Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Not going to happen. Apple need to the keep their profit margins and the best way is through their $100 price differences between each tier of flash memory capacities.
 
I'll take the iPhone without the gaping hole on the side thanks. If I want more storage I'll buy a bigger iPhone.

If I wanna transfer data from device to device, I'll buy an external hard drive or a memory stick.

If I don't like the fact that Apple won't give me a Micro SD card slot, I'll buy a phone that does. But I don't, so all good.
 
Nope, the other way around.

I don't want a phone with a smaller battery (because that's what would have to get smaller for a slot to be put in) just to have yet another port that moisture and dirt can potentially get in to.

This is a plan that introduces several big negatives and in return I get one small positive. Not a good trade.

No dirt in my microsd slot. Unless you're opening and closing the door all the time you should be fine.

Components get smaller as technology advances so Apple could probably fit one in anyway. Especially if they go with a bigger screen!

----------

I'll take the iPhone without the gaping hole on the side thanks. If I want more storage I'll buy a bigger iPhone.

If I wanna transfer data from device to device, I'll buy an external hard drive or a memory stick.

If I don't like the fact that Apple won't give me a Micro SD card slot, I'll buy a phone that does. But I don't, so all good.

What if you want more storage than the biggest iPhone? And are you aware that microsd cards are about a third of the price you pay Apple for the same amount of storage? You must be filthy rich.

----------

Which is the only reason Apple doesn't add a microSD slot. I'm sure they could make it work without sacrificing onboard memory if they really wanted to. Other manufacturers managed to do so without making their phones thick. But they would lose out on a major expense that adds to their near 100% profit margins.

Its probably also because they don't allow access to the file system and because they want you to use iTunes to get your music onto your phone. :(
 
What next? So you get 128gb. Right after that people will want 256GB. It never ends

I understand people have huge music collections and some apps they up a ton of space and some people keep HD videos galore.

But ask yourself how much do want in a portable device that probably can't last a day on a single battery charge.

The cloud is where everyone is moving to. Microsoft skydive. Google with their cloud and music. Apple too also. Yes most people are limited by throttle limits and tiered data.
Fixed that for you. Turns out Apple has the best solution either way: You have the option to buy what storage you want in a phone. The HTC One X, for example, shot themselves straight in the foot by only giving the consumer a 16gig (10 usable) option. It's keeping many people away (me included).
 
I hope I don't regret posting in here...but if you take a look at the "true" Android phones (Google Nexus line) - and I put "true" in quotes because it's not exactly true, but it's the official phone line of Google, the producer of Android, so they are the closest comparison to the iPhone we have.

Anyway...if you take a look at Google's Nexus line (yes I know these phones are not manufactured by Google), they haven't had a phone with removable storage since the Nexus One. The Nexus S and the Galaxy Nexus have been without removable storage...and they've been doing all right.

The only thing is there aren't 1000 other iOS devices to choose from like Android devices. If you don't like the 16GB on the Galaxy Nexus, you can choose an alternative like the Galaxy S2/3 or whatever.

It's not a terrible thing to have non-removable storage...and it is prevalent on both iOS and Android devices...I dunno.

The cloud is where everyone is moving to. Microsoft skydive. Google with their cloud and music. Apple too also. Yes some people are limited by throttle limits and tiered data.

By the way, cloud is not where everyone is moving to. Music and photos? Okay, yeah sure. What the hell am I going to do with movies/videos? Who knows what else. Like person above me said, it's not "some" it's "most". I don't want to have to ***** money in order to be able to afford Verizon's 10GB data package per month. Cloud is useful and probably cool to have, but not very feasible for now, given speed limitations (LTE is not everywhere yet) and data caps (2GB ... really?)
 
Fixed that for you. Turns out Apple has the best solution either way: You have limited options to buy what storage you want in a phone. The HTC One X, for example, shot themselves straight in the foot by only giving the consumer a 16gig (10 usable) option. It's keeping many people away (me included).

Fixed that for you :p

The point is that with hot-swappable MicroSD card support, you really do have unlimited options. You can carry as many cards with you as you want (each card is the size of a fingernail) and you can swap them without having to turn your device off and on again. If you want more storage, you just buy a new card, which is significantly cheaper than paying Apple for the next step up.

Also, MicroSDXC supports cards up to 2TB in size. Clearly nothing is even close to that now, but it probably will be in a few years.
 
Fixed that for you :p

The point is that with hot-swappable MicroSD card support, you really do have unlimited options. You can carry as many cards with you as you want (each card is the size of a fingernail) and you can swap them without having to turn your device off and on again. If you want more storage, you just buy a new card, which is significantly cheaper than paying Apple for the next step up.

Also, MicroSDXC supports cards up to 2TB in size. Clearly nothing is even close to that now, but it probably will be in a few years.
Oh, I wouldn't argue the option at all. My point was that great phones like the One X and Lumia 900, don't give you either option. You get crappy storage and no option to expand. At least with Apple, you can get a phone with 32/64 gig.
 
Oh, I wouldn't argue the option at all. My point was that great phones like the One X and Lumia 900, don't give you either option. You get crappy storage and no option to expand. At least with Apple, you can get a phone with 32/64 gig.

I agree that the 16/32/64GB options are a lot better than simply 16, but for anybody who needs more than 64GB it's exactly the same - "crappy storage and no option to expand."
 
There is no need for expandable memory on the iPhone. If 64gb with a barrage of free cloud services isn't enough storage options than what you are looking for is a computer. They won't adapt a tech that is now on the downslope especially with space being such a huge issue.
 
people who say "apple should do this" should just shop around for the piece of tech that suits their needs. Apple does not include external storage for many reasons. If they weren't doing it when micro SD was still relevant, why would they do it now? And really what is the point? I could see asking for more internal storage, but why do you need external storage on a phone that already offers a fairly high amount of built in storage? Micro SD's being cheap is not really a good reason- it's actually the opposite. They are so cheap now because they are not in as high demand as they were a few years ago.

The question to ask is "what can't I do right now that a micro SD slot would allow me to do?" I just don't have a good answer to that one.
 
people who say "apple should do this" should just shop around for the piece of tech that suits their needs. Apple does not include external storage for many reasons. If they weren't doing it when micro SD was still relevant, why would they do it now? And really what is the point? I could see asking for more internal storage, but why do you need external storage on a phone that already offers a fairly high amount of built in storage? Micro SD's being cheap is not really a good reason- it's actually the opposite. They are so cheap now because they are not in as high demand as they were a few years ago.

The question to ask is "what can't I do right now that a micro SD slot would allow me to do?" I just don't have a good answer to that one.


Since the invention and release of the iPod, I, and many others like me, have enjoyed the possibility to carry ALL of their music with them at any given time. As my music collection grew, new, larger iPods were released. Pretty soon, I was able to carry not only all of my music, but all of my photos, a bunch of videos, and even a few 'in case of emergency' files that I may need.

That was nice.


Now, and since the iPod Touch, we've been forced once again to severely limit what we keep on hand and, while I know it's not going to change anytime soon, it would be nice if Apple were to allow expandable memory options for the iPhone so we could keep everything on us once again.


Not to mention, what you consider to be a high amount of built in storage is not a lot to someone else. Even without carrying everything on me, I could easily fill 64GB with photos and videos over a short vacation.... and it seems idiotic that I'd have to bring a laptop with me camping just so I could clear my phone.
 
I'm pretty sure the memory Apple has in the iPhone is MUCH faster than access from a MicroSD card...

Nobody has responded to this, but it seems to be pretty important to me. I remember having a Sony Clie that had a memory stick, and it was dog slow whenever it accessed anything off of it. I would think that if you included a huge amount of storage on a removable card, you might get significant stutters whenever the OS needed to access that data?

Of course Apple is out to make a profit. But it doesn't make sense to me that they leave off a MicroSD so they can charge higher prices for storage. Do the Android phones that include a MicroSD also up their prices for higher storage? I would think so. If Apple thought that there was a significant demand for removable storage--and if they could do it in such a way that it didn't degrade the user experience--they would add it on there.
 
Nobody has responded to this, but it seems to be pretty important to me. I remember having a Sony Clie that had a memory stick, and it was dog slow whenever it accessed anything off of it. I would think that if you included a huge amount of storage on a removable card, you might get significant stutters whenever the OS needed to access that data?

Of course Apple is out to make a profit. But it doesn't make sense to me that they leave off a MicroSD so they can charge higher prices for storage. Do the Android phones that include a MicroSD also up their prices for higher storage? I would think so. If Apple thought that there was a significant demand for removable storage--and if they could do it in such a way that it didn't degrade the user experience--they would add it on there.

Expandable memory is rated for it's speed and, while it may not be as fast as what they currently use, even a standard Class 10 (66x) rated speed card at 10MB/ sec would be plenty fast enough for listening to music or playing video.

If they were to include a slot but limit it's use to accessing media and storage, without the ability to record to or use for applications, it would solve many of the complaints.
 
I have a class 4, 16GB Micro card now in my Vibrant and all my music is on it. It is plenty fast enough and has never skipped or messed up while playing it. I dont play games much but have had a couple on there and they played fine too. I can also move apps to it if i want if they have real big files. If a class 4 is working fine for them, im sure a class 10 is a no brainer and with a class 10, everything loads faster as well. Get a new phone, take out the card, insert into another....my music is instantly loaded and all set up.
As for this comment:

I could see asking for more internal storage, but why do you need external storage on a phone that already offers a fairly high amount of built in storage? Micro SD's being cheap is not really a good reason

Are you kidding? Price alone is a good enough reason. When i can get a class 10, 32GB micro card for $37 compared to $200 or whatever it costs to get a phone with that much from Apple, you are nuts to even suggest that and then i have 48 GB storage instead of just the 16 my phone came with. A phone NOT having a microSD slot is a deal breaker for me.

I love the option of getting more if i need it and putting movies on them and just popping them in if i want to. I have a couple of 2GB micro cards that have movies on them. One of them came with my Vibrant and it has Avatar in HD on it. Those were before i got a 16 GB. I will get a 32GB next since they are a lot cheaper and faster than two years ago when they were $75.

Apple storage upgrades however, never gets lower.
 
Last edited:
I can't believe people wouldn't want an expandable memory slot. If you buy an 16GB iPhone in the US that's $199. If you want to add more memory you can't you either have to delete thing off your phone or buy a bigger size iPhone. the 32GB iPhone is $299 and the 64GB is $399.

Now let's look at the price of a 16 GB MicroSDHC card.. So I can buy a 16GB iPhone for $199 and buy another 16GB MicroSDHC for another $9 saving myself $90. A 32GB cost Why would anyone not want this option?

It's not a deal breaker to me but I would like to have more room on my phone without having to pay a hundred dollars more. I have the 32GB iPhone 4. I have around 26 GB of music on my iTunes, so i got iTunes Match. Let me tell you it's it's garbage. I have a lot of pictures and videos that I taken with my phone. It be nice to keep them on my phone. I also have around 120 apps.
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
I can't believe people wouldn't want an expandable memory slot. If you buy an 16GB iPhone in the US that's $199. If you want to add more memory you can't you either have to delete thing off your phone or buy a bigger size iPhone. the 32GB iPhone is $299 and the 64GB is $399.

Now let's look at the price of a 16 GB MicroSDHC card.. So I can buy a 16GB iPhone for $199 and buy another 16GB MicroSDHC for another $9 saving myself $90. A 32GB cost Why would anyone not want this option?

It's not a deal breaker to me but I would like to have more room on my phone without having to pay a hundred dollars more. I have the 32GB iPhone 4. I have around 26 GB of music on my iTunes, so i got iTunes Match. Let me tell you it's it's garbage. I have a lot of pictures and videos that I taken with my phone. It be nice to keep them on my phone. I also have around 120 apps.

Look, if Apple choose to not give us expandable memory, then we have to remember why they choose to do this - and this is because they do it for our own good.
Apple only produce and give us the best.
If they don't include expandable storage, then its obviously not good enough for us.
Its like Blu-Ray. I don't bother with Blu-Ray as Apple have never included it in any mac.
If Blu-Ray wasn't good enough for (the almost god-like) steve jobs, then its certainly not good enough for us.
1080p itunes FTW!!

:apple:
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Look, if Apple choose to not give us expandable memory, then we have to remember why they choose to do this - and this is because they do it for our own good.
Apple only produce and give us the best.
If they don't include expandable storage, then its obviously not good enough for us.
Its like Blu-Ray. I don't bother with Blu-Ray as Apple have never included it in any mac.
If Blu-Ray wasn't good enough for (the almost god-like) steve jobs, then its certainly not good enough for us.
1080p itunes FTW!!

:apple:

Was that sarcastic? Was that the biggest apple arselicking comment of all time?
 
If it were only so simple. We`ve been through this time and again.

Apple would have to develop their ios in the same manner to run apps from different partitions. Its not impossible but would really mess up devices at start for a lot of people.

I believe its a good idea but thats not why you buy Apple, now is it.

I want a removable back battery cover so I can change batteries on the move..... (SARCASM)....

If it bothers you so much, get a an effin android and ****.

:cool:

----------

Since the invention and release of the iPod, I, and many others like me, have enjoyed the possibility to carry ALL of their music with them at any given time. As my music collection grew, new, larger iPods were released. Pretty soon, I was able to carry not only all of my music, but all of my photos, a bunch of videos, and even a few 'in case of emergency' files that I may need.

That was nice.


Now, and since the iPod Touch, we've been forced once again to severely limit what we keep on hand and, while I know it's not going to change anytime soon, it would be nice if Apple were to allow expandable memory options for the iPhone so we could keep everything on us once again.


Not to mention, what you consider to be a high amount of built in storage is not a lot to someone else. Even without carrying everything on me, I could easily fill 64GB with photos and videos over a short vacation.... and it seems idiotic that I'd have to bring a laptop with me camping just so I could clear my phone.

dude get dropbox, wait for apple to release a 96 and 128 gb iPhone.

Its like saying Ferrari should have four doors instead of two on their convertibles. Dude get a station wagon.
 
Last edited:
I like the idea of the cloud in threoy but I don't like that it uses mass amounts of data. I have way to much music for it to be practical to use on a limited data plan. Until they offer (AT&T in this case) an unlmited data plan no cloud for me.
 
+1
I can't imagine any SD card being as fast as the internal memory.

I imagine you havent tried it.

----------

I like the idea of the cloud in threoy but I don't like that it uses mass amounts of data. I have way to much music for it to be practical to use on a limited data plan. Until they offer (AT&T in this case) an unlmited data plan no cloud for me.

And i totally agree with this. Dont care if they give me 200 GB for free on Dropbox if i have to use a lot of data to access my music and why i dont use Google music very often....which is also free.

Give me a MicroSD slot everytime.
 
Last edited:
I like external storage. I do a bit of traveling and I prefer having all my movies on board. I have an android tablet with about 50 gb of movies on a 64 gb microsd. That leaves 32 gb of internal storage for everything else. With larger microsd cards coming out I get the opportunity to upgrade my device very cheaply.

Doesn't need to make the device larger. It's before the camera in the thin portion of the Razr.

And to those that are worried about dust I'm assuming you never opened an iPhone. There is a huge open hole at the bottom letting in dust.
 
I'm pretty sure the memory Apple has in the iPhone is MUCH faster than access from a MicroSD card...

That's what I'm thinking as well. Apple did that for a reason, they don't decision because they can get more profit. They care about the user experience as well.

Imagine if the memory card is removable and you lose your iPhone :D

Think!
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.