What is HEVC (H.265)?
HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), also known as H.265, is a video compression standard that offers significantly better compression than the older H.264 codec.
HEVC vs H.264 Comparison
H.264 (Older)
- • Widely compatible
- • Larger file sizes
- • Used by most older devices
- • 1GB for 10 min of 1080p
HEVC/H.265 (Modern)
- • 50% smaller than H.264
- • Same visual quality
- • Supported by all modern Macs
- • 500MB for 10 min of 1080p
Why Convert to HEVC?
Save Storage
Cut video file sizes in half. Keep more content on your Mac.
Apple Ecosystem
iPhones, iPads, and Macs all play HEVC natively with hardware acceleration.
Same Quality
HEVC maintains the same visual quality while using less storage.
Device Compatibility
HEVC is supported by:
- Apple: All Macs 2017+, iPhone 7+, iPad 2017+, Apple TV 4K
- Windows: Windows 10/11 (HEVC extension required)
- Android: Most devices from 2018+
- Streaming: Netflix, YouTube, Apple TV+
How to Convert Videos to HEVC
- Download MediaOptim - Free for Mac
- Drag your videos into the app
- Select HEVC output (default setting)
- Choose quality:
- High (CRF 20) - Visually lossless, ~50% size reduction
- Balanced (CRF 23) - Great quality, ~55% size reduction
- Compact (CRF 28) - Good quality, ~65% size reduction
- Click Compress and wait
HEVC Encoding on Apple Silicon
If you have an M1, M2, or M3 Mac, MediaOptim uses hardware-accelerated encoding. This means:
- 3-5x faster encoding than software encoding
- Lower CPU usage and power consumption
- No quality difference from software encoding
FAQ
Is HEVC the same as H.265?
Yes, HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) and H.265 are the same codec. HEVC is the marketing name, H.265 is the technical standard name.
Will my videos play on older devices?
HEVC requires hardware support for smooth playback. Devices older than 2017 may struggle or not play HEVC at all. For maximum compatibility, you can also export in H.264 (though with larger file sizes).
Can I convert back to H.264?
Yes, but you'll lose the size benefits. If you need H.264 for compatibility, keep your HEVC files and export H.264 copies when needed.
What about 4K and HDR?
HEVC fully supports 4K, HDR10, and Dolby Vision. In fact, HEVC is the preferred codec for 4K content due to its efficiency.