Introduction
For years, digital photography was simple: JPEG for quick sharing and RAW for professional editing. But today, with evolving technologies, sensors, and workflows, new formats have emerged, making the landscape richer—and more complex.
This article is a modest attempt to share a personal synthesis. I was feeling a bit lost myself in the jungle of modern photo formats, and I wanted to help others by summarizing what I’ve learned. It’s not meant to be exhaustive or authoritative, but rather a helpful overview and a few trends to better understand the current state of image formats in 2025.
JPEG: The Veteran That Refuses to Die
- Lossy compression, 8-bit color.
- Universally compatible: supported by all devices, software, browsers.
- Limited quality, but still widely used for web and casual sharing.
Still alive, but gradually losing ground to more modern formats.
RAW: The Photographer’s Raw Material
- Unprocessed sensor data, untouched by camera settings.
Allows advanced editing (exposure, white balance, etc.). - Large file sizes, requires software like Lightroom or Capture One.
Essential for professionals and serious enthusiasts.
TIFF: The Archival Workhorse
- Uncompressed or losslessly compressed image format preserving full detail.
- Ideal for printing, publishing, and long-term storage.
- Extremely large file sizes, minimal compression, widely supported across platforms.
Preferred for high-fidelity output and archival purposes.
HEIC / HEIF: Apple’s Format (and More)
- Based on the HEVC (H.265) codec.
Efficient compression, supports 10-bit color, transparency, Live Photos. - Widely used on iPhones, iPads, macOS, and now increasingly on Android and digital cameras.
Android Compatibility
- Since Android 10, many smartphones (e.g. Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel) support HEIC/HEIF natively.
- Apps like Google Photos, Dropbox, and Files by Google allow viewing and editing HEIC files on Android.
Camera Adoption
- Nikon now includes HEIF support across its latest Z-series models (Z5 II, Z6 III, Z8, Z9, Zf).
- Canon, Sony, and Fujifilm have also adopted HEIF in their high-end mirrorless cameras.
HEIC/HEIF is no longer Apple-exclusive — it’s becoming a cross-platform standard, especially for replacing JPEG.
AVIF: The Open-Source Challenger
- Based on the AV1 codec, royalty-free.
- Even better compression than HEIC.
- Supports HDR, transparency, animations, up to 12-bit color.
- Supported by Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, and increasingly by editing tools.
Strong potential to become the next universal standard, especially for the web.
JPEG XL: The Modern Successor to JPEG
- Open-source and royalty-free, designed to replace legacy JPEG.
- Superior compression with better quality at smaller file sizes.
- Supports HDR, transparency, progressive loading, and up to 32-bit color.
- Compatible with existing JPEG infrastructure and supports lossless JPEG transcoding.
A strong candidate for long-term image storage and web use — if adoption continues to grow.
Technical Comparison: JPEG vs HEIC vs AVIF vs RAW vs TIFF vs JPEG XL
To better understand the strengths and limitations of each format, here’s a side-by-side comparison of their key technical features:
| Format | Bit Depth | Compression | File Size | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPEG | 8-bit | Lossy | Small | Universal, fast, lightweight | Limited quality, no transparency or HDR |
| HEIC / HEIF | 10-bit | Lossy (HEVC) | Smaller than JPEG | Better quality, supports Live Photos, transparency | Licensing issues, limited export support |
| AVIF | Up to 12-bit | Lossy or lossless (AV1) | Smaller than HEIC | Excellent compression, open-source, HDR-ready | Slower encoding, limited support in some tools |
| RAW | 12–14-bit | Lossy or lossless | Large | Maximum editing flexibility, full sensor data | Requires processing, large files |
| TIFF | Up to 32-bit | Lossless | Very large | Archival quality, no loss | Heavy, not ideal for sharing |
| JPEG XL | Up to 16-bit | Lossy & lossless | Very compact | Excellent quality, HDR, transparency, JPEG backward compatibility | Limited support, slower adoption |
Lossy Compression
Definition: Compression with loss of information.
Principle: Reduces file size by removing data deemed non-essential to human perception.
Consequence: Quality is degraded (sometimes imperceptibly), and original data cannot be recovered.
Examples: JPEG (image), MP3 (audio), HEIC, AVIF (in lossy mode).
Pros: Much smaller files, ideal for web, quick sharing, mobile storage.
Cons: Loss of quality, not suitable for archiving or professional editing.
Lossless Compression
Definition: Compression without loss of information.
Principle: Reduces file size while preserving all original data.
Consequence: File can be decompressed to retrieve the exact original data.
Examples: PNG, TIFF (image), FLAC (audio), RAW, JPEG XL, AVIF (in lossless mode).
Pros: Intact quality, perfect for archiving, editing, printing.
Cons: Larger files, less suited for web or low-capacity devices.
Estimated File Sizes and Characteristics of Image Formats (24MP / 14-bit)
This table compares various image formats in terms of estimated file size for a 24-megapixel image (6000×4000 pixels) at 14 bits per channel. Values are approximate and depend on image content and compression settings.
| Format | Type | Estimated File Size | Compression | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAW | Lightly compressed | ~25–40 MB | Light | Retains full sensor data, flexible for editing | Proprietary formats, not standardized |
| TIFF | Uncompressed | ~120–140 MB | None | Archival quality, lossless, widely supported | Very large, not suitable for web |
| JPG | Lossy | ~6–12 MB | Medium to high | Universal support, fast encoding | Lossy, no HDR support |
| HEIC/HEIF | Lossy | ~3–8 MB | Very good | Efficient, used by Apple | Proprietary, limited compatibility |
| AVIF | Lossy or lossless | ~2–6 MB | Excellent | High compression, HDR support | Slow encoding, partial support |
| JPEG XL | Lossy or lossless | ~3–7 MB | Very good | HDR, alpha, progressive loading, future-proof | Still limited adoption |
Which Format Will Win?
Predicting the dominant photo format of the future is complex and depends on multiple factors: technical capabilities, licensing, ecosystem integration, and user adoption. Here’s a breakdown of possible scenarios:
- Central Scenario: AVIF becomes the leading format for the web and general-purpose photography. Its open-source nature, excellent compression, and support for HDR and transparency make it a strong candidate. HEIC remains dominant within the Apple ecosystem due to native support, while RAW and TIFF continue to serve professional workflows and archival needs. JPEG, though aging, remains relevant for quick sharing and legacy compatibility.
- Alternative Scenario 1: HEIC gains broader adoption beyond Apple, especially if Android manufacturers and camera makers standardize around it. This would be driven by its balance of quality and efficiency, despite licensing constraints.
- Alternative Scenario 2: JPEG continues to dominate due to inertia and universal compatibility. Newer formats may struggle to gain traction if software and hardware support remains fragmented.
- Alternative Scenario 3: A new format (e.g., JPEG XL) emerges and outperforms both AVIF and HEIC, offering better compression, faster encoding, and broader support, reshaping the landscape once again.
Final Thoughts
The world of photo formats is evolving fast. For today’s photographers, it’s crucial to understand the strengths and limitations of each format to make smart choices—whether for editing, archiving, sharing, or publishing.
Finally, in a landscape shaped by constant innovation, predicting which image format will ultimately prevail — if any — remains a challenge. That’s why it’s essential to choose what works best for your current needs (of course), while staying curious and informed about what’s coming next. Welcome to a world in motion, where change is the only constant…
Resources:
https://medium.com/codex/avif-vs-heic-exploring-next-gen-image-formats-b55fca4fc058
Advanced Image Formats and When to Use Them: WebP, AVIF, HEIC, and JPEG XL
