HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format on iPhones and iPads since iOS 11. It uses the HEVC (H.265) codec to deliver roughly 50% smaller files than JPEG at equal quality. While HEIC is excellent for storage efficiency, it isn't universally supported outside Apple's ecosystem — Windows, Android, and most web browsers require conversion to JPG or PNG for compatibility.
Best for: iPhone/iPad photos, Apple ecosystem, storage-efficient photography.