When the Google Pixel 4 was declared this week, it was indicated that it would be the initial Pixel phone to not give all users with free endless original-quality backups on Google Photos.
But in aa weird twist, gratitude to a “loophole,” holders of newer iPhone versions do get free endless original-quality storage in the Google cloud.
It all gives birth to do with the HEIC file format that modern iPhones running iOS 11 began shooting instead of JPEG from 2017.
“Because iPhones click photos in HEIC format but not JPG, you acquire free unlimited actual quality backups to Google Photos because of HEIC being smaller and more profitable as compared to JPG so Google does not feel the files,” Redditor Stephen sawyer explains. “[…]
iPhones, therefore, attain free unlimited ACTUAL quality backups certainly because it would get to Google both storage space (because if Google chanced to compress iPhone’s HEIC images they would really evolve larger) and calculating power (because Google does not desire to compress and filter all of the thousands of images iPhones backup.)
“So Apple is rapidly saving Google millions of bucks by shooting their pictures in HEIC and it advantages iPhone users as well as we get unrestricted real quality backups.”
Google Photos’ endless “high quality” free storage does abrupt backups of images up to 16 megapixels, while the reimbursed “original quality” storage performs uncompressed backups of any resolution.
Since the amazing iPhone 11 Pro Max tops out at 12 megapixels per picture, the HEIC photos being affirmed by Google Photos are both uncompressed and complete resolution, so you are actually acquiring “original quality” storage even if in your settings you have selected “high quality.”
The HEIC image composition is supported in Android beginning in version 10, but Google has yet to enforce it in Pixel phones running the latest OS.
When it accomplishes, though, Pixel 4 smartphones should be able to seize advantage of this free endless original quality backup advantage as well.
