What Is HEIC?

Date First Published: 13th February 2024

Topic: Computer Systems

Subtopic: Computer Software

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty Level: 5/10

CONTENTS

Advantages and Disadvantages Of HEIC
History

Learn about what HEIC is in this article.

Stands for High Efficiency Image Container. HEIC is a file format used to store photos in a compressed format in order to save space. It is designed to take up less space on devices and is available on iPhone 7 and newer models running iOS 11 or later operating systems. It stores an image or a sequence of images most likely created by the Camera app on an iPhone or iPad.

Note:

HEIC files are most commonly saved with the .heic extension, but may also be saved as .heif files.

Advantages and Disadvantages Of HEIC

The advantages of HEIC are:

Compared to other image formats, the file size is smaller. HEIC files are half the size of JPEGs, meaning that less storage space is used up by photos stored on the device or in the cloud.
Although the file size is smaller, HEIC files still offer the same high-quality images.
HEIC files can store multiple images in one, like live photos, making it easier to organise and manage a photo library.

The disadvantages of HEIC are:

They are not widely supported by other devices and platforms, which can lead to issues when transferring HEIC files across multiple devices. This is why some cloud storage services, like Microsoft OneDrive and Dropbox, automatically convert HEIC files to JPEG files as they are uploaded.
HEIC files have not gained widespread usage outside Apple devices. This means that if someone wants to view or edit HEIC photos on a non-Apple device, they will need to convert them to JPEG or another compatible format first. This can be time-consuming and inconvenient, and may also result in some loss of quality or features.

History

Although HEIC has grown in popularity due to being Apple's standard file format, the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) developed the original HEVC and HEIF technologies. The requirements and main use cases of HEIF were defined in 2013.

Apple first adopted the HEIC format in 2017 with the introduction of iOS 11. In the past, Apple adopted MPEG's Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) standard for iTunes, and newer iPhones started using the HEVC/H.265 video format in the mid-2010s. As part of the iOS11 and macOS High Sierra updates, Apple operating systems moved to HEIC files.