Time for smartphone manufacturers to emulate the iPhone 17's lead and abandon 128GB storage capacity
In the ever-evolving world of technology, storage capacity in smartphones has become a crucial factor for users. With the increasing demand for advanced cameras, complex applications, and large data storage, smartphone manufacturers are responding by offering devices with larger storage capacities.
One of the first companies to take this step was OnePlus, which increased the base storage amount in its devices. Following suit, major players like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Google, and others have largely introduced models with a minimum storage capacity of 256GB by 2025. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and iPhone 16 Pro are prime examples of this trend. It appears that there is no leading manufacturer still not offering 256GB minimal storage in their flagship 2025 models, and it is expected that this trend will be followed universally by other manufacturers within this timeframe.
The vast majority of brands in China, in particular, start at 256GB (and sometimes even 512GB) by default. For instance, the average smartphone in China has more than 80 apps installed, with popular apps like TikTok (2.17GB), Facebook (1.65GB), and Overcast (3.99GB) consuming significant amounts of storage, even after deleting a large number of saved podcasts.
However, despite the convenience of cloud storage, the internal storage in smartphones offers several advantages. Not only is internal storage faster, making it easier to access stored data, but it is also more secure. In many places, the available connection speeds are abysmal, making cloud storage less viable for transferring files. Moreover, uploading data to a server increases the number of entities with access and creates more vulnerability. As a result, the internal storage in smartphones provides a more reliable and secure solution for storing data.
Apple is also following this trend with the iPhone 17 lineup, ensuring that users have ample storage for their growing needs. With the increasing emphasis on security and speed, internal storage in smartphones is set to remain a vital aspect of these devices for the foreseeable future.
