Apple’s storage schemes

[Ryanmrash]

So now that rumors are put to bed I have a question...How does Apple come up with it’s scheme for device storage? In the past there were 3 storage options, now only 2: 64gb and 256gb this year... Used to be Z, Z times 4, and Z times 8. Ive always found it a little odd...

For the 5 I had 32gb model. Moved up to 6+ and went 64gb. I wanted to hold out for the 8+/X model but was forced into getting a 7 earlier than planned. 32gb didnt cut it so I got the 128. Had i held out, I could have gotten a new model at 64gb and been satisfied.....I digress....

 

[profets]

It actually seems pretty clean across the lineup now.

iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhone 7:

32GB and 128GB

iPhone 8, iPhone X:

64GB and 256GB

 

[Ryanmrash]

It actually seems pretty clean across the lineup now.

iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhone 7:

32GB and 128GB

iPhone 8, iPhone X:

64GB and 256GB

They they can phase out models and clean it up...Force people to buy a premium phone if they need greater storage. Same way on iPad side too.

 

[profets]

They they can phase out models and clean it up...Force people to buy a premium phone if they need greater storage. Same way on iPad side too.

Even the lowest priced iPhone SE has 128GB as a storage option. They're not forcing anyone onto a premium phone for storage.

 

[Ryanmrash]

Even the lowest priced iPhone SE has 128GB as a storage option. They're not forcing anyone onto a premium phone for storage.

True. It’s all in the combination of features and storage which one may require...

 

[profets]

True. It’s all in the combination of features and storage which one may require...

Of course. I'd love the iPhone X's features with the iPhone SE's price, but it's not happening lol.

 

[kmj2318]

They are limiting options to make more profit on the capacity upgrades.

The way they used to do it was to have a lousy 16gb model as the base. Everyone complained so they changed it. However, they still want to get the profit they did. By now giving the base a respectable storage capacity, they need to modify their higher tier strategy.

Now that the base is good for a lot of people, they need to incentivize people to upgrade and to profit from that smaller group of people. A lot of people used to buy the middle tier for an extra $100. Now anyone who upgrades must pay an extra $150.

Eliminating the middle category, which could have been 128gb, reduces the options for people. It makes people have to buy 256 even though they may only need 128. If the jump from 64 to 256 cost $150, why not offer 128 for $75? Easy, a lot of people would only pay the extra $75. Instead, force everyone to pay an extra $150. This explains why the storage options don’t increase in logical increments for the last several years.

When 16gb was the base, a lot more people upgraded their storage. A lot of people cried foul and said it was punitive. I think their new pricing is better because it doesn’t disadvantage anyone as harshly, but it’s still punitive to some people.

The storage options make sense when you look at it as Apple trying to tilt buying behavior. From a pure value-for-storage perspective, it doesn’t seem to make much sense.