HEIC vs JPG: Which Format Should You Use?
The Quick Answer
Use HEIC if you're staying within the Apple ecosystem and want to save storage. Use JPG if you're sharing with anyone, uploading to websites, or using non-Apple software. HEIC offers better quality per byte; JPG offers universal compatibility. Most people are best served by keeping HEIC on their iPhone and converting to JPG when they need to share.
Quality Comparison
At the same file size, HEIC looks noticeably better than JPG. HEIC preserves more detail in gradients, skies, and areas with subtle color variations where JPG tends to show banding or artifacts. At equivalent visual quality, HEIC files are roughly 50% smaller. This isn't a minor difference — for 1,000 photos, that's several gigabytes of storage savings.
Compatibility Breakdown
JPG: works literally everywhere. Every device, every app, every website, every printer since the 1990s. HEIC: works on iOS 11+, macOS High Sierra+, Windows 10/11 (with extensions), Android 9+ (partial). Many websites still reject HEIC uploads. Email attachments in HEIC often can't be previewed. Most photo printing services don't accept HEIC.
File Size Real-World Numbers
A typical iPhone 15 photo: HEIC = ~1.5 MB, equivalent JPG = ~3.2 MB. A photo with lots of detail (landscape, city): HEIC = ~2.2 MB, JPG = ~4.5 MB. A simple photo (solid backgrounds, indoor): HEIC = ~0.8 MB, JPG = ~1.8 MB. Over a year of casual photography (2,000 photos), that's roughly 3 GB saved with HEIC.
Technical Advantages of HEIC
16-bit color depth (JPG is 8-bit). Supports transparency (JPG doesn't). Stores multiple images in one file (bursts, Live Photos). Supports depth maps from Portrait Mode. Non-destructive editing metadata. These features matter for Apple's ecosystem — Live Photos and Portrait Mode rely on HEIC's multi-image capability.
The Verdict
Don't change your iPhone settings to 'Most Compatible' unless you really need to. Let HEIC save you storage. When you need to share, AirDrop automatically converts to JPG for non-Apple recipients. For everything else, a quick conversion with CocoConvert takes seconds. The best approach: shoot in HEIC, convert on demand.