HEIC vs JPG: Which Format Saves More iPhone Storage?
If you've dug into your iPhone's camera settings, you've likely seen the option under "Formats": High Efficiency vs. Most Compatible. This setting determines whether your iPhone saves photos as HEIC or JPG.
While it might seem like a minor technical detail, this choice has huge implications for your iPhone's storage. In this guide, we'll break down the battle between HEIC and JPG to help you decide which format is right for you.
What is JPG? The Old Reliable
JPG (or JPEG) has been the standard for digital images since the early 90s. It is the "Most Compatible" option because virtually every device, website, and piece of software in the world can open a JPG file.
- Pros: Universal compatibility. Open it on a Windows 95 PC or a modern iPhone, and it works.
- Cons: Inefficient compression. To maintain high quality, JPG files need to be relatively large.
What is HEIC? The Modern Standard
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the file format used by HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) standards. Apple adopted it starting with iOS 11 to address the growing file sizes of photos.
- Pros: Superior compression. HEIC files are typically 50% smaller than JPGs of similar quality. It also supports advanced features like transparency and depth maps (for Portrait mode).
- Cons: Compatibility. While support has improved, you might still find older Windows computers or specific websites that don't accept HEIC files directly.
The Storage Comparison
Let's look at the numbers. We took the same photo on an iPhone 15 Pro in both formats to compare file sizes.
| Photo Type | JPG Size | HEIC Size | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight Landscape | 4.2 MB | 2.1 MB | 50% |
| Detailed Portrait | 3.8 MB | 1.8 MB | 53% |
| Low Light / Night | 3.5 MB | 1.9 MB | 46% |
Across the board, HEIC uses about half the storage of JPG.
If you have a 128GB iPhone and fill half of it with photos:
- Using JPG: You can store roughly 15,000 photos.
- Using HEIC: You can store roughly 30,000 photos.
Visual Quality
Does the smaller size mean lower quality? Surprisingly, no. HEIC uses smarter compression algorithms than the decades-old JPG standard. It can preserve finer details, smoother gradients (less "banding" in the sky), and better color depth even at smaller file sizes.
Technically, HEIC supports 16-bit color, while JPG is limited to 8-bit. This means HEIC captures a vastly broader range of colors, which is essential for the rich HDR photos modern iPhones take.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose HEIC (High Efficiency) if:
- Storage is a priority. This is the single best setting to change if you're constantly running out of space.
- You use the Apple ecosystem. Macs and iPads handle HEIC natively and seamlessly.
- You want the best quality-to-size ratio.
Choose JPG (Most Compatible) if:
- You frequently transfer files to old PCs. If you work in an environment with legacy Windows 7/8 machines, JPG saves conversion headaches.
- You upload to websites that don't support HEIC. Although most social media apps convert for you automatically.
Can You Compress HEIC Further?
Yes! Even though HEIC is efficient, it's usually tuned for "capture quality" rather than "storage efficiency." This means there is still headroom to compress HEIC files further without noticeable quality loss.
HEVCut specializes in this. It can take your existing library—whether it's JPG or HEIC—and re-compress it using optimized algorithms.
- An original 2.1 MB HEIC might compress down to 0.6 MB.
- An original 4.2 MB JPG might compress down to 0.9 MB.
By sticking with HEIC (High Efficiency) in your iPhone settings and occasionally running a cleaning tool like HEVCut, you ensure your photo library remains lean and manageable for years to come.