iOS 6.1 Beta 5 Code Hints at Upcoming 128 GB Devices

[MacRumors]

As noted by @iNeal and iDownloadBlog, the new iOS 6.1 Beta 5 released yesterday contains a reference suggesting that Apple may be looking to offer 128 GB iOS devices in upcoming generations.

The reference to a 128 GB capacity comes as part of SystemPartitionPadding key in the build manifest associated with the release and is not found in publicly available versions of iOS.

While the observation does not mean that a 128 GB iOS device is definitely coming later this year, this is not the first time in recent months that Apple has hinted at future 128 GB iOS devices. iTunes 11, released in late November, contains a graphic corresponding to a mobile device with a capacity of 128 GB, although no such device has been released so far.

Article Link: iOS 6.1 Beta 5 Code Hints at Upcoming 128 GB Devices

[cwwilson]

About time.

[jayhawk11]

I still can't believe they haven't bumped the base storage capacities since 2009. When the 64GB option was added, it was added as a new top tier, not a storage bump to existing models.

[MMOTotal]

Most likely a selling feature of the 5S so people upgrade from previous models. Also should please a lot of people because the amount of times I see "128 GB please" before each keynote is quite high.

[Fresh Pie]

But now all of my non-128 GB iOS devices will magically become worse somehow! How dare Apple update their products!

[MacRumorUser]

Oh god the 'March' insistent refresh crowd in the forums will be using this tidbit as being something of insurmountable evidence of March release for the next 8 - 10 weeks in every thread... It's painful enough as is.

[Kissaragi]

Does seem weird that they haven't done this sooner

[Lesser Evets]

About time.

Originally Posted by cwwilson

About time.

You can say that again.

Originally Posted by cwwilson

About time.

Thank you.

[dugbug]

It seems so obvious to expand to 128 that I was surprised the iPad 4th Gen didn't do it. You have to think that of all the space constraints, the iPad had plenty of room for doubling down on flash.

Apple has a bit of an inflation problem: They want to sell you videos and music, yet as time goes on we slowly run out of room and end up micro-managing what is available when we are offline. I just want everything I own to be on the darn device, or a streaming service that I can forget about without the threat of throttling and fees.

[Ecofriend]

I've never seen the need for 128 gb. I have a 32 gb iPhone 5 and I still haven't used all the space, despite an hd movie, 400 songs, 1000+ pictures and a ton of apps. 128 seems like overkill, especially with iTunes in the cloud.

[Furifo]

Here's hoping this is a storage bump and not a new tier i.e. 32/64/128 at the current, existing 16/32/64 price points.

[MacRumorUser]

Originally Posted by Ecofriend

I've never seen the need for 128 gb. I have a 32 gb iPhone 5 and I still haven't used all the space, despite an hd movie, 400 songs, 1000+ pictures and a ton of apps. 128 seems like overkill, especially with iTunes in the cloud.

Yes but one users experience or requirements is not indicative of everyone else's needs or desires.

It's why they offer different sizes as is...

[myrtlebee]

Would never use it. Should be an option for those who would, though. I think the base storage of the MBA should be bumped if this happens. I've got a 64GB MBA and, although it's doable with flash drives, 128 would be more practical for a base machine.

[OrangeSVTguy]

Where's all the blurry image of the 128gb Samsung chip soldered onto the new 5S motherboard?

[tann]

32/64/128 will replace the 16/32/64 I hope!

[crisss1205]

Originally Posted by Ecofriend

I've never seen the need for 128 gb. I have a 32 gb iPhone 5 and I still haven't used all the space, despite an hd movie, 400 songs, 1000+ pictures and a ton of apps. 128 seems like overkill, especially with iTunes in the cloud.

iOS also runs on the iPod touch and iPad which does/may not have cellular.

[ralphdaily]

My iPad 3 is great except it's maxed out on storage. The only reason for me to buy a new iPad is 128. But if it happens, count me in!

[Lancer]

I'd love an iPhone 5s with 128Gb but probably can't afford one. I guess the upside is the 16Gb might be dropped bring down the price for all of them.

[Azadre]

128 would be nice on the iPad.

[Ecofriend]

Originally Posted by MacRumorUser

Yes but one users experience or requirements is not indicative of everyone else's needs or desires.

It's why they offer different sizes as is...

I'm aware that my experiences do not define everyone's, but I consider myself an average user, and I do not see apple offering an expansion of its storage capacities, without a significant price bump, for the few people who need more space. An iPhone is not meant to be a laptop, and an iPad is not a home media storage hub, people need to realize their are devices, called computers, that are designed with that capacity, and that apple will not likely tailor to their needs when it would raise prices significantly and sell very few units. Exponential growth of device storage can not continue to match linear growth in price.

[dazed]

About time. What with HD movies and bigger games, 128 is really needed by some. 32 should be the bare minimum these days.

[cube]

Way overdue. We should be at least at 256GB by now.

[MacRumorUser]

IOS7...

Hopefully if 128GB does happen, we will have a refreshed App drawer otherwise the amount of homepages of App icons 128GB could hold would take 10 minutes to go from one end to the other

Could it also mean we will have some basic finder/unified file system for user documents with iOS7 too.

128GB seems a waste of a size unless we were allowed more control on storing and accessing things with the extra space.

[Peace]

128GB Apple TV ?

just sayin'

[MacRumorUser]

Originally Posted by Peace

128GB Apple TV ?

just sayin'

To go from 8 to 128GB would be quite the leap

But yeah regardless of storage it's the Apple TV that is most need of an iOS overhaul right now. It's been very much surpassed by smartTV features built in to new tv's making it in danger of becoming a redundant product in its current form.