iOS format is half the size of JPEGs
EASY – How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 10 11
The HEIC format (short for High-Efficiency Image Container) has been the standard format on iPhones since iOS 11. As the name suggests, a HEIC file is incredibly efficient at storing photos, often taking up half the size of a JPG file without sacrificing image quality. That said, the format has yet to become mainstream outside of the Apple ecosystem.
Due to compatibility issues, iOS automatically converts HEIC images to JPG when you share them with other apps. But if you use an iPhone and a PC, chances are good that you’ll run into a HEIC file conflict sooner or later. iCloud for Windows, for example, doesn’t sync your HEIC images in a PC-compatible format.
To open HEIC files on Windows, you'll need to download the relevant codecs or manually convert them to a compatible format.
