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AVIF beats JPEG XL on most web images, especially screenshots and illustrations

jakearchibald.com 60 min read Editor score 7/10

The comparison finds AVIF usually makes lossy photos 15–25% smaller at default effort, while JPEG XL files for screenshots and illustrations are 30–90% larger. The results help guide image-format choices where payload size matters.

What

- The comparison evaluates JPEG XL and AVIF for web photos, screenshots, illustrations, and transparent images.

How

- AVIF usually makes smaller files, especially for screenshots and illustrations, and is generally faster to decode.

Why it matters

- Format and encoder choices affect image size, memory use, and encode/decode time in web delivery systems.

Read on jakearchibald.com → Lobsters · 16 comments

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