What is an HEIC File?

HEIC (High Efficiency Image File Format) is an image file that was developed by Apple as a replacement for their previous photo format, JPEG. HEIC is the successor to JPEG, offering enhanced features and higher quality images, all while keeping a very small file size. This file format offers users the ability to store more data within an image file, including higher resolution.

HEIC vs JPEG

JPEG is the most popular image format on the web as it has been around for a very long time. It is also the most widely used format due to its compatibility with all platforms, devices, and operating systems. JPEG files are also easy to compress and store, both of which make them great for sharing and storing, especially web images and photos.

The downside to JPEG is that it does not store as much data in the file, which can lead to the loss of quality in the images. This is why Apple developed the HEIC file format, which stores more data and offers higher quality compression. This enables users to take higher resolution pictures and videos without sacrificing the quality or the size of the file.

How to Open HEIC Files

For the most part, opening an HEIC file is the same as any other file. If you are using a Mac computer, you can simply open the file with the Photos application. If you have an iPhone or iPad, then you can view the files in the Photos application as well.

For Windows users, Apple has provided a free HEIC file viewer for Windows 10 and Windows 8.1. You can also download free software such as Apowersoft’s Free Online HEIC Viewer. This online viewer allows you to open and view HEIC files in any web browser.

Overall, the HEIC format offers users a great way to have higher quality images and save on storage at the same time. It is still relatively new, but as more users transition to this file format, support will likely continue to increase.