Why no MiniSD slot? (what to say in defense)

[pgiguere1]

Simplicity. iOS has no filesystem and that's part of what makes it easy to use. I wouldn't want to mess with settings to manage my storage every time I save or load content. Android was willing to sacrifice good usability for cheapness. Apple never targets cheap people because their quality standards and margins matter more than their market share.

As for the price, of course the profit margins for storage upgrades is very high on iPhones, but you also have to consider that the iPhone's internal NAND flash is much faster than most SD cards in read speeds. That's why often you can't install applications on SD cards on Android. That would make them slow compared to the internal storage.

I personally don't see any good reason to use an SD card over internal unless you want to save money. Not that saving money isn't good, but if your argument is about which phone is the best (and not which one has the best value), SD cards aren't really something that improves the phone, it just makes you save money at the expense of having a slightly larger/heavier phone and lower read speeds.

Apple has chosen an elegant and expensive solution over a cheap and clunky solution. That's not exactly new.

 

[mrsir2009]

Because a Micro-SD card slot would take up a lot of space that could be used for other things - Such as flash storage that would be FASTER than a Micro-SD card.

 

[mcdj]

Who cares what some other phone has? Why would you even consider needing to defend a missing feature? It's not a war. It's a telephone.

 

[KoukiFC3S]

Only apps that produce some widgets, or require to be running as part of the boot process could not go to SD. Any other app works just fine. I would say in reality, about 95% of apps have no problem with being setup on SD card.

Right, but the Android OS does not see the physical SD card as an SD card.

The internal storage in most modern android phones is broken into 2 partitions.

4GB or so is for apps, and the remainder of the internal storage is put under "/sdcard/".

When you insert a micro sd, it becomes something like "/sdcard/external_sd/".
Only a handful of apps will write to the micro sd. This is why an sd card is not a proper way to expand storage.

 

[zorinlynx]

My response is "who cares". I've reached an age where I don't have to justify my purchase decisions anymore.

 

[Meanee]

Right, but the Android OS does not see the physical SD card as an SD card.

The internal storage in most modern android phones is broken into 2 partitions.

4GB or so is for apps, and the remainder of the internal storage is put under "/sdcard/".

When you insert a micro sd, it becomes something like "/sdcard/external_sd/".
Only a handful of apps will write to the micro sd. This is why an sd card is not a proper way to expand storage.

You may need to recheck your facts.

Android also mounts a storage to /mnt/sdcard. Also, if app is coded properly, it will use SD card using API, instead of a hardcoded path.

To date, I did not encounter a single app that has ability to run from SD card, but was not able to. Some apps are restricted from being on SD, but vast majority that are not.

 

[brand]

I would say in reality, about 95% of apps have no problem with being setup on SD card.

Do you have a source for that number or is it unsubstantiated.

 

[jclardy]

For one, I believe Apple's internal flash memory should be faster than a class 2 or class 4 Micro SDHC card which is what you would be buying for $12.

But even still, you can get a 32GB class 6-10 for around $30 on sale.

Apple should decrease the price gap between models, but I'm pretty sure the reason they don't do it is because they get their huge margins off of the 64GB models.

Plus inventory would be difficult, as I could see many more people springing for 32GB if it was only $50 extra.

 

[Meanee]

Do you have a source for that number or is it unsubstantiated.

Most is from my experience. I used Apps2SD even before it was a standard Android feature. And only 1-2 apps had issues after they were moved. Same experience among friends and family.

 

[brand]

Most is from my experience. I used Apps2SD even before it was a standard Android feature. And only 1-2 apps had issues after they were moved. Same experience among friends and family.

I was just curious since I have never owned an Android device. I have used them enough to know that I am glad I am an iOS user but to each their own.

 

[raremage]

I have an iPhone 5 and the SGS3. On the S3, I bought an SD card, put it in and haven't touched it and doubt I will. So other then I had to buy an SD card in addition to my phone I really don't see much difference in having the memory internal on the iPhone or on the SD card on the S3.

There is another difference - you have to decide where you're going to store items. The SD card on the GS3 (or any Android phone) introduces management tasks that you don't have using an integrated single "drive."

Some consider this a plus, but to me it's more of a hassle.

 

[sneaky butcher]

its all about the apple experience. SD cards are slower at loading stuff than internal memory. apps , music/videos (fast forward/rewind access load times etc) all slower. It would take away from the slickness and responsiveness of iphone/ipad

it would compromise the experience tbh i can see why they dont do it.

p.s im an android owner

 

[TroyBoy30]

There aren't many android phones left with external storage either

 

[Meanee]

There aren't many android phones left with external storage either

Aye. Current new trend. I consider myself to be a power user when it comes to Android, but there were times when internal/external storage locations confused the crap out of me.

 

[PracticalMac]

Ask them how many, that use a 64GB microSD, swap cards. I would bet money that very few ever swap cards.

I did mention that, as not practical to do often.

But still does not address a cheap way to maximize space.

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but you also have to consider that the iPhone's internal NAND flash is much faster than most SD cards in read speeds. That's why often you can't install applications on SD cards on Android. That would make them slow compared to the internal storage.

THIS

Good point I forgot to consider.
Although I wonder how significant of a speed difference.

but if your argument is about which phone is the best (and not which one has the best value),

NO, NOT about which is best.
Everything about perception, that MiniSD's are not the way to go.

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Pretty much this.

You have no reason to "defend" your purchase to anyone. Anyone who makes you come up with a defense needs to get a life.

And if you feel the need to generate defenses without solicitation, then maybe you should think about why that is the case.

When you have a couple of co-workers basically say Apple is gouging people for overpriced "junk" and make anyone an idiot for buying Apple "crap", one tends to get a little perturbed.

Our company is also a big shortsighted too.

 

[darngooddesign]

Even though I ponied up for the 64GB, I do feel that Apple is overcharging for the additional space. Here's the thing, I have 30+ gigs of music so I would need a large drive, but having extra cards for movies would be great; could use them in my iPad as well.

 

[DeaconGraves]

When you have a couple of co-workers basically say Apple is gouging people for overpriced "junk" and make anyone an idiot for buying Apple "crap", one tends to get a little perturbed.

Our company is also a big shortsighted too.

Pardon my French but f' them.

If they have to justify their preference in phone by dismissing other's, they're the ones with the issues, not you.

 

[zencowboy]

iExpander is an option

I don't think this was posted yet... take a look at the iExpander:

http://appadvice.com/appnn/2012/09/...ery-life-for-your-iphone-5-with-the-iexpander

 

[AppleFan91]

And when you want to watch a movie and no internet connection available (subway), then what?

You....save it to the internal storage on the phone? It does come with 16Gb, 32GB and 64GB you know....

 

[Meanee]

You....save it to the internal storage on the phone? It does come with 16Gb, 32GB and 64GB you know....

And if... you... want to transfer it without the use of iTunes? Like, I don't know, at your work computer?

 

[FamousLastX]

Well Google themselves have even spoken out against external SD card use on Android, which is why the "pure" Android experience Nexus devices don't contain the slot: http://www.androidcentral.com/why-nexus-devices-have-no-sd-card

 

[verwon]

Really, if you have to defend your phone choice to others, then you have far deeper issues than any answers on this site will help with!

 

[AppleFan91]

And if... you... want to transfer it without the use of iTunes? Like, I don't know, at your work computer?

Then wifi? since you aren't at Subway anymore. Hell upload it to Dropbox, etc, etc

 

[iphone.16gb]

It isn't something most users and the average iPhone user would be interested in or use

Then why do Apple sell the iPhone with different amounts of memory?

I personally don't see any good reason to use an SD card over internal unless you want to save money.

THIS. iPhones are for people that satisfy (money > sense).

 

[Meanee]

Then wifi? since you aren't at Subway anymore. Hell upload it to Dropbox, etc, etc

I setup my company's wifi to have client isolation. And dropbox would be interesting if I want to upload 3gb video file. It has to go up to Dropbox, then down to iPhone.

Try again, please.