128gb iPhone: When are we likely to see one?

[Fraaaa]

Do you remember how many CDs you had to have before MP3 Players existed? 128GB would be 187 CDs!

SSD recently dropped in price, but the problem I think is the space in the phone per se. Unless they use smaller transistor, the space isn't just there.

 

[matttye]

Apple seem to be pushing the cloud rather than local storage, so I don't know if they'll ever upgrade to 128GB.

 

[CallOfDuty]

There is no way apple is going to provide 4 storage sizes. Yes , 4.
If they do they're going to abandon 16 GB as the base model and followed by 32GB as the best model and then 64 as the mid range and then the 128.

 

[Merkie]

iPhone 1: 4GB/8GB
iPhone 3G: 8GB/16GB
iPhone 3GS: 16GB/32GB
iPhone 4: 16GB/32GB
iPhone 4S: 16GB/32GB/64GB

Actually the only one that did NOT get a capacity boost was the 4.

The first iPhone was also launched in a 16GB version, about 6 months after its release, which means the 3G didn't get an upgrade. If you follow the pattern, this would mean the next iPhone won't get an upgrade.

 

[quietstormSD]

128 gb for a phone is sorta extreme. IMO at least. We would probably see it in an iPad first. But that won't be for a while. SSD would need to drop considerably, which is essentially what these flash storage drives are?

 

[kdarling]

Not saying I believe in the "long iPhone" leaks, but...

If the next iPhone really is stretched, there should be more room for another storage chip if Apple wishes.

 

[ViperDesign]

I think they will never do something like that because they want everyone to move towards the cloud.

 

[blairh]

I would guess the earliest GB upgrade would be three generations from now. 2014. It might jump to 96 instead of 128 at that point.

 

[mrsir2009]

iPhone 1: 4GB/8GB
iPhone 3G: 8GB/16GB
iPhone 3GS: 16GB/32GB
iPhone 4: 16GB/32GB
iPhone 4S: 16GB/32GB/64GB

Actually the only one that did NOT get a capacity boost was the 4.

Wow I didn't know that you couldn't get 64GB iPhone 4's

 

[Twixt]

With die shrink memory chips are taking less and less space inside. Controllers should stay more or less same.
Cloud connection is unrealistic : imagine you walk into a zone without no coverage for some days (camping, mountains wherever), is that a reason why you should suffer not getting your own content with you ? Also 4G is not for tomorrow or even the day after in Europe...
That could be a clear differentiator between Apple and Samsung as the latter offers SD slot. Imagine what Galaxy note could embed as memory chips!
And by the way 128GB is quite small, my itunes library is around 300 GB thus 256GB would be ideal minimum

 

[SurferMan]

In the meantime, I'm betting there will be even stronger reliance on iCloud if apps get much bigger. Maybe they'll even start doing actual streaming for some music and video from iTunes.

can just imagine the hit to peoples data plans streaming heavily on the go especially with LTE being a possibility on the next iphone, wifi isn't everywhere

Highly doubt we'll see an 128GB option on the next phone

 

[PerfectDB]

Not saying I believe in the "long iPhone" leaks, but...

If the next iPhone really is stretched, there should be more room for another storage chip if Apple wishes.

There's a possibility they might go for a two-chip solution like the ipod touch, but I think any additional space would likely be taken up by a larger battery and LTE. Plus the cost of 64GB chips makes using 2 prohibitive.

I can see Apple holding off 128GB for the inevitable 'S' iteration.

 

[gta50419]

Iphone 5s.

 

[PatrickW98]

With better graphics and cameras, they will make phones with more space as pictures and apps will take up more space.

 

[Zach Vega]

They'll probably introduce it in the 2013 models. 128 GB would be awesome.

 

[Beeplance]

I've had my 64gb iPhone 4s for a week now and I'm loving everything about it, but my 45gb itunes library has left me with about 10.1gb of free space. It's inevitable that with the size of apps, this space will diminish quite quickly.

Anyway how soon can we expect a 128gb iPhone?

Unlikely. Think about the feasibility. How many people out there will actually exceed 64GB like you? Chances are its only 0.05% of all iPhone buyers. Apple wouldn't want to divert resources to creating a product that is impractical...

 

[Apple...]

I just wonder when the base model iPhone will be moved to 16GB...8GB is too little.

 

[ucfgrad93]

I don't think we'll see a 128GB iPhone anytime soon.

 

[macMD]

If you want 128GB phone you need to look for the GS3 with 64GB and a 64GB microSDHC card, once they actually ship a 64GB GS3 that is. I would actually pay $100 more for the extra storage.

The apps are getting bigger and bigger to support multiple resolutions especially if they are iPhone & iPad cross compatible and the 8GB version should be discontinued, 16GB should be the minimum. This would set a better standard.

 

[cyks]

I just wonder when the base model iPhone will be moved to 16GB...8GB is too little.

That depends on your point of view.

I don't consider phones released years ago to be the current base models, just the cheapest version of the current model... in which case, the base model iPhone has been 16GB for a few years now.

 

[Dustman]

not for a while. i see them dropping 16 soon though and just having 8,32,64. the gen after that happens maybe.

 

[ThatsMeRight]

We're not going to see it next year.

Pricing is a HUGE factor. The iPhone 4 didn't get a capacity bump because the prices of NAND flash didn't go down for 64GB chips at the time.

And right now, we're seeing shortages of parts for hard drives, which means prices for all storage, including Flash memory for SSDs, is going for rise for at least the next quarter or two until production capacity returns in the hard drive segment.

Maybe the iPhone 5S will get 128GB.

In the meantime, I'm betting there will be even stronger reliance on iCloud if apps get much bigger. Maybe they'll even start doing actual streaming for some music and video from iTunes.

iCloud is no solution. Everything that's on iCloud, is on your device. It's not like that you save everything in iCloud and on the go it streams content to your iPhone. Not yet at least.

 

[Ay_Zimmy]

Never. It's how people buy their iPod classics. Only over time when the iOS takes up more and more memory will we see major uphgrades

 

[Want300]

Wow I didn't know that you couldn't get 64GB iPhone 4's

I did not either... I thought it was available on the 4... I bought a 16 GB iPhone 4, which was a huge mistake. Now I have a 32 GB 4S and now its full... My next iPhone will be a 64 GB model most likely

 

[toiday]

I don't think it would happen. More memory mean need more room. From 32 to 64Gb, it's only 32Gb more. But from 64Gb to 128Gb, that's 64Gb more space. I would rather see the extra space for larger battery than more storage. Media on phone means for on the go, not a place to store your entire library. Your can keep your library on iTune then rotate your media from time to time.