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Sample HEIC File Download — Free iPhone Photo Test Files

Download free HEIF sample files — realistic iPhone photo samples from 500KB to 10MB. Use these HEIC test files to verify Windows compatibility, test HEIC-to-JPG conversion pipelines, and validate image processing with Apple's default photo format. HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) uses HEVC compression — roughly 50% smaller than JPEG at the same quality.

sample-500kb.heic

500 KB

1920×1080 · 8-bit · sRGB

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Verified file details
Filename
sample-500kb.heic
Exact size
512,000 bytes
Displayed size
500 KB
MIME type
application/octet-stream
Dimensions
1,920 x 1,080 px
Bit depth
8-bit
Color space
sRGB
License
CC0 / Public Domain
Download URL
https://truefilesize.com/files/heic/sample-500kb.heic

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sample-1mb.heic

1 MB

3024×4032 · 8-bit · sRGB

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Verified file details
Filename
sample-1mb.heic
Exact size
1,048,576 bytes
Displayed size
1 MB
MIME type
application/octet-stream
Dimensions
3,024 x 4,032 px
Bit depth
8-bit
Color space
sRGB
License
CC0 / Public Domain
Download URL
https://truefilesize.com/files/heic/sample-1mb.heic

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sample-2mb.heic

2 MB

4032×3024 · 8-bit · sRGB

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Verified file details
Filename
sample-2mb.heic
Exact size
2,097,152 bytes
Displayed size
2 MB
MIME type
application/octet-stream
Dimensions
4,032 x 3,024 px
Bit depth
8-bit
Color space
sRGB
License
CC0 / Public Domain
Download URL
https://truefilesize.com/files/heic/sample-2mb.heic

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sample-5mb.heic

5 MB

4032×3024 · 10-bit · Display P3

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Verified file details
Filename
sample-5mb.heic
Exact size
5,242,880 bytes
Displayed size
5 MB
MIME type
application/octet-stream
Dimensions
4,032 x 3,024 px
Bit depth
10-bit
Color space
Display P3
License
CC0 / Public Domain
Download URL
https://truefilesize.com/files/heic/sample-5mb.heic

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sample-10mb.heic

10 MB

4032×3024 · 10-bit · Display P3

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Verified file details
Filename
sample-10mb.heic
Exact size
10,485,760 bytes
Displayed size
10 MB
MIME type
application/octet-stream
Dimensions
4,032 x 3,024 px
Bit depth
10-bit
Color space
Display P3
License
CC0 / Public Domain
Download URL
https://truefilesize.com/files/heic/sample-10mb.heic

See how TrueFileSize generates and measures sample files, or review the editorial policy.

Use cases for sample HEIC files

  • Testing HEIC upload handling in web applications
  • Verifying HEIC-to-JPG/PNG server-side conversion
  • Testing Windows HEIC codec and viewer compatibility
  • Benchmarking HEIC vs JPEG file sizes
  • Validating image processing pipelines with iPhone photos
  • Testing EXIF metadata extraction from HEIC files

HEIC vs JPEG — Why iPhones use HEIC

FeatureHEICJPEGPNG
File size~50% smallerbaseline3–5x larger
Bit depth10-bit8-bit8/16-bit
TransparencyYesNoYes
Multiple imagesYes (bursts, Live)NoNo
Wide color gamutDisplay P3sRGB onlysRGB
Web browser supportSafari only100%100%

How to open HEIC files on Windows

Windows 10/11 does not natively open HEIC files. You have two options:

  1. Install the HEVC codec— search "HEVC Video Extensions" in the Microsoft Store ($0.99) or install the free "HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer" (manufacturer OEM version).
  2. Convert to JPEG — use online tools, Photoshop, GIMP, or CLI: magick input.heic output.jpg (ImageMagick).

After installing the HEVC codec, Windows Photos, File Explorer thumbnails, and Paint will all display HEIC files natively.

How to convert HEIC to JPEG in Node.js

import sharp from 'sharp';

// Convert HEIC to JPEG
await sharp('input.heic')
  .jpeg({ quality: 85 })
  .toFile('output.jpg');

// Convert HEIC to PNG (preserving transparency)
await sharp('input.heic')
  .png()
  .toFile('output.png');

sharp uses libheif under the hood. On Linux servers, ensure libheif is installed. Most cloud image services (Cloudinary, Imgix) handle HEIC conversion automatically.

Technical specifications

Full nameHigh Efficiency Image Container
Based onHEVC (H.265) video codec
ContainerHEIF (ISO/IEC 23008-12)
Extensions.heic, .heif, .heics
Bit depth8 and 10-bit
Color spacesRGB, Display P3
TransparencyFull alpha channel
Default oniPhone (iOS 11+), macOS High Sierra+

Frequently Asked Questions

What is HEIF format?
HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) is a modern image container standard (ISO/IEC 23008-12) that can store images compressed with different codecs. HEIC is the most common variant — HEIF with HEVC (H.265) compression, used by Apple on every iPhone since iOS 11 (2017). HEIF can also wrap AVIF (AV1) images. The format supports 10-bit color, Display P3 wide gamut, transparency, and multiple images in a single file (burst photos, Live Photos).
How to open HEIC on Windows?
Windows 10/11 requires the HEVC codec to open HEIC files. Two options: (1) Install "HEVC Video Extensions" from the Microsoft Store ($0.99) or the free OEM version ("HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer"). After installing, Windows Photos, File Explorer thumbnails, and Paint will display HEIC natively. (2) Convert to JPEG first using ImageMagick (magick input.heic output.jpg), Photoshop, GIMP, or online converters like CloudConvert.
HEIC vs JPG — Which is better?
HEIC is better for storage: files are roughly 50% smaller than JPG (JPEG) at the same visual quality, with 10-bit color depth and Display P3 wide gamut vs JPEG's 8-bit sRGB. HEIC also supports transparency and multiple images. However, JPG has universal support (100% of browsers, apps, and devices), while HEIC only works in Safari and Apple/Android apps. For sharing and web use, JPG remains more practical. For iPhone storage, HEIC saves significant space.
Can I use HEIC images on a website?
Not directly — only Safari supports HEIC in browsers. For web use, convert HEIC to JPEG, WebP, or AVIF on the server. Most image CDNs (Cloudinary, Imgix, Cloudflare Images) auto-convert HEIC uploads to web-friendly formats. In Node.js, use sharp: sharp('input.heic').jpeg().toFile('output.jpg'). Our sample HEIC files let you test this conversion pipeline.
How do I stop my iPhone from taking HEIC photos?
Go to Settings → Camera → Formats → select "Most Compatible" instead of "High Efficiency". This switches to JPEG. Note that JPEG files will be roughly 2x larger than HEIC. You can also keep HEIC and enable Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → "Automatic" to auto-convert to JPEG when sharing.
What is the difference between HEIC and HEIF?
HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) is the container standard. HEIC is specifically HEIF with HEVC (H.265) compression — the variant Apple uses on iPhones. HEIF can also contain AVIF (AV1 compression) or other codecs. In practice, .heic and .heif files from iPhones are identical — both use HEVC inside a HEIF container. The .heics extension is used for HEIC sequences (burst photos).

Other image formats

JPGAVIFWebPPNG

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