iPhone 11 Pro iCloud vs Google Photos

[Gaprofitt]

Hi All,

Couple of questions...

If you have Google Photos, you're saving the original (if paying for storage). A smaller lower resolution is stored on the iPhone. Basically the same way it works with iCloud.

Now for videos, I understand Google Photos doesn't support 4k. Does it upload a video at all when syncing? On the Icloud side, does it upload the 4k video? If so what is stored locally?

Trying to determine which solution would be more feasible for 64GB iphones for 4k video and thousands of images...

 

[akash.nu]

If you’re in the apple ecosystem then iCloud is the only and the best solution. Don’t even try to compare anything else.

If you only own the iPhone then Google Photos is fine. Although I’m not too sure about your questions related to the videos.

 

[fred98tj]

Just remember (and a lot of people seem to forget) that iCloud is not designed as a cloud storage method, it’s designed as a sync platform to keep all your devices sync’d.
For example if you have several iPhones all synced to the same iCloud and you delete a photo on one of the phones then said photo will be deleted on all devices synced to that iCloud.
Services lie, Dropbox, etc., are for cloud storage of photos, videos, documents etc.

 

[akash.nu]

Just remember (and a lot of people seem to forget) that iCloud is not designed as a cloud storage method, it’s designed as a sync platform to keep all your devices sync’d.
For example if you have several iPhones all synced to the same iCloud and you delete a photo on one of the phones then said photo will be deleted on all devices synced to that iCloud.
Services lie, Dropbox, etc., are for cloud storage of photos, videos, documents etc.

This is a very valid point. So many people seem to think iCloud as only cloud storage.

 

[mrochester]

Just remember (and a lot of people seem to forget) that iCloud is not designed as a cloud storage method, it’s designed as a sync platform to keep all your devices sync’d.
For example if you have several iPhones all synced to the same iCloud and you delete a photo on one of the phones then said photo will be deleted on all devices synced to that iCloud.
Services lie, Dropbox, etc., are for cloud storage of photos, videos, documents etc.

Whilst partially true, iCloud is both cloud storage and a sync platform. Your content is very much stored in the cloud AND it’s status is synced with all of your devices logged into the same iCloud account. It’s basically the best of both worlds because it’s not a separate storage area that needs to be managed separately from your device storage.

 

[Scream And Fly]

I use both iCloud and Google Photos/Google Drive both my iPad Pro and Pixel 3. If I’d have to choose one, it would be Google by far. Google Drive is fantastic across all platforms as well.

 

[kamikazeeMC]

I gave iClould as a storage solution a go, but found from my location (Perth, Australia) uploading was too slow. Not even being able to use half of my 40mbit upload.

 

[bransoj]

I use OneDrive for my pictures, it has an auto upload function. I've got 30gb of storage for free through various ways. Every so often i use the OneDrive app on my windows PC to tidy everything up into folders from the Camera Roll folder things go into automatically and then i pretty much clear out the camera roll on my phone. No idea if its any better or not that other options but its the one i use and it works for me.

 

[mrochester]

I use OneDrive for my pictures, it has an auto upload function. I've got 30gb of storage for free through various ways. Every so often i use the OneDrive app on my windows PC to tidy everything up into folders from the Camera Roll folder things go into automatically and then i pretty much clear out the camera roll on my phone. No idea if its any better or not that other options but its the one i use and it works for me.

Does one drive support Live Photo’s yet? I’m sure last time I checked it still didn’t.

 

[bransoj]

Does one drive support Live Photo’s yet? I’m sure last time I checked it still didn’t.

Not sure to be honest as i dont take loads. I have seen some movie files when shifting things which i think are probably related to this. I have converted some live photos to Gifs in the past to make it easier.

 

[zipster]

iCloud for photos is terribly slow to download photos. You'll notice this when you send multiple photos via text, e-mail or want to pull up a photo from months ago.

Google Photos is great.

 

[Daniel Narciso]

I have a weird behaviour about a OS native apps/services. I always use them even if there are 3rd party apps that are better. Eg. Apple mail, apple calendar, etc.

I just feel I'm loosing some hidden feature, integration or something for not being inside the ecosystem...

 

[rui no onna]

Just remember (and a lot of people seem to forget) that iCloud is not designed as a cloud storage method, it’s designed as a sync platform to keep all your devices sync’d.
For example if you have several iPhones all synced to the same iCloud and you delete a photo on one of the phones then said photo will be deleted on all devices synced to that iCloud.
Services lie, Dropbox, etc., are for cloud storage of photos, videos, documents etc.

Dropbox is primarily a syncing service as well. If you delete or change a photo or file in Dropbox, it also gets deleted/changed on all linked devices.

The difference is tight integration between the native Photos app and iCloud.

 

[Spudlicious]

I use both services, paying the pennies for 50GB iCloud. Is that weird? Apple Photos is my primary, because overwhelmingly my photos are taken on my iPhone, and I also have Google Photos on the phone for continuity with my historic photos; I used Android phones for many years.

 

[mrochester]

I use both services, paying the pennies for 50GB iCloud. Is that weird? Apple Photos is my primary, because overwhelmingly my photos are taken on my iPhone, and I also have Google Photos on the phone for continuity with my historic photos; I used Android phones for many years.

what’s weird about paying for more iCloud storage?

 

[Adambomb13]

I use Google Photos, I turned off photo sync in iCloud. Im happy

 

[MisterSavage]

Now for videos, I understand Google Photos doesn't support 4k. Does it upload a video at all when syncing? On the Icloud side, does it upload the 4k video? If so what is stored locally?

I don't shoot in 4k but my videos are always backed up by Google Photos. I do stay under these file limits though. Don't know if that answers your question or not.

• File sizes that can be backed up. Your files won’t be backed up if they are:
  • Photos larger than 200 MB or 150 MP
  • Videos larger than 10 GB.
  • Items smaller than 256 x 256.
• File types that can be backed up.
  • Photos: .jpg, .png, .webp and some RAW files.
  • Live photos can be backed up if you use the Google Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Videos: .mpg, .mod, .mmv, .tod, .wmv, .asf, .avi, .divx, .mov, .m4v, .3gp, .3g2, .mp4, .m2t, .m2ts, .mts, and .mkv files.

Note: If you try to back up a file type not listed here, it may not work with Google Photos.

 

[akash.nu]

iCloud for photos is terribly slow to download photos. You'll notice this when you send multiple photos via text, e-mail or want to pull up a photo from months ago.

Google Photos is great.

It’s the same with google photos if you’re trying to share photos from months or years in the past.

 

[ian87w]

Hi All,

Couple of questions...

If you have Google Photos, you're saving the original (if paying for storage). A smaller lower resolution is stored on the iPhone. Basically the same way it works with iCloud.

Now for videos, I understand Google Photos doesn't support 4k. Does it upload a video at all when syncing? On the Icloud side, does it upload the 4k video? If so what is stored locally?

Trying to determine which solution would be more feasible for 64GB iphones for 4k video and thousands of images...

Google Photo will upload videos. Confirmed by myself as I use it on my Android. The "original quality" option will upload 4K videos as well, as is.

For the "high quality" option, this is what Google says:

Videos higher than 1080p will be resized to high-definition 1080p.