iPhone Photo Format Guide: HEIC, ProRAW, and Live Photos

Every iPhone photo is stored in a specific file format. The format determines file size, image quality, editing flexibility, and compatibility with other devices. Modern iPhones support four distinct photo formats: HEIC, JPEG, Apple ProRAW, and ProRAW Max.

This guide explains each format, compares file sizes and quality, covers Live Photos, and provides clear recommendations for every shooting scenario.

iPhone Photo Formats Overview

iPhones default to HEIC since iOS 11, released in September 2017. The four available formats serve different needs, from casual snapshots to professional photography.

HEIC (High Efficiency)

HEIC is the default iPhone photo format. It uses the HEVC codec to compress images at roughly 50% the file size of JPEG with no visible quality loss. HEIC supports 10-bit color depth, producing over 1 billion colors compared to JPEG's 16.7 million. The format also stores HDR data, depth maps from Portrait Mode, and Live Photo motion data in a single file.

A typical 12-megapixel HEIC photo occupies 1-3 MB of storage. A 48-megapixel HEIC photo from a Pro model occupies 3-5 MB.

JPEG (Most Compatible)

JPEG is the universal fallback format. Every device, browser, and application on earth reads JPEG files. The tradeoff is larger file sizes and 8-bit color depth. iPhones label this option "Most Compatible" in Settings.

A typical 12-megapixel JPEG photo occupies 3-6 MB. A 48-megapixel JPEG occupies 8-12 MB.

Apple ProRAW (DNG)

Apple ProRAW captures 12-bit unprocessed sensor data in the standard DNG format. It combines RAW flexibility with Apple's computational photography pipeline. Smart HDR, Deep Fusion, and Night Mode data are embedded alongside the raw sensor readout.

ProRAW files at 12 megapixels occupy 25-50 MB each. This format is available on iPhone 12 Pro and later Pro models.

ProRAW Max (48MP)

ProRAW Max captures the full 48-megapixel resolution from the main camera sensor. Files contain the complete sensor readout without pixel-binning. Each photo occupies 50-75 MB.

This format is available on iPhone 14 Pro and later Pro models equipped with the 48MP sensor.

File Size Comparison Table

The following table shows average file sizes across all iPhone photo formats at both resolution tiers.

| Format | 12MP File Size | 48MP File Size | Color Depth | Compression | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | HEIC | 1-3 MB | 3-5 MB | 10-bit | Lossy (HEVC) | | JPEG | 3-6 MB | 8-12 MB | 8-bit | Lossy (DCT) | | ProRAW | 25-50 MB | N/A | 12-bit | Lossless (DNG) | | ProRAW Max | N/A | 50-75 MB | 12-bit | Lossless (DNG) |

HEIC files are consistently 50-60% smaller than equivalent JPEG files. ProRAW files are 10-25x larger than HEIC files at the same resolution.

iPhone Model Support by Format

Not every iPhone supports every format. Format availability depends on the chip and camera hardware.

| Format | First Supported iPhone | iOS Version | Requirement | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | HEIC | iPhone 7 (2016) | iOS 11 | A10 chip or later | | JPEG | All iPhones | All versions | None | | ProRAW | iPhone 12 Pro (2020) | iOS 14.3 | Pro model with LiDAR | | ProRAW Max (48MP) | iPhone 14 Pro (2022) | iOS 16.1 | Pro model with 48MP sensor | | Live Photos | iPhone 6s (2015) | iOS 9 | 3D Touch or Haptic Touch |

Every iPhone from the iPhone 7 onward shoots HEIC by default. Older models are limited to JPEG.

Live Photos: How They Work

A Live Photo captures 1.5 seconds of motion before and after the shutter tap. The total recording spans 3 seconds of video at 30 frames per second.

File Structure

A Live Photo consists of two components stored together:

• A still HEIC image -- the primary 12MP or 48MP photo
• A MOV video clip -- 3 seconds of H.264 or H.265 video with audio

The HEIC container links both components. When the file transfers to a non-Apple device, the still image and video clip may separate into two distinct files.

Storage Impact

A single Live Photo occupies roughly 3-5 MB total. The still HEIC image accounts for 1-3 MB. The MOV clip adds approximately 2 MB. That is 2-3x the storage of a standard HEIC photo without Live Photo enabled.

Over 1,000 photos, Live Photos consume approximately 4 GB compared to 2 GB for standard HEIC stills.

Disabling Live Photos

Tap the Live Photo icon (concentric circles) in the Camera app to disable it for the current session. To disable permanently, go to Settings > Camera > Preserve Settings and toggle on Live Photos, then turn it off in the Camera app. The setting will persist across sessions.

How to Switch Photo Formats on iPhone

Changing your iPhone photo format takes 4 taps in Settings. The change applies to all future photos immediately.

Switch Between HEIC and JPEG

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Camera
3. Tap Formats
4. Select High Efficiency (HEIC) or Most Compatible (JPEG)

High Efficiency shoots HEIC photos and HEVC video. Most Compatible shoots JPEG photos and H.264 video.

Enable ProRAW

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Camera
3. Tap Formats
4. Toggle on Apple ProRAW
5. Select resolution: 12 MP or 48 MP (Pro Max models)

After enabling, a RAW toggle appears in the top-right corner of the Camera app. Tap it to switch ProRAW on or off per shot.

Automatic Transfer Settings

A separate setting controls what format iPhones use when transferring photos to a Mac or PC. Go to Settings > Camera > Transfer to Mac or PC and choose:

• Automatic -- converts HEIC to JPEG during transfer
• Keep Originals -- transfers the original HEIC file

The Automatic option is useful when recipients need JPEG. For archival purposes, Keep Originals preserves the higher-quality HEIC file.

Storage Impact: 1,000 Photos by Format

Storage adds up quickly. Here is how 1,000 photos compare across formats at 12MP resolution.

| Format | 1,000 Photos | 5,000 Photos | 10,000 Photos | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | HEIC | ~2 GB | ~10 GB | ~20 GB | | JPEG | ~4.5 GB | ~22.5 GB | ~45 GB | | Live Photo (HEIC + MOV) | ~4 GB | ~20 GB | ~40 GB | | ProRAW (12MP) | ~37 GB | ~185 GB | ~370 GB | | ProRAW Max (48MP) | ~62 GB | ~310 GB | ~620 GB |

Switching from JPEG to HEIC saves roughly 2.5 GB per 1,000 photos. That is 25 GB saved over 10,000 photos on the same device. For iCloud storage, this directly reduces monthly costs.

ProRAW is not practical for everyday use. Shooting 1,000 ProRAW Max photos fills a 128 GB iPhone to half capacity with photos alone.

When to Use Each Format

The right format depends on what you plan to do with the photo. Each format fits specific scenarios.

HEIC: Everyday Photography

Use HEIC for everything that does not require RAW editing. This includes family photos, travel snapshots, food photography, screenshots, and documentation. HEIC provides the best balance of quality, file size, and feature support.

HEIC is the correct choice for 90% of iPhone photography. The 10-bit color depth and HDR support produce better results than JPEG in high-contrast scenes like sunsets, backlit portraits, and indoor-outdoor transitions.

JPEG: Maximum Compatibility

Use JPEG when you know the recipient cannot open HEIC files. Common scenarios include uploading to older websites, sending to Windows users without HEIC support, and submitting to print services that reject HEIC.

You can also change your iPhone to shoot JPEG directly if you frequently encounter compatibility issues. Alternatively, use HEICify's converter to convert HEIC files to JPEG in your browser without uploading files to any server.

ProRAW: Professional and Creative Work

Use ProRAW for photos you plan to edit extensively. ProRAW gives you 4 extra stops of dynamic range compared to HEIC. Highlight recovery, shadow lifting, and white balance correction produce significantly better results with 12-bit RAW data.

Ideal scenarios for ProRAW include professional photography, real estate interiors, product shots, and any scene with extreme contrast. Learn more in our RAW vs HEIC on iPhone comparison.

ProRAW Max: Print and Large-Format Work

Use ProRAW Max when the final output requires maximum resolution. The full 48-megapixel capture produces images at 8064 x 6048 pixels. This is sufficient for sharp prints up to 27 x 20 inches at 300 DPI.

Reserve ProRAW Max for portfolio work, large prints, and commercial assignments. The storage cost is too high for casual use.

Comprehensive Format Comparison

| Feature | HEIC | JPEG | ProRAW | ProRAW Max | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Default format | Yes (iOS 11+) | No | No | No | | Color depth | 10-bit | 8-bit | 12-bit | 12-bit | | HDR support | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | | Live Photos | Yes | No | No | No | | Portrait depth map | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | | Avg file size (12MP) | 2 MB | 4.5 MB | 37 MB | N/A | | Avg file size (48MP) | 4 MB | 10 MB | N/A | 62 MB | | Editing flexibility | Moderate | Low | High | High | | Universal compatibility | Growing | Yes | Limited | Limited | | Min iPhone model | iPhone 7 | All | 12 Pro | 14 Pro |

Sharing and Converting HEIC Photos

HEIC compatibility has improved but is not universal. Windows 10 and 11 require a free codec extension from the Microsoft Store. Some web platforms and older Android devices still reject HEIC uploads.

When you need to share HEIC photos with someone who cannot open them, convert the files first. HEICify converts HEIC to JPG directly in your browser. All processing happens on your device. No files are uploaded to any server.

For situations requiring lossless output or transparency, HEICify also converts HEIC to PNG.

You can also set your iPhone to convert automatically during transfer. Go to Settings > Camera > Transfer to Mac or PC and select Automatic. The iPhone converts HEIC to JPEG when sending files via AirDrop, USB, or email to non-Apple devices.

Recommended Settings for Most Users

Shoot HEIC with Live Photos disabled for the best storage efficiency. This produces the smallest files while maintaining 10-bit color and HDR.

For users who want maximum compatibility without thinking about formats, set the camera to Most Compatible (JPEG) and accept the storage tradeoff.

For serious photographers with Pro models, enable ProRAW but leave it toggled off by default in the Camera app. Tap the RAW button only when a specific shot warrants the larger file. This keeps everyday photos at 2 MB in HEIC while giving you instant access to 37-62 MB ProRAW captures when needed.

Review your iPhone camera settings periodically. Apple adds new format options and quality tiers with each iOS release.