When looking to find your next iPhone, there are many things to consider, such as a new or used model, type of display technology, camera features, and more. However, many shoppers neglect a critical aspect of their iPhone purchase that could determine how many applications, photos, videos, and data they can save.
Storage is a significant component of every smartphone, and depending on your usage, it could significantly impact your iPhone experience.
With available storage options such as 64GB, 128GB, 256GB, 512GB etc which one is right for you?
While not getting enough storage will become an exercise in frustration when memory is limited, buying increased storage capacity is more costly for the initial purchase.
And what about local storage versus cloud storage? Is storing your media on the cloud a viable solution when your local storage is full?
In this article we’ll discuss if three popular iPhone storage options (64GB, 128GB, 256GB) are enough for you and tell you also which is the sweet spot currently in iPhone storage capacity.
Local Vs. Cloud
When you save something like a photo on your iPhone, you can save it directly to the device locally or upload it to Apple’s remote storage service called iCloud.
The local storage option saves your data directly on the iPhone, but space is limited.
In comparison, iCloud offers up to 2TB on their remote servers but charge between $0.99 and $9.99 monthly based on the storage plan.
With iCloud, you get 5GB free but you must subscribe to their iCloud+ premium service in order to access more features and larger storage size plans.
Local Storage
Pros
- You don’t require a connection to the internet to access your data.
- You can access your stored information much quicker as it doesn’t require accessing a remote server online.
- No monthly fee is required to hold your media files locally.
Cons
- Greater up-front cost for iPhone models equipped with more memory.
- You can only access your files directly from your iPhone, not from any device.
Cloud Storage
Pros
- Up to 2TB of storage available.
- Access your files on a variety of devices by signing into iCloud.
- Options available to automatically back up stored data.
Cons
- After the free 5GB of storage, a monthly payment is required for more space.
- To get your data, you must have an internet connection.
- While Apple considers server security important, there have been breaches by hackers who stole personal data in the past.
While local and cloud storage options offer their own advantages, you must determine how much local storage you need for your iPhone. How much storage you select drastically affects the price of your new device.
Is 64GB Storage Enough for iPhone?
Before purchasing an iPhone, you have options for local storage space. However, it can be challenging to determine how much space you need and which one of the storage options makes the most sense for you.
The least expensive option is 64GB of memory, but after all the applications, photos, and videos, what exactly does 64GB look like?
Unfortunately, 64GB isn’t nearly enough for the average user nowadays, and if you opt for this less expensive version of the iPhone, you may quickly run out of space.
For example, even though your iPhone may state 64GB, you don’t get to use all of it as system resources already take up portions of it.
According to Apple, a standard configuration on the iPhone uses around 12GB to 17GB for iOS features and preinstalled Apple applications.
Worst case scenario, your new iPhone could only have as little as 47GB to work with out of the box.
Regarding photos, it depends on the megapixel rate, but around 5,000 images could take nearly 10GB of space (assuming an average of 2MB size per photo).
Videos take up even more space, especially if you download movies, which could take up as much as 6GB for a two-hour film. Once you add in dozens of applications, you can see how quickly 64GB fills up.
Is 128GB Storage Enough for iPhone?
While 64GB is clearly not sufficient for the average iPhone user, 128GB offers enough space for most people and is considered the sweet spot in storage capacity for iPhone devices.
In fact, many tech industry professionals agree that 128GB should be the base model and 64GB should be phased out.
Interestingly, for Apple’s latest iPhone 14, 64GB was removed, and the least expensive model comes equipped with 128GB of storage.
In terms of power users and those who opt for the Pro iPhone models, 128GB may not suffice.
You should consider more storage if you plan on recording and editing a full-length movie with 4k resolution video.
Likewise, content creators, serious gamers, and dedicated vloggers may run into storage issues and be forced to pay monthly for iCloud space.
Is 256GB Storage Enough for iPhone?
For the average iPhone user, 256GB is more than enough storage and is considered overkill for most users. However, it offers plenty of unused space for future data growth.
How much space is enough truly depends on what type of media and how much content you intend to save.
With continual enhancements to the video and camera technology for each iteration of the iPhone, users have access to powerful tools.
For example, on the iPhone SE (2022), you can shoot 4k video at 60 frames per second and deliver crystal-clear footage with excellent results.
However, you’ll also be using up to 400MB per minute of storage. Bottom line, if you want to use the top-tier features of the iPhone to the fullest, you’ll need to consider more storage, perhaps up to 256GB.
However, the average user who isn’t concerned with 4K video creation, or the latest premium iPhone media tools, shouldn’t require 256GB of space.
What if You’ve Filled Up Local Storage? Now What?
Once you’ve reached the limit of your local iPhone storage, you’ll need to consider Apple’s iCloud.
As mentioned before, iCloud is a remote storage service that stores your data and is accessed online. While iCloud does provide 5GB free for signing up, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee for storage beyond that.
The Price Breakdown (US)
- 50GB: $0.99 / per month
- 200GB: $2.99 / per month
- 2TB: $9.99 / per month
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