Do I actually need a 512GB iPhone?

[Andeddu]

I survived with a 16gb SE1 back in 2022 for 8 months and was mostly fine because of iCloud and music/video streaming services. I didn’t need space on my phone.

I have a 13 now with 128gb and have used about 40gb. I don’t really need massive storage, just a good LTE/Wi-Fi connection.

 

[klasma]

I'm always thinking that I need the next tier up of storage. I currently have a 14pro with 256gb (with 140gb filled up).

Since iOS itself including system data takes up roughly 20 GB of those 140 GB, you’re basically using only half of the remaining storage currently. If you had already reached 75% or so, then it would make some sense to go higher to future-proof a bit. But not at half, if you don’t have any specific needs planned (like starting a job as videographer or whatever ).

 

[PPCmike]

I have so many photos of my kids I need to upgrade my icloud to 2 TB so I think I might do the 1TB.

 

[Starfia]

Well, I've always bought entry-level iOS devices – I've never needed more than 64GB on my iPhone or iPad. I'm still using my original free 5GB of iCloud storage and have never filled it.

I've spent plenty of time as a filmmaker and audio producer, and I have 20,000 personal photos and videos stored, so I know how to fill a hard drive or two, but those are connected to my Mac.

So I suppose it's just down to habits and personal management schemes? I back my iOS devices up to my Mac. I import my photos and videos to my Mac. I set Messages to delete after 30 days on my mobile devices. I sync TV shows and music to them when I want them, and take them off when I'm done with them. My mobile devices are peripheral tools, not my "main" device. I was awaiting the iPad mini upgrade this month, and reacted by thinking "128 gigabytes at the entry level? Do I really need that?"

(And, heck. Storing 33 gigabytes of messages on my iPhone? I don't even know how I'd accomplish that. Do you communicate primarily in full-length movies?)

 

[heretiq]

My wife filled her 256, then 512, and now 1Tb (We had our 1st newborn) so there is never too much when it comes to storage.

Heck I was hoping apple will release a 2Tb phone but that never happen so I am waiting for the 16 PM issues to get resolved before I get a new phone for her.

This reminds me of Parkinson’s Law: “Work expands to fit the time allotted.” In this case ‘storage need expands to fit the storage available.’ I’m personally getting by with a 2TB shared iCloud storage subscription (182GB used), 128GB mini (65GB used), 1TB M4 iPad Pro (102GB used) and 1TB M1 Max MB Pro (500GB used). I suspect I could shed several gigs if I had a simple way to delete duplicate photos and screen captures from Photos.

 

[Fred Zed]

I’ll have to start making some choices soon. For the last few years been getting 512GB iPhones, now recently I’m at 440GB used local storage. I have a 2TB family plan, perhaps I’ll just shoot for the base storage next time and let the iCloud do its magic. Hell, Apple USA doesn’t even offer a slightly better trade in value for higher storage options yet up charges for them out the door. Fool me once..🤔🤣

 

[ubinko]

I must be old school. My 12 mini had 128GB storage and I don't pay extra for iCloud (actually I prefer to have it off for photos - I don't like getting spammed with 'Your iCloud is full. Do you want to upgrade?').

I don't install unnecessary apps. When the storage gets full (seems to take a year or two), I plug it in to my computer and import all the photos to the Photos app - I select delete after import, so that the storage on my phone gets freed up. I also export all the photos onto an external HD, because HD failures do occasionally happen.

I now have an iPhone 16 with 128GB. I have plenty of apps installed and there is about 90GB left for photos, which seems plenty.

 

[StoneJack]

The rule of thumb: buy as much as storage as your budget allows and operate the device accordingly.
Means, if you can buy 1TB do it. OP should buy 512 or 1TB.
If you are good with 128 or less, just manage it and it is also fine.
No more questions.

 

[TracerAnalog]

I'm always thinking that I need the next tier up of storage. I currently have a 14pro with 256gb (with 140gb filled up). 33gb of that is messages, 13gb is voice memos, 9 gigs each is for whatsapp, music, photos, and the list goes on.

I've played the game before where i had to constantly delete stuff and it was a frustrating experience for me so i always try to go higher on storage to never deal with it. That said, I have the 2tb icloud plan (with only 330gb filled).

I have the chance to purchase a iphone 16 pro (256gb) or iphone 15 pro (512gb) for $200 cheaper. Originally, i was going to go with the iphone 15 pro due to the higher storage but now i'm wondering if its better to pay a little more and get the new 16pro.

How do you all determine how much storage to get with your phone?

I look at what I currently use. If it's tight I go up in storage. Simple really...

 

[Fred Zed]

I look at what I currently use. If it's tight I go up in storage. Simple really...

What’s your tightness threshold?

 

[The Game 161]

Only you know if it’s enough

256GB is enough for me I have 170GB left from 256GB

 

[840quadra]

I have gone 512 since the 13 pro, and it has been great as an external drive in instances where I was running a little low on storage in my Mac.

Even before USB-C times, the IO speed was good enough to watch TV shows and some movies on my Mac from it. Now with the 15 and 16 pro series, it is a super handy source for a bit of extra media storage when on the go.

Though I do often use my space to process phots from my mirrorless cameras.

 

[TracerAnalog]

What’s your tightness threshold?

I'd say about 50Gb. I check every year how much my on device library grows, it seems to be about 25Gb per year, mostly lossless music. My own videos and photos go to the cloud (6Tb shared with my family).

 

[Fred Zed]

I'd say about 50Gb. I check every year how much my on device library grows, it seems to be about 25Gb per year, mostly lossless music. My own videos and photos go to the cloud (6Tb shared with my family).

Yeah. I’m thinking mines around the same sort of figure. I really don’t want to get 1TB next time around , might just utilize my iCloud storage for my photos. Decisions decisions.

 

[A1423]

If you’re paying for all that iCloud storage, you don’t need 512. 256 should be fine.

I had 256, use iCloud, literally ran out of storage while it took forever to upload(not on WiFi), and now have 512.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I got 512GB this time but to be honest I’ve had 256GB since the iPhone X and never needed more but this time I just decided to get the 512GB

 

[vine-boating]

The rule of thumb: buy as much as storage as your budget allows and operate the device accordingly.
Means, if you can buy 1TB do it. OP should buy 512 or 1TB.
If you are good with 128 or less, just manage it and it is also fine.
No more questions.

But what would be the point of buying 1TB if you can afford it if you don't need that much space? That does not make sense at all and is a waste of money.....

 

[Tsepz]

An iCloud subscription would eliminate the problem.

Personally I prefer to have some saved locally in case there is a break in connection or I am in a place with spotty signal or travelling (some airlines in some countries still don’t have wifi).
All my music is downloaded to my phone and some of the latest episodes of stuff I may want to watch when offline.

 

[5167767]

Personally I prefer to have some saved locally in case there is a break in connection or I am in a place with spotty signal or travelling (some airlines in some countries still don’t have wifi).
All my music is downloaded to my phone and some of the latest episodes of stuff I may want to watch when offline.

Yes, I understand. Everyone uses their phones differently. I personally have 128 gb on my iPhone 14 and 64 gb on my iPhone XS. In my case, I rely only on an internet connection rather than internal phone storage.

 

[5167767]

Yes, I understand. Everyone uses their phones differently. I personally have 128 gb on my iPhone 14 and 64 gb on my iPhone XS. In my case, I rely only on an internet connection rather than internal phone storage.

 

[Tsepz]

Yes, I understand. Everyone uses their phones differently. I personally have 128 gb on my iPhone 14 and 64 gb on my iPhone XS. In my case, I rely only on an internet connection rather than internal phone storage.

Yep indeed, all need to use what suits us. Tell me something, if Apple had created a fully Cloud-based iPhone (e.g. your iPhone 14) with maybe 64GB storage at a lower price would you go for it?
I remember there was a company called Nextbit, and they had this idea of smartphones being fully cloud devices with minimal reliance on local storage (except for whats needed for the OS and hardware of the phone of course), if Apple had a similar approach with iPhone would you go for it?
Think theirs was called the Nwxtbit Robin.

 

[5167767]

Yep indeed, all need to use what suits us. Tell me something, if Apple had created a fully Cloud-based iPhone (e.g. your iPhone 14) with maybe 64GB storage at a lower price would you go for it?
I remember there was a company called Nextbit, and they had this idea of smartphones being fully cloud devices with minimal reliance on local storage (except for whats needed for the OS and hardware of the phone of course), if Apple had a similar approach with iPhone would you go for it?
Think theirs was called the Nwxtbit Robin.

No I wouldn’t get it. My iPhone XS is 64 GB and it struggled with iOS 18 update . I had to delete a few apps, then re add them after the update. I guess 128G is the minimum I would go.

 

[splifingate]

I'm always thinking that I need the next tier up of storage. I currently have a 14pro with 256gb (with 140gb filled up). 33gb of that is messages, 13gb is voice memos, 9 gigs each is for whatsapp, music, photos, and the list goes on.

I've played the game before where i had to constantly delete stuff and it was a frustrating experience for me so i always try to go higher on storage to never deal with it. That said, I have the 2tb icloud plan (with only 330gb filled).

I have the chance to purchase a iphone 16 pro (256gb) or iphone 15 pro (512gb) for $200 cheaper. Originally, i was going to go with the iphone 15 pro due to the higher storage but now i'm wondering if its better to pay a little more and get the new 16pro.

How do you all determine how much storage to get with your phone?

I've always just monitored my usage, and purchased accordingly.

I'm not ready to be a Movie Studio

 

[splifingate]

I've just checked my storage and see I've only used 145 GB of 512 GB, so possibly, maybe, 256 would have been ok. But with so much flexibility I just never ever worry about downloading offline streaming content, or making longer videos.

Yup.

I'm paddling in the same boat as you are, but 256 was just fine for me.

I ain't Hollywood!

 

[StoneJack]

But what would be the point of buying 1TB if you can afford it if you don't need that much space? That does not make sense at all and is a waste of money.....

You probably did not read my statement. If one has budget and wants to fully utilize it, just buy 1TB if he can afford and will fill it up. If there is no budget or intent, don't do so. simple