Quick Verdict
Use JPG when…
Use JPG when sharing photos with non-Apple users, uploading to websites, using in design software, or doing anything where universal compatibility is required. JPG works everywhere.
Use HEIC when…
Keep HEIC for storing photos on iPhone — it saves 50% storage at the same quality and is the native Apple ecosystem format. Only convert when you need to share outside Apple.
JPG vs HEIC: Feature Comparison
| Feature | JPG | HEIC |
|---|---|---|
| File size (same quality) | 2× larger than HEIC | 50% smaller than JPG |
| Bit depth | 8-bit per channel | 10-bit or 12-bit per channel |
| HDR support | No | Yes — HEIC supports HDR images |
| Transparency | No | Yes — supports alpha channel |
| iPhone compatibility | Full | Full — native Apple format |
| Windows compatibility | Native — opens in every app | Requires paid codec or conversion |
| Android compatibility | Native | Not supported without third-party apps |
| Web/social media | Universal — accepted everywhere | Rejected by most web services |
When JPG wins
- ✓File size (same quality): 2× larger than HEIC
- ✓Bit depth: 8-bit per channel
- ✓HDR support: No
When HEIC wins
- ✓File size (same quality): 50% smaller than JPG
- ✓Bit depth: 10-bit or 12-bit per channel
- ✓HDR support: Yes — HEIC supports HDR images
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop my iPhone from saving photos as HEIC?
Go to iPhone Settings → Camera → Formats → select 'Most Compatible'. This switches new photos to JPG. Existing HEIC photos in your library remain as HEIC — they're not retroactively converted. When you AirDrop or share photos to non-Apple devices, iOS automatically converts to JPG. When you manually transfer via USB (Finder on Mac, File Explorer on Windows), you get the original HEIC unless you change Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → 'Automatic'.
Is HEIC really better quality than JPG?
At the same file size: yes — HEIC's compression is more efficient, so it preserves more image quality per byte. At the same visual quality: HEIC is 50% smaller. Additionally, HEIC stores images in 10-bit or 12-bit colour depth vs JPG's 8-bit, giving more tonal gradation and better HDR representation. In practical photography: the quality advantage is real but most users don't notice because both look excellent on a phone screen.
Why does my HEIC photo look different when converted to JPG?
HEIC stores images in a wide colour space (Display P3) with 10-bit depth. When converted to sRGB JPG (8-bit), very subtle colour shifts can occur — particularly in highly saturated colours that are in P3 gamut but outside sRGB. On most screens, this is imperceptible. On HDR or DCI-P3 displays, colours in converted JPGs may look slightly less vibrant than the HEIC original.
More comparisons
View all format comparisons →