DJI HEVC vs H.264 for iPhone Workflows

Smaller files, HDR support, and better color—HEVC is ideal for an iPhone‑first library. Here’s when to shoot which and how to convert.

Shoot Settings

  • iPhone‑first: choose HEVC in your DJI settings to reduce size 30–50% vs H.264 while retaining 10‑bit/HDR on supported models.
  • Cross‑platform editing or older devices: shoot H.264 for compatibility and convert later for storage.

Converting After the Fact

If your archive is H.264, run HEVCut to convert without changing resolution or frame rate. Use content‑based bitrates:

  • Nature/trees/water: 25–40 Mbps (4K30)
  • Cityscapes/architecture: 20–35 Mbps (4K30)
  • Action/fast pans: 35–50 Mbps (4K60)

Playback & Sharing

Modern iPhones play HEVC smoothly and display HDR when available. If sharing to older devices, export a secondary H.264 version. For social apps that flatten HDR, consider SDR delivery with matched contrast.

Bottom Line

Shoot HEVC whenever possible. If you must capture H.264, convert with HEVCut for a lean, high‑quality library that syncs to iCloud faster and costs less to store.