Apple iPhone 16 Pro Series Adds JPEG-XL Format ProRAW Capture for Higher Compression

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Series Adds JPEG-XL Format ProRAW Capture for Higher CompressionTech media outlet 9to5Mac recently published a blog post reporting that Apple iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max users will be able to capture ProRAW photos in JPEG-XL format. Sources dug into the firmware versions for these models and found code within the ProRAW settings indicating the option to save in JPEG-XL format

Apple iPhone 16 Pro Series Adds JPEG-XL Format ProRAW Capture for Higher Compression

Tech media outlet 9to5Mac recently published a blog post reporting that Apple iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max users will be able to capture ProRAW photos in JPEG-XL format. Sources dug into the firmware versions for these models and found code within the ProRAW settings indicating the option to save in JPEG-XL format.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max users will have three save format options when capturing ProRAW photos:

• JPEG Lossless (Best Compatibility): This is the traditional JPEG format offering lossless compression, ensuring image quality while guaranteeing compatibility with most devices.

• JPEG-XL Lossy Compression: The JPEG-XL format supports lossy compression, allowing for higher compression rates while maintaining good image quality.

• JPEG-XL Lossless: The JPEG-XL format also supports lossless compression, achieving higher compression rates than traditional JPEG lossless, saving storage space.

Apple also highlights the storage space required for each format:

• 12MP JPEG-XL Lossy ProRAW estimated at 11MB

• 12MP JPEG-XL Lossless ProRAW estimated at 18MB

• 48MP JPEG-XL Lossy ProRAW estimated at 20MB

• 48MP JPEG-XL Lossless ProRAW estimated at 46MB

In comparison, a 48MP ProRAW photo captured on the iPhone 15 Pro occupies approximately 75MB of space.

It's worth noting that while only iPhone 16 Pro models can capture photos in JPEG-XL format, any Apple device running iOS 17 or later or macOS 14 or later can view images in this format.

ProRAW Overview

Apple ProRAW combines information from standard RAW formats with iPhone image processing technology, giving users greater flexibility in post-processing. It allows for finer adjustments to exposure, color, white balance, and other parameters. On iPhone 12 Pro and newer Pro models running iOS 14.3 or later, users can capture photos in Apple ProRAW format. ProRAW empowers users with more control over their creative editing process.

JPEG-XL Format

JPEG-XL is a royalty-free bitmap file format supporting lossy and lossless compression. It aims to surpass existing bitmap formats and become a universal replacement. JPEG-XL excels in both compression rate and image quality, retaining more image details in smaller file sizes.

Conclusion

Apple's introduction of JPEG-XL format ProRAW capture in the iPhone 16 Pro series provides users with more flexible storage and post-processing options. The addition of JPEG-XL means users can save high-quality photos in smaller file sizes while also having better control over post-processing effects. This new feature further enhances the iPhone's photographic capabilities, offering users a more professional photography experience.