TrendForce: Both iPhone 16 Pro Models to Feature 256GB Base Storage

[MacRumors]

Apple is expected to offer both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max with a minimum of 256GB storage, doing away with the 128GB starting option on its smaller Pro model for the first time, according to a new TrendForce report.

Currently, Apple's 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 and comes with the minimum 128GB of storage, while the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 with a minimum 256GB of storage. Ahead of the launch of the iPhone 15 models, there were rumors that the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max could start at $1,199, instead of the $1,099 starting price it charged for the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

That did turn out to be accurate, but only because Apple eliminated the lower priced 128GB storage tier. The iPhone 15 Pro Max now starts at 256GB, and $1,199 is the same price Apple charged for the 256GB iPhone 14 Pro Max. Looking ahead to the upcoming iPhone 16 series, TrendForce believes Apple will follow the same strategy for the iPhone 16 Pro model.

TrendForce bases its prediction on the assumption that the iPhone 16 Pro will include a costly tetraprism periscope lens – a feature that was last year exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max model. In other words, upping the minimum capacity to 256GB will allow Apple to pass over the cost to the consumer while diluting the impression of rising prices.

TrendForce notes that even if the price remains at the same level, consumers' usage habits, such as shooting and storing a large number of high-definition photos and videos, and downloading music and large-scale games, will continue to push up the demand for the average storage capacity.

• Is 128GB Enough iPhone Storage?

In 2018, Apple's iPhone X came with 64GB, an entry-level storage tier that persisted in successive premium device generations until the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020, when Apple adopted 128GB as the new baseline. The next year saw all iPhone 13 models offered with a minimum 128GB. If Apple makes 256GB the new minimum across its premium devices this year, we could well see it reach all models in 2025.

This year's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are rumored to be getting bigger display sizes, increasing to 6.27- and 6.86-inches, respectively. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are equipped with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. The new display sizes will be the largest ever for the iPhone, and should also increase the physical space for internal components and parts.

• iPhone 16 Launch Month Is Here: Here's Everything We Know

Apple will unveil the new iPhone 16 lineup next week on Monday, September 9 at an event with the tagline "It's Glowtime," which is believed to be a reference the new Siri interface that comes with Apple Intelligence.

Article Link: TrendForce: Both iPhone 16 Pro Models to Feature 256GB Base Storage

 

[breenmask]

pretty sure someone is going to say: "oh come on, pro models should be 512GB MINIMUM!!!!!"

🙄

 

[icolove]

I hope they move the base RAM to Macbook Pro base RAM levels. Revolutionary.

 

[grantishere]

Pro model leaks aren't very accurate. WSJ reported from a leak that the base 15 Pro model would start at $1099.

 

[con2apple]

Well, 256GB is minimum.
You need alone 64GB for the apps. Plus 64GB for the minimal storage of these apps. And then storage for files, photos etc

If you like to make photos or videos in high res it should be 512GB on your phone.

 

[icolove]

Pro model leaks aren't very accurate. WSJ reported from a leak that the base 15 Pro model would start at $1099.

Makes sense, since they're likely just re-boxing last year's phone..... or maybe 2022s?

 

[Marty80]

Sounds like 2tb may be on the cards.

 

[grantishere]

Makes sense, since they're likely just re-boxing last year's phone...

I wonder if they're gonna re-box AI features too

 

[Cervisia]

Well, 256GB is minimum.
You need alone 64GB for the apps. Plus 64GB for the minimal storage of these apps. And then storage for files, photos etc

If you like to make photos or videos in high res it should be 512GB on your phone.

My iphone uses a total of 62GB storage. What apps do you have, games?

 

[neuropsychguy]

Makes sense, since they're likely just re-boxing last year's phone..... or maybe 2022s?

Apple is not doing any upgrades?

 

[contacos]

About time. Photos and Video files just keep getting bigger.

 

[CouldBeWorse]

This is a good move. I wonder whether the need to store data related to Apple Intelligence locally necessitated this change.

 

[2540497]

Well, 256GB is minimum.
You need alone 64GB for the apps. Plus 64GB for the minimal storage of these apps. And then storage for files, photos etc
If you like to make photos or videos in high res it should be 512GB on your phone.

Not true at all - I am a very heavy user of photos (Google Maps Lvl 10 contributor, 1bn+ views) and have never exceeded 128GB on my phone.

You have to be a power user - aka a lot of games, a lot of videos, to need 512GB. 95% of people won't need anywhere near it.

 

[LenardG]

This is a good move. I wonder whether the need to store data related to Apple Intelligence locally necessitated this change.

It would be a "good move" if they adjusted the price as well. What they are doing is basically just removing the lowest $999 price point, and the 256GB version will cost the same as last year, $1099.

A good move would have been selling the 256 version at $999 ...

So this is maybe a move to save headaches from people who would have otherwise chosen the 128GB model. Now they will need more money to go Pro, but at least they get a sensible amount of storage. This just makes more money for Apple 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

[mystery hill]

You have to be a power user

You don’t need to a “power user”. Someone who takes a lot of photos and keeps the originals offline will exceed 256GB.

 

[Wazzatagen]

pretty sure someone is going to say: "oh come on, pro models should be 512GB MINIMUM!!!!!"

🙄

I’ll take the bait - It’ll indeed be nice for Pro models to start at 512 if the Pro moniker were to hold any sway.

For now though, I’ll just take the base 256 (if the rumors hold true) WITHOUT a price increase! Alas, we know that’s not happening.

 

[AndiG]

Forget about the iP16 - using an iPhone feels like using an old Nokia phone after the iPhone was available.
That's no joke, just look at the Pixel 9 pro the integration of AI blows your mind and changes the way we will use our smartphones.
Lots of things can be done with the Gemini Nano AI directly on the phone, like transcribing your phone calls and much more. But most fascinating is the integration of AI starting with circle to search, inserting on the fly generated images and so on.

Apple is in deep trouble. Guess chinese/korean markets might be lost, european markets will take a while. But if Apple wants to integrate a feature like "circle to search" it has to integrate google functionality deep into its OS, since you need a search engine Apple doesn't have.

 

[BelgianChoklit]

It's not that 128GB isn't enough for most people, but considering the price the 15 Pro sells for and the fact ProRes is limited to 1080p, it should feature 256GB base storage. That's the only reason I find it gross it has 128GB base storage.

 

[Seanm87]

Well, 256GB is minimum.
You need alone 64GB for the apps. Plus 64GB for the minimal storage of these apps. And then storage for files, photos etc

If you like to make photos or videos in high res it should be 512GB on your phone.

Completely untrue. I just checked my phone and its 69.31 gb with everything stored on device.

 

[JamesMcFlyJR]

as someone with 120gb+ of photos (since my iphone 4 days) and 60gb+ of local music i’ve collected since 2007, 256gb is starting to feel tight

All I’m asking for is for the upgrade from 256gb to 512gb to be $100 instead of the current $200

With memory becoming so cheap, i’d love for this to happen. If not, i’ll just stay with 256gb and delete some more tunes

 

[MichaelDroste]

Nice ! That’s my range… I have about 4,000 songs and space to do little videos

 

[wyrdness]

I'm looking to upgrade as my iPhone XR's 64gb is running very low. I have over 28,000 photos on it, so I'm wondering what people consider to be 'a lot' of photos

 

[mikethebigo]

I wonder if there’s any chance they will only use 256 GB chips this year - if so could there be a chance that the base model could have slower drive performance like other recent devices?

 

[shadowboi]

Forget about the iP16 - using an iPhone feels like using an old Nokia phone after the iPhone was available.
That's no joke, just look at the Pixel 9 pro the integration of AI blows your mind and changes the way we will use our smartphones.
Lots of things can be done with the Gemini Nano AI directly on the phone, like transcribing your phone calls and much more. But most fascinating is the integration of AI starting with circle to search, inserting on the fly generated images and so on.

Apple is in deep trouble. Guess chinese/korean markets might be lost, european markets will take a while. But if Apple wants to integrate a feature like "circle to search" it has to integrate google functionality deep into its OS, since you need a search engine Apple doesn't have.

Can Gemini edit my RAW photos without driving them into watercolor like all Pixels do (at least on the level of editing that Irix HDR provides)? Can Gemini write a dumb reddit comment that will collect 1k+ upvotes? Can Gemini upload photos to Instagram automatically at schedule or even create a custom schedule? Can Gemini be my social media manager and write posts daily for me just after I say "well write something good about todays news, show me before posting!". I DOUBT. Useless, useless AI features that do not correlate with what REAL people need in REAL LIFE. It is just a poor marketing attempt, yet another money grab for Google. Well good for them, if there are people who actually believe in that pseudo-AI nonsense then yeah

 

[dannyyankou]

Pro model leaks aren't very accurate. WSJ reported from a leak that the base 15 Pro model would start at $1099.

But to be fair, they did raise the iPhone 15 Pro Max price by $100. But I guess not really because it has twice the storage as the base iPhone 15 Pro.