Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

256GB vs 512GB Storage

missbing said:
I didn't know this. Do you know the speed difference?
Click to expand...
Because it's not true unless your storage is full. See many complaints about Iphones with 16GB having slow phones? APFS manages storage very different than the old HFS+. That's the question will you fill 256 or not?
 
sracer said:
At those capacities the speed difference is not noticeable. Even going from 32GB to 128GB the difference is marginal.
Click to expand...
Looking purely at sequential performance, 32 to 64, 64 to 128 and 128 to 256 is where you get practically a doubling of performance per doubling of storage (unless you're already bottlenecked by bus speed). That said, it doesn't really affect day to day use unless you're like, doing large iMovie exports all the time.

I currently have a 256GB iPad Pro 9.7. It's probably the first iPad I've owned that hasn't complained that I need to delete items in order to update my apps. Still have around 30GB free. That said, I just bought a bunch of Kindle/comiXology Marvel Masterworks that I still haven't downloaded and would easily exceed 30GB hence, I ordered a 512GB Pro 12.9. It's a luxury to be sure but hey, I still remember paying ~$200 a piece for 120GB SSD to upgrade my computers so this doesn't seem too awful.
 
I have 1st 128 12.9 pro and iPad mini 4 64gb and with both devices I've had to manage what I store so this time I said f it I'm gonna go max. I got 512 or both 12.9 and 10.5. don't want to have to think about storage ever. They are my main devices.

I got to say the 10.5 seems probably enough (should return new 12.9 and keep old one). But I think I'm going to keep my 12.9 long term as a home device and only change the 10.5 in future (2 years minimum). I'll take the hit now. £180 each extra for 12.9 and 10.5... 😱 that's a lot ... oh well, I guess I'm paying for skimping the previous 2 iPads!

One of the reasons I've upgraded this time is because of lack of storage. So I'm more likely to keep these devices longer.

Don't forget there has been, so far, a strong resale value on all apple products. Esp if you take care of them.

UPDATE - I currently have 449gb free on my new 10.5 - lol!! Never gonna be an issue. Only had for a day though.
 
Last edited:
TraceyS/FL said:
I ended up order 512 because.... it was what was available on Best Buy for Business where i had to order it.

That said, I have a crazy amount of graphics files to load on it so i'm sure it will be handy to have.

Except crap, I can't exclude them from the backup can I?? Hmmm........ I need something organized for them.
Click to expand...
This is the problem with iCloud where you can't selectively sync what is on local unless I am wrong about that and it is on mac/pc only? So 200g on iCloud needs 200g on iPad.
 
Let's not forget IOS 11 and the Files system, if you are going to be loading a lot of files, videos and or graphics then the 512GB might be worth it. Personally i'm still deciding between the 256GB and the 512GB but since i like to keep my favourite TV shows and movies on my iPad along with files and some games I'm leaning towards the 512GB.
 
It will be painful 4 hrs trying to fill 512 GB iPad via Apple's favorite USB 2 speed protocol.
It feels like Apple just doesn't give a damn!
 
  • Like
Reactions: bhodinut
Dave245 said:
How will it take 4 hours? Just download anything you need via wifi.
Click to expand...
What do you mean by that? Sync via wifi or download content to iPad using wifi from internet?
Wifi sync is even slower than USB 2.
Downloading over wifi is not possible due to ISP restrictions, poor download speeds, download quotas, etc.

So involving wifi is a big fail from the start.
 
d5aqoëp said:
What do you mean by that? Sync via wifi or download content to iPad using wifi from internet?
Wifi sync is even slower than USB 2.
Downloading over wifi is not possible due to ISP restrictions, poor download speeds, download quotas, etc.

So involving wifi is a big fail from the start.
Click to expand...

Downloading content via Wifi, there are no restrictions on downloading from the ISP at least not here in the UK, if you have poor speeds that's down to your internet package but most people have fast internet which can easily download content straight to the iPad.
 
I debated this ... first point ... forget the speed aspect ... this will be relative to how your filling it up, so if you NEED 512 then your filling it up just as you would relative to ONLY needing 256. So this is a moot point.

Then there is, how much do I really need? I had the 9.7 pro 256gb and have a TON of apps, and a TON of pictures, and a TON of files, but truth is this is more and more going by way of the cloud so it doesn’t affect space much.

So on my 10.5 256GB I am using only 83gb, with thumbnails at the very least of my 110,000 photos and 4700 videos, all the apps and games I need, access to every single one of my files, even my folders and desktop from my Mac ... with Office and such ... 10 movies (plenty room for more if I really need, but can stream all 350 of them if needed) ... and 4 email accounts ... ill take the $200 for the upgrade and use it elsewhere.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Xstyle
I could have done with 64 as I use cloud storage for mostly everything, but I figured my needs may change over time and the 256 will be more desirable when I sell next year. Easy choice for an extra $100.
 
d5aqoëp said:
Everyone knows they have USB 3 chip but the original Apple USB-C to lightning cable negotiates a maximum of 480 Mbps USB-2 speeds.
Click to expand...
Has anyone been able to test the cables that came with the new ones? Maybe since it is shorter - it is a different cable?
 
With 2TB of iCloud space, I actually opted for the middle capacity(256gb) launch product this time around. I've ALWAYS gotten the highest capacity but with AT&T unlimited data on the LTE 10.5, I am just working a lot more off of the cloud.

Would I mind having the 512? No, but for $200 it didn't seem like a rational upgrade for my usage.
 
Steve686 said:
With 2TB of iCloud space, I actually opted for the middle capacity(256gb) launch product this time around. I've ALWAYS gotten the highest capacity but with AT&T unlimited data on the LTE 10.5, I am just working a lot more off of the cloud.

Would I mind having the 512? No, but for $200 it didn't seem like a rational upgrade for my usage.
Click to expand...

A good choice with no carrier data concerns
 
I am disappointed it only goes to 512. I won't even consider 256 or lower. I hope next year, they allow USB-C external drives.
 
  • Like
Reactions: max2
I have the 10.5 with 256 and I think it'll be enough for me. By the time I fill it up the next iPad will be out so I'll just save the 200 towards that 🙂
 
  • Like
Reactions: MisterMillz
Hah, I didn't even look at the 512GB model when ordering because I was set on the 256GB. Didn't realize it was $200 more. Wow. That makes me a lot happier with my 256GB decision now. I feel like the 10.5" 256GB is the best bang for your buck, and that's what I went for, although I added the LTE/GPS.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MisterMillz
This is how i made my decision.
I see the storage as 'hours of offline'.
So with 64 iPad, i can pretty much get ~40G of free space after regular documents and apps.
And for a decent quality movie, it's about 10G for 90minutes to 120minutes.
So 40G free space means 6-9 hours of offline watching.
I take a lot of long haul flights that are over 12/14 hours. So 64gb iPad is not enough to help me survive the flight. Therefore it's a no go.

However, 256 will give me more than 36 hours of offline playback, which will at least take a round-trip-trans-pacific-flight to consume. And i can delete/download/update in between flights, so 256 is enough for me.

For 512, first I don't *necessarily* need the extra 256gb. Yes i may want the extra 256 occasionally, but in that kind of rare circumstances, I'd put my money towards those wireless hard-drives (like wd, lacie, or even seagate), the same amount of money can bring me >2TB of space, which will also serve me as storage for my laptop (IF i bring one, thumbs up for iPad)
 
garyleecn said:
For 512, first I don't *necessarily* need the extra 256gb. Yes i may want the extra 256 occasionally, but in that kind of rare circumstances, I'd put my money towards those wireless hard-drives (like wd, lacie, or even seagate), the same amount of money can bring me >2TB of space, which will also serve me as storage for my laptop (IF i bring one, thumbs up for iPad)
Click to expand...
I purchased a WD My Passport Wireless Pro 3TB. Suffice to say I'd rather have the local storage on my iPad. Besides, can't exactly use external storage for comiXology. 🙄

I have a 256GB Pro 9.7 with only 30GB free. No videos, no music. Just my iCloud photo library, apps and comics. It's not simply "hours offline" but more importantly, content selection.

That said, on a one month vacation, I'm gonna bring my laptop and ~4TB worth of media. I've been stuck indoors on occasion due to sickness or inclement weather and being able to use the laptop as a mini-Netflix/Crunchyroll server has saved our sanity. 😛
 
  • Like
Reactions: MikaLoop, max2 and badmojo69
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back