.
Get More Room for Photos and Videos by Using HEIC
HEIC empowers iPhones to save space despite lacking expandable SD card storage for media files. If you feel constantly constrained when shooting photos or videos on an iPhone with limited built-in capacity, switching to HEIC can help tremendously.
