The iPhone SE image sensor size is 12MP. However when I take a photo, the image size of the JPEG is usually around 2048x1536 pixels, which is 3.1 Mega Pixels. Why are the photos only 25% of the total capacity of the image sensor? Is this normal, or is there a setting somewhere that may be set incorrectly?
Hi there, Mystery solved!
I am taking the photo on my iPhone, then editing it on my Mac. I have now confirmed that in Photos on my Mac the images are full resolution (eg 3000x4000 pix).
I was then accessing iCloud photos via Chrome on a PC. It seems that when you download a photo from iCloud to the PC, it downloads as a reduced size JPEG. If I access iCloud photos on a Mac and download, it's a full resolution HEIC.
Not sure why this is, but that is the observed behavior.
Hi there, Mystery solved!
I am taking the photo on my iPhone, then editing it on my Mac. I have now confirmed that in Photos on my Mac the images are full resolution (eg 3000x4000 pix).
I was then accessing iCloud photos via Chrome on a PC. It seems that when you download a photo from iCloud to the PC, it downloads as a reduced size JPEG. If I access iCloud photos on a Mac and download, it's a full resolution HEIC.
Not sure why this is, but that is the observed behavior.
Hey Rob,
Welcome to Apple Support Communities. We understand that you're seeing a discrepancy between the image sensor size of your iPhone and the out coming photo.
Where are you viewing the photos when you notice the smaller image size? Do you use iCloud Photos on your iPhone? If so, this may be expected. Your photos will be stored in iCloud in their original format and space-saving versions are kept on your iPhone. You can find information about this setting from Set up and use iCloud Photos.
Have a great day!
Why is a JPEG so much smaller than the iPhone sensor size?
