How Much Storage Do You Need in a Smartphone? - MakeUseOf

https://ift.tt/r6icLSnag

When you buy a smartphone, you'd ideally ensure it has enough storage space to meet your needs. Unfortunately, not everyone's needs are the same. Some users are hoarders and need more storage, while others can do just fine with the bare minimum.

Finding how much storage you'd actually use will help you avoid the dreadful insufficient space notifications. Also, it'll help you save cash since you won't have to pay more for storage you won't consume in the long run.

Here, we'll help you figure out the right amount of storage you need in a smartphone. So, let's dive in.

Standard Smartphone Storage Options

Unlike in the early days of the smartphone, storage has immensely increased, and what you previously paid big bucks for is not even considered the bare minimum anymore. For instance, the Samsung Galaxy S2 shipped with 16GB of storage in 2011. There was also a more expensive 32GB variant.

By modern standards, both storage options seem pretty low. That's for a reason, of course. We take plenty of pictures and videos, mobile games and apps have gotten bigger, and we save as many memes as possible for later use.

Galaxy S21 Ultra's screen — Image Credit: Samsung

Modern smartphones now ship with 32GB as a standard, and lower storage options than that are becoming hard to come by. Even most phones in the sub-$100 category will include at least 32GB of storage. With 32GB being the minimum, the standard choice for most smartphone companies has become 64GB.

However, besides 32GB and 64GB, you'll also find phones with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and even a whopping 1TB. An excellent example of the latter is Apple's iPhone 13 Pro, one of the best smartphones in 2022.

Is 64GB or 128 GB Enough for a Phone?

While 64GB or 128GB storage sounds good on paper, you never get the same amount of available space, even on a brand new phone. Some of that storage will be unusable since the operating system and pre-installed apps occupy it.

And remember, when talking about storage, it's not just about the figures. While you can have, say, 110GB usable on a 128GB device, you still can't use the whole 110GB. You also need to give your device some breathing space to prevent hanging and sluggish performance.

Everyone uses their smartphones differently. Hence, determining the sufficient amount of storage for your specific needs depends on various factors. One of these includes your media consumption habits.

If you're someone who prefers to store your media files locally, you'll have a difficult time working with 64GB of onboard storage. Plus, you will quickly gobble up storage if you take many pictures or videos and use your phone as a primary storage device. In this case, you will be better off going for 128GB or maybe higher to be safe.

For those who moderately store their media files on-device, 64GB of storage should be just fine. By moderate, we mean you religiously stream music, movies, and TV Shows than downloading them offline.

Under moderate use, 128GB will give you more room to play with and should be a safer option, especially considering that most modern smartphones no longer ship with a hybrid or a dedicated memory expansion slot.

Another factor to consider is gaming. If you regularly play graphic-intensive games like Fortnite, Call of Duty, or PUBG, you should go for 128GB without question. Lastly, if you have embraced the cloud and prefer to have your files online, there's no need to get a 128GB device. You can regularly back up your files and delete them locally to free up space.

However, despite the factors mentioned above, 64GB of storage is enough for the average consumer. But if you sometimes go overboard with media files, 128GB should cover your needs. This is a sweet spot that balances out the price to value ratio and can give you peace of mind even if you're a heavy user.

It isn't too much or too little, just enough to sometimes go overboard with media files, give your photography ambitions a shot and play resource-intensive games. In summary, we recommend 64GB for most people, but if you can get 128GB, please do so.

Is Higher Storage Always Better?

Of course, the more storage your phone has, the better. However, the increased storage space usually comes at a hefty premium. But if you can comfortably splurge on a 512GB storage option for peace of mind while taking high-res images and 4K videos, go for it.

That said, you should carefully consider your needs well since 256GB can sometimes be overkill, even for heavy users. Higher options are outright overkill and should only be viable for the prosumers who use their smartphones to create content.

How Much RAM Does a Smartphone Need?

Is more RAM better for your phone, or are you just paying extra for something you don’t need? We have the answer.

Related Topics

About The Author

Alvin Wanjala (186 Articles Published)

Alvin Wanjala has been writing about technology for over 2 years. He writes about different facets, including but not limited to mobile, PC, and social media. Alvin loves programming and gaming during downtimes.