The HEIC format
Apple’s default photo format — efficient on the device, awkward everywhere else.
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¿Qué es HEIC?
HEIC is a container built on HEIF, storing images compressed with the HEVC (H.265) video codec. Apple made it the default on iPhone in 2017 because it stores a photo at roughly half the size of an equivalent JPEG.
It also does things JPEG cannot: multiple images in one file (which is how Live Photos and burst shots work), depth maps for portrait mode, 10-bit colour and non-destructive edits stored alongside the original.
The problem is licensing. HEVC is patent-encumbered, and most browser vendors have chosen not to ship a decoder. That is why an iPhone photo that displays perfectly on the phone will not open on a Windows machine or in a web page.
Usos habituales
- Default photo capture on iPhone and iPad
- Live Photos, burst sequences and portrait-mode depth data
- Storage-efficient photo libraries within the Apple ecosystem
Ventajas
- Roughly half the size of JPEG at comparable quality
- Multiple images and depth maps in a single file
- 10-bit colour and wide gamut support
- Non-destructive edit data stored alongside the image
Limitaciones
- Not decodable in most browsers, including Chrome, Firefox and Edge
- Patent licensing is the reason support is unlikely to broaden quickly
- Poor support on Windows and Android without extra software
- Cannot be reliably converted in-browser outside Safari
Compatibilidad con navegadores
Safari on Apple platforms can decode HEIC. Chrome, Firefox and Edge generally cannot. KaiConvert’s HEIC converter is marked beta and checks for native decoder support before it will run — it does not upload your photo as a workaround.