Photos / RAW vs HEIF vs JPEG: which photo format should you use?
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RAW vs HEIF vs JPEG: which photo format should you use?
By Con, founder of Music Wide Selfie · Updated 22 October 2026
Short answerHEIF for everyday photos (smaller files, good quality), JPEG for maximum compatibility, and RAW or ProRAW when you plan to edit and want the most flexibility, at the cost of much larger files.
| Format | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|
| HEIF | Everyday | Some older software can't open it |
| JPEG | Sharing anywhere | Larger than HEIF for similar quality |
| RAW / ProRAW | Editing | Much bigger files; needs editing |
ProRAW is available on supported iPhones. In Music Wide Selfie, JPEG, HEIF and ProRAW have passed early testing; RAW is still being tested.
About Music Wide Selfie
An iPhone camera app in development for people who film themselves. Not released yet; one email when it is.
One email when the app is ready. Nothing else.
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