Guide
JPEG vs HEIC vs RAW: why they occupy such different amounts of space.
Not all photos weigh the same. The chosen format changes in a major way how many files fit in 128 GB, 256 GB or 1 TB.
JPEG
It is the most common and widely compatible format. It usually has moderate weight and works well for sharing, saving memories and managing regular libraries.
HEIC
It offers better compression and often saves space compared with JPG. It is especially useful for iPhone users or more modern workflows where compatibility is not a problem.
RAW
It preserves much more information for editing, but takes considerably more space. If you shoot RAW, your storage needs rise quickly.
What this means for a purchase
Two people with the same number of photos may need very different capacities. That is why it helps to choose storage based on the real format you use, not only on image count.
Verifiable sources
This explanation summarizes well-known differences between formats, but it relies on official documentation to avoid ambiguous claims. HEIF and HEVC compression can be contrasted with Apple and Microsoft, while RAW context is grounded in Adobe documentation.