Worried about quality loss when converting HEIC files? You're right to be careful. This guide explains exactly what happens to your image quality during conversion and how to preserve it.
Convert HEIC to PNG for zero quality loss. PNG is lossless - every pixel is preserved exactly. JPEG loses some quality but is imperceptible at 90%+ settings.
First, let's understand what we're working with:
PNG preserves 100% of image data with zero quality loss.
Best for: Archiving, editing, graphics, maximum quality
Trade-off: Larger file sizes (5-10x bigger than HEIC)
WebP in lossless mode also preserves 100% quality with smaller files than PNG.
Best for: Web use where you need lossless quality
Trade-off: Slightly less compatible than PNG
High-quality JPEG has imperceptible quality loss for photos.
Best for: Sharing photos, email, social media
Trade-off: Technically lossy (but you won't see it)
Lower quality JPEG may show artifacts in detailed areas.
Best for: When file size is critical
Trade-off: May see compression artifacts
| Format | Quality | File Size | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNG | 100% (Lossless) | Large | Archiving, editing |
| WebP Lossless | 100% (Lossless) | Medium-Large | Web, apps |
| JPEG 100% | ~99% | Medium | Quality-focused |
| JPEG 90% | ~97% | Small | General sharing |
| WebP Lossy | ~98% | Smallest | Web optimization |
Pro Tip: For photos you'll share, JPEG at 90% quality is practically identical to PNG - most people can't tell the difference. Save PNG for images you'll edit or archive long-term.
When using HoneyConvert or any converter, select PNG as your output format for guaranteed lossless conversion.
Select 100% (Original) size. Resizing introduces interpolation which can affect quality.
Click convert and download. Your PNG will have identical visual quality to the HEIC.
Important: You can't improve quality beyond the original HEIC. If the source photo is blurry or low quality, the converted file will be too. Conversion preserves quality - it doesn't enhance it.
Preserve 100% of your image quality. Free, instant, no registration.
Convert to PNG NowNo, converting HEIC to PNG does not lose quality. PNG is a lossless format that preserves all image data. The conversion simply changes how the data is stored, not the data itself. Your converted PNG will be pixel-perfect.
Technically yes - JPEG uses lossy compression. However, at high quality settings (90-100%), the loss is imperceptible to the human eye for photographs. You'd need to zoom in and compare side-by-side to notice any difference.
PNG is the most widely compatible lossless format. WebP in lossless mode is also excellent with smaller file sizes. Both preserve 100% of the original quality.
Yes, HEIC uses HEVC compression which is technically lossy. However, it's applied at capture time with high quality settings. When you convert to PNG, you preserve all the data that exists in the HEIC file - you just can't recover data that was never there.
Yes, usually. PNG files are typically 5-10x larger than HEIC because PNG uses lossless compression while HEIC uses more efficient lossy compression. This is the trade-off for preserving quality.
Yes, if storage allows. HEIC offers excellent quality at small file sizes. Keep HEIC as your archive format and convert to PNG/JPEG only when needed for sharing or compatibility.