What is JPEG XL? How It Compares to Other Formats

JPEG has been used for years, but it’s starting to feel outdated. Modern image formats like WebP and AVIF have gained popularity, but there’s another format that deserves attention. I am talking about JPEG XL (JXL). It promises better compression, higher quality, and new features that old formats lack. In this detailed article, I will explain how JPEG XL does against the competition.

What is JPEG XL?

JPEG XL is a next-generation image format designed to replace traditional JPEG while improving quality and efficiency. It was developed by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (the same team behind JPEG) to offer better compression, support for high-quality images, and backward compatibility with existing JPEG files. Unlike traditional JPEG, JPEG XL can store images with better quality at smaller file sizes. It also supports lossless compression, animations, HDR (High Dynamic Range), and wide color gamuts. This makes it ideal for both casual users and professionals.

JPEG XL brings several benefits over older formats:

Higher Compression Efficiency – Better image quality at the same file size or smaller files for the same quality.
Lossless & Lossy Compression – Can be used for high-quality lossless images or efficient lossy images.
Backward Compatibility – Old JPEG files can be converted into JXL with zero quality loss.
HDR & Wide Color Gamut Support – Works well with modern high-quality displays.
Fast Decoding – Optimized for web use, making loading times faster.
Animation Support – Can handle animated images like GIFs.

Why Did Google Remove JPEG XL Support?

Despite its impressive features, Google decided to remove JPEG XL support from Chrome in 2022. The official reason was that JPEG XL didn’t bring enough “incremental benefits” over existing formats like WebP and AVIF. Google also claimed that interest and adoption among users and developers were too low to justify continued support.

However, some believe the decision was more about Google pushing WebP and AVIF, both of which have strong backing from the company. WebP, in particular, has been integrated into Google’s ecosystem. This could be the reason why it less likely for Google to promote a competing format like JPEG XL.

This removal from Chrome significantly hurt JPEG XL’s adoption, as it meant websites and developers had fewer reasons to support it.

How Does JPEG XL Compare to Other Image Formats?

To see how JPEG XL stands out, here’s a comparison with other popular image formats:

Feature	JPEG XL	JPEG	PNG	WebP	AVIF
Compression	Excellent	Good	Poor	Good	Excellent
Quality	High	Decent	Excellent	High	High
Lossless Support	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Transparency	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Animation	Yes	No	No	Yes	Yes
Browser Support	Limited	Wide	Wide	Wide	Wide

Can JPEG XL Make a Mark in the Industry?

JPEG XL has the potential to be a major image format, but its success depends on browser and software support. Without Chrome, its adoption remains slow. Firefox still supports it, and some image editing tools have added compatibility, but it’s not enough for mass adoption. As of November 2024, Google Chrome has a global market share of 67.48%. So, JPEG XL can’t get love from web developers until Google Chrome starts supporting it again.

For photographers, designers, and industries needing high-quality images, JPEG XL is an excellent choice. It offers better efficiency than PNG, retains more details than JPEG, and even competes with AVIF in compression. However, for the average user or web developer, lack of browser support makes it difficult to justify using JXL over WebP or AVIF.

Unless more tech companies start supporting it, JPEG XL may remain a niche format rather than becoming the new standard. If browser support improves and more platforms adopt it, JPEG XL could still have a future—but it’s an uphill battle.

Conclusion

JPEG XL is a powerful image format with better compression, higher quality, and modern features. It outperforms JPEG, PNG, and even WebP in many areas. However, Google’s decision to drop support has slowed its growth. If you are working with high-quality images and need better compression, JPEG XL is worth considering. But for general web use, it may take years (if ever) before it becomes a mainstream format.