HEIC zu PNG Konvertierung: Wann, warum und wie
Most guides tell you to convert HEIC to JPEG. But sometimes PNG is the better choice.
JPEG vs PNG: The Tradeoff
| Factor | JPEG | PNG |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | Lossless |
| File size (photo) | 2-8 MB | 20-40 MB |
| Transparency | No | Yes (alpha channel) |
| Bit depth | 8-bit | Up to 16-bit |
| Text/graphics | Compression artifacts | Perfect sharpness |
When to Convert HEIC to PNG
Good reasons to choose PNG:
- Screenshots with text — JPEG smears text edges; PNG keeps them crisp
- Images requiring editing — lossless format preserves all data for further editing
- Need transparency — logos, overlays, and graphics over backgrounds
- Medical/technical images — where compression artifacts could obscure details
- Printing at large sizes — lossless format preferred for fine art prints
Bad reasons to choose PNG:
- “PNG is higher quality” (for photos, the 5× file size isn’t worth the imperceptible difference)
- Web display of photographs (JPEG or WebP is far more efficient)
How to Convert
Since heicgo focuses on JPEG output (best for 95% of use cases), here are alternatives for PNG:
- Mac — Preview app: Open HEIC → File → Export → Format: PNG
- iPhone — Files app: Save HEIC to Files → Long press → Quick Actions → Convert Image → PNG
- Online — CloudConvert: Supports HEIC → PNG (note: requires file upload)
File Size Reality Check
Converting a 12 MP iPhone photo:
| Format | File Size | Emailable? | Printable? |
|---|---|---|---|
| HEIC (original) | 2.4 MB | Yes | Yes (up to 16×20) |
| JPEG (92% quality) | 4.8 MB | Yes | Yes |
| JPEG (100% quality) | 8 MB | Maybe | Yes |
| PNG (lossless) | 28 MB | No | Yes |
The Bottom Line
Convert HEIC → JPEG for 95% of use cases. The small quality difference at 92%+ is invisible, and the 5-6× smaller file size saves storage and bandwidth.
Convert HEIC → PNG only when you specifically need lossless quality, transparency, or are working with text-heavy screenshots.
For HEIC → JPEG conversion with EXIF preservation, use heicgo.com — it’s free, private, and requires no upload.
Further Reading
- HEIC vs JPEG Comparison — JPEG vs HEIC quality
- Understanding Image File Formats — when each format shines
- JPEG vs PNG vs HEIC vs WebP — all four compared
heicgo Editorial Team
Published · Expert guides on HEIC conversion, image formats, and photo management.
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