Can Apple Photos convert a normal JPEG to HDR?

No. It displays HDR from its own captures but doesn't convert arbitrary JPEGs into shareable Ultra HDR. MakeHDR builds a real gain map from any JPEG.

Will MakeHDR files show HDR on iPhone?

Yes. Ultra HDR renders in HDR on iPhone and supported browsers, and falls back cleanly elsewhere.

Does it work for HDR video on Apple devices?

Photos convert in any browser — including Safari on iPhone and Mac — with nothing uploaded. For video, the MakeHDR app converts to true HDR natively on Apple hardware — iPhone, iPad and Mac.

MakeHDR vs Apple Photos for HDR

iPhones capture HDR, and Apple Photos shows it — but it won't turn an ordinary JPEG into a shareable Ultra HDR file. MakeHDR does.

See the difference

	MakeHDR	Apple Photos
Convert any JPEG to HDR	Yes	No, only its own captures
Cross-platform	iPhone, web	Apple devices
Gain-map Ultra HDR output	Yes	Not as an export
Price	$39.99 once	Free

Apple Photos is great for shots your iPhone took in HDR. To make any JPEG — from any camera — into a true Ultra HDR file that glows everywhere, use MakeHDR. For HDR video, the MakeHDR app on iPhone, iPad and Mac does what Safari and iPhone browsers can't.

Frequently asked questions

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