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iPhone 12 iPhone 12 storage question - is 128gb enough?

N

ndb85

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 24, 2014
19
5
Hey everyone, just looking for a little insight.

I purchased and received my iPhone 12 (blue color scheme) at 128gb storage capacity. I felt like it struck the right cord of value for me when I made the purchase. However, I came from a 256gb XS so I was somewhat spoiled with “storage-freedom.”

So, now of course I have the concern that I’m going to run out of storage. I’m currently sitting at 95gb available of 128, 2,000ish photos and 100ish videos, 100ish apps. I feel like I’m doing well so far, and my plan was to trade in next year (I figure I’d be tired of the Blue by then, this was more of an experiment to try something new).

Do most people get by just fine with 128gb? I think it’s more the anxiety of “not having enough” when I’m pretty certain it won’t be an issue.

(I’m also the guy that buys AppleCare+ religiously, “just in case”)

Thanks!
 
I think 128GB is a good base amount. I’ve had a 256GB iPhone X for almost 3 years, and I’ve never come close to filling it up. Like you said, the peace of mind is nice. However, if you aren’t going to use the storage, it’s basically just a waste of money. I have a 2TB iCloud account though.
 
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PaladinGuy said:
I think 128GB is a good base amount. I’ve had a 256GB iPhone X for almost 3 years, and I’ve never come close to filling it up. Like you said, the peace of mind is nice. However, if you aren’t going to use the storage, it’s basically just a waste of money. I have a 2TB iCloud account though.
Click to expand...
Appreciate the feedback!
 
128GB nor 256GB is enough for me, I have a 512GB SG XS Max, if they ever make a 1TB Pro Max I will upgrade to that, hoping next year, was hoping this year, but didn't happen. Also hoping it's with a port, not ready for a port-less iPhone.
 
I shouldn’t have ordered the 256gb iPhone 12 pro myself. I use between 50-60gb storage on iPhone XS Max and iPhone pro 11 max. I had the 256gb cause apple forced our hands with 64/256gb options.

but att charges $45 restock fee. So im
Stuck with the 256gb

128gb is fine especially if u plan on reselling it in one year.

u won’t ever make up the $100 upsell
On the 256gb for resell next year
 
Depends entirely on your usage.

For example, I've had 128 GB for 4 plus years and typically stay somewhere around 50-60 GB.


But if I was constantly shooting video on it or installing a heap of media/games on it, then things would be different.
 
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I have been a data hoarder for a long time. My last 2 iPhones before have been 256gb.

Keeping with tradition I ended up with another 256gb iPhone 12 Pro but since I am going to be returning it for the 12PM I think its time to shift strategy in my storage.

About 120GB of data used on my iPhone is mostly pictures from 2014. I also had the 200GB iCloud for $3 a month.

My new strategy is as follows:
- All pictures from the last 1 year or 2 use iCloud Photos
- All videos and pictures 1+ year old upload to my unlimited Google Photos account with unlimited storage (.edu account).
- Used PhotoSync app to upload and delete from disk on iPhone, freed up 90GB of data. Google Photos app shows all my pictures from years ago and can still browse a Google Map of all my pictures 'a la icloud'
- Downgraded my $3/month icloud to the $0.99 50gb plan.
- Return my iPhone 12 Pro 256gb
- Purchase 128gb iPhone 12 Pro Max.
 
I have a 12PM on its way 128gb. Until now I had 256gb iPhones but barely used that capacity. After 3 years with my 8+ I have 40gb used out of my 256gb. I mostly store stuff on my 2.2TB iCloud...My 40gb are mostly apps and a very few games. I guess 128gb will be enough.
 
freeagent said:
Empty space is wasted space 👍🏻

I’m a hoarder too with my 256.
Click to expand...

Actually no, empty space allows your SSD (or phone's flash - same thing) to do wear levelling and also avoids filesystem fragmentation, which whilst is less of a problem on SSD can eventually lead to your "Free space" being unusable if it is too fragmented.

Free space is also useful if you say, want to use your machine as a fast/large thumb drive temporarily to transport a bunch of data from point a to point b without a network, or faster than the network between the two points.
 
dumastudetto said:
It's always worth maxing out on storage when you buy a new iPhone. It just affords you the maximum flexibility and gives you room to grow.
Click to expand...

Not for everyone. I still have plenty of space available on my 128GB phone. And my primary phone has been 128GB ever since the 7+ came out.

For me, with under 30GB of music, and I don't carry movies around on my phone. (That is what the iPad is for, with its 256GB).
 
throAU said:
Actually no, empty space allows your SSD (or phone's flash - same thing) to do wear levelling and also avoids filesystem fragmentation, which whilst is less of a problem on SSD can eventually lead to your "Free space" being unusable if it is too fragmented.

Free space is also useful if you say, want to use your machine as a fast/large thumb drive temporarily to transport a bunch of data from point a to point b without a network, or faster than the network between the two points.
Click to expand...
What % of free space is good to have then? Any idea? 10%
 
MacGiver said:
What % of free space is good to have then? Any idea? 10%
Click to expand...

"It depends" however based on my experience with enterprise storage arrays, most vendors seem to recommend 20% free space for this sort of data shuffling.

If you're running on 90% plus constantly.... you're going to be causing work/problems/performance regressions on any system that needs to manage free space for data that may be changing on your device.

Plus - in iOS land of course you'll be running into issues and having to delete stuff, etc. to do operating system upgrades, and on the Mac for example you'll have very little free space for time machine local backups, etc.

Basically having free space enables things like that to work.
 
ndb85 said:
Hey everyone, just looking for a little insight.

I purchased and received my iPhone 12 (blue color scheme) at 128gb storage capacity. I felt like it struck the right cord of value for me when I made the purchase. However, I came from a 256gb XS so I was somewhat spoiled with “storage-freedom.”

So, now of course I have the concern that I’m going to run out of storage. I’m currently sitting at 95gb available of 128, 2,000ish photos and 100ish videos, 100ish apps. I feel like I’m doing well so far, and my plan was to trade in next year (I figure I’d be tired of the Blue by then, this was more of an experiment to try something new).

Do most people get by just fine with 128gb? I think it’s more the anxiety of “not having enough” when I’m pretty certain it won’t be an issue.

(I’m also the guy that buys AppleCare+ religiously, “just in case”)

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Since youre trading it in next year anyways, 128 is sufficient. I managed to survive 6+ years worth of 12,000 pix, 3,000 videos, a billion text messages, but only a few apps with 128gb storage.
 
If you are buying another iPhone next year 128 is fine. You can always upgrade to iCloud storage and upload your videos. That’s an extra $36 a year. Which is less expensive than upgrading to 256gb model.
 
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I ordered a 128 and I am very excited that I could get the base storage and not have anxiety. I have always gotten the 256 or 512 and only ever used 90gb at the most.
 
128GB is the sweet spot for most people (that's why Apple still put 64GB as base storage on the 12, to nudge people to upsize :D)

I myself have 128GB phones, and they're sufficient for me for the foreseeable future. Having said that, if you download a lot of games, chat with your friends with a ton of media sharing (photos, videos, documents, etc), then it might be a good idea to get the 256GB model.
 
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