iPhone XS Max iCloud Photos drawbacks?

[SlasherKG]

With new phones coming out this/next week, I'm trying to decide on storage capacity options.
Currently I have an iPhone XS Max 256GB.
My storage is mostly full as I tend to keep all photos and videos on the devices (I know, I know...).
With that being said, I am considering iCloud Photos as a way to free up space.
Is there any drawback to using it (other than potential storage costs)?
Do all photos/videos retain their original resolution and fidelity?

I have an unlimited data plan and am on WiFi most times anyway.

Thank you for any suggestions.

 

[Samantha124]

I think the main drawback is getting further in the Apple ecosystem if you ever want to switch. But if all your devices are Apple then it’s no problem. I backup my photos in iCloud and google photos because I have thousands Of pictures i would hate to lose.

 

[craigio85]

The only drawback is that once a photo is on the cloud, you then need to re-download it if you want to view in full original resolution. It’s entirely seamless because the thumbnail is always there, you’ll just see a brief timer pause if you tap a photo that needs to be recalled. Photos that you look at frequently stay on the device.

For me, honestly, there are no issues at all.

 

[SlasherKG]

I think the main drawback is getting further in the Apple ecosystem if you ever want to switch. But if all your devices are Apple then it’s no problem. I backup my photos in iCloud and google photos because I have thousands Of pictures i would hate to lose.

Thanks, I've had an iPhone going back to the iPhone 3G days, and I'm not looking to change brands any time soon.
I don't have any other Apple devices, but it has been fine thus far.

The only drawback is that once a photo is on the cloud, you then need to re-download it if you want to view in full original resolution. It’s entirely seamless because the thumbnail is always there, you’ll just see a brief timer pause if you tap a photo that needs to be recalled. Photos that you look at frequently stay on the device.

For me, honestly, there are no issues at all.

Thanks, does it re-download full quality when you open it?
What about videos?

Isn't there an app for Windows that would let me view them on a PC, or is it browser only?

 

[icloudUser]

With new phones coming out this/next week, I'm trying to decide on storage capacity options.
Currently I have an iPhone XS Max 256GB.
My storage is mostly full as I tend to keep all photos and videos on the devices (I know, I know...).
With that being said, I am considering iCloud Photos as a way to free up space.
Is there any drawback to using it (other than potential storage costs)?
Do all photos/videos retain their original resolution and fidelity?

I have an unlimited data plan and am on WiFi most times anyway.

Thank you for any suggestions.

I used to have them all on my XS 256 gb and then I switched on - Optimize Storage (store on Icloud and Mirror phone) and saved loads on storage.

Works very nicely for both pics and vids.

The only drawback is if you are on a plane or somewhere where there is NO network connection you will have to make do lower res pics (not that bad at all) BUT vids wont play!!
So thats it otherwise it works seamlessly (sharing, editing etc)

edit: if you know you will have no network connection toggle the optimize storage to store the originals. I do this and flip it back when normalcy returns

 

[craigio85]

Thanks, I've had an iPhone going back to the iPhone 3G days, and I'm not looking to change brands any time soon.
I don't have any other Apple devices, but it has been fine thus far.


Thanks, does it re-download full quality when you open it?
What about videos?

Isn't there an app for Windows that would let me view them on a PC, or is it browser only?

They come back full quality.

There’s a web app you can use to access your content from any web browser.

 

[now i see it]

Don't do it. You'll regret it. It's a trap

 

[FlyingTexan]

The only drawback is that once a photo is on the cloud, you then need to re-download it if you want to view in full original resolution. It’s entirely seamless because the thumbnail is always there, you’ll just see a brief timer pause if you tap a photo that needs to be recalled. Photos that you look at frequently stay on the device.

For me, honestly, there are no issues at all.

Also the cloud storage needs to be as big or bigger than the phone

 

[sammjordan]

Thanks, does it re-download full quality when you open it?
What about videos?

Yup, it re-downloads in full quality. And remember, with iCloud photos you have the option of storing every photo in your library on your phone at full resolution, or using the Optimize Storage option which stores thumbnails and then downloads full resolution on demand. I’ve used optimize storage for the past 3 years and haven’t had any issues

 

[SlasherKG]

Don't do it. You'll regret it. It's a trap

Any reasoning behind your feeling on this?

 

[darknyt]

It depends on the size of your library. For me (at almost a TB sized library with 250k pics) it's worse than useless, it completely breaks Photos on my phone. I tried it on the newest fastest iOS devices since my 7 plus. Up to an including my X and new 11" iPad Pro, it simply couldn't do it. And we are talking weeks to allow it to settle in. If you have a small apple store demo sized library then I'm sure it works great. It barely works on the newest MacBook Pro 15" I have.

It also has some incredibly stupid behavior. Just took a picture? For me it would not let me send or use that picture until it had uploaded it to the cloud (and redownloaded it?). All I know is taking a picture and then wanting to do anything with it was impossible. Oh and do NOT EVER move your library. EVER. If you do, then it will make you reUPLOAD your ENTIRE library. Not a differential - THE ENTIRE THING. That's why I STILL have almost double the iCloud space I really need taken up.

In general the iCloud Photo library concept is not designed for larger libraries and I've had several in-store and phone support staff confirm this. It's a little amusing when a Tier 2 tech pretends to be amazed you have a library that large and says they'll put a ticket into the "engineers" (whatever that means-assume a blowoff). What direction do they think library sizes are going? Maybe they just expect people will break them up into smaller libraries.

 

[SlasherKG]

It depends on the size of your library. For me (at almost a TB sized library with 250k pics) it's worse than useless, it completely breaks Photos on my phone. I tried it on the newest fastest iOS devices since my 7 plus. Up to an including my X and new 11" iPad Pro, it simply couldn't do it. And we are talking weeks to allow it to settle in. If you have a small apple store demo sized library then I'm sure it works great. It barely works on the newest MacBook Pro 15" I have.

It also has some incredibly stupid behavior. Just took a picture? For me it would not let me send or use that picture until it had uploaded it to the cloud (and redownloaded it?). All I know is taking a picture and then wanting to do anything with it was impossible.

In general the iCloud Photo library concept is not designed for larger libraries and I've had several in-store and phone support staff confirm this. It's a little amusing when a Tier 2 tech pretends to be amazed you have a library that large and says they'll put a ticket into the "engineers" (whatever that means-assume a blowoff). What direction do they think library sizes are going? Maybe they just expect people will break them up into smaller libraries.

Oh wow, that is very interesting to hear, especially the part about new photos taken.
My camera roll is currently at 219GB (which is the majority of space on my 256GB phone).
I will say, I probably don't go back to old photos/videos as often, so maybe it would still work out?

 

[darknyt]

Oh wow, that is very interesting to hear, especially the part about new photos taken.
My camera roll is currently at 219GB (which is the majority of space on my 256GB phone).
I will say, I probably don't go back to old photos/videos as often, so maybe it would still work out?

if it's in your library it will eventually clog your phone. But if all you have for photos is what's on your phone at 220GB maybe that will be ok. I've been using Apple for Photos for at least a decade, thankfully not exclusively.

Also, see my edited warning above about moving your library - mainly applicable to a Mac.

 

[ericwn]

My photo and video library is probably about 400GB and all in iCloud these days. Works great for me.