Smartphone Tips 📱💾 - How much phone storage do you need? - DIY in 5 Ep 110

Опубликовано 15 ноября 2019, 18:00

We’re going to break down how much phone storage you really need. Whether you’re using iOS or Android, there are many things you should consider before you spend way too much money on your next phone or spend too little and end up with a phone that can’t match your needs.

Operating System
Know that your phone operating system is going to take up some space. While the actual operating system files may only run 2 to 5GB, the system functions, system apps, cache, temp files and other things necessary for your OS to function can run you between 10 to 20GB or more. Both iOS and Android have a way to find your System Storage and currently my Pixel 4 uses 13GB which is about the same as a new iPhone 11. Plus, operating system updates will require an extra 4-5GB of free memory to safely update so I’d recommend mentally setting aside at least 20GB of your storage for operating system purposes.

Games and Apps
Next, let’s look at your apps, particularly games. Some of the latest games like Hearthstone, Wizards Unite and Raid Shadow Legends each take over 1GB and that can add up quickly. Other apps like Audible and Instagram can quickly fall into this over 1GB club when you add in user data and cache. That’s over 5GB of storage taken up on my phone with just those few examples. Also, streaming apps like Netflix, Spotify, or a podcast app will all allow you to download content for offline consumption. If you download a few movies, some podcasts and your favorite playlist before going on a trip, that’s another few gigs right there. So, if you’re a gamer, major offline content consumer or someone who uses photo or video editing and sharing apps regularly, extra storage will be key.

Photos and Videos
Speaking of photos and videos, these usually take up the most storage on any phone. As phone cameras get better, so does the footage they capture usually translating to a larger file size. A still photo taken from a phone can range from 2.5 to 25MB per photo depending on the quality of photo taken and the photo type saved such as RAW vs JPEG. The average 1-minute video of your dog being adorable will take significantly more space, at least 1GB depending on your settings. If you plan on doing tons of smartphone video and photo content creation, plan to get a lot of storage or transfer content off your phone regularly.

Cloud Storage
One way to minimize data use on my phone is by using the free photo storage offered with both Google Photos and iCloud photo Library. iCloud offers 5GB of free storage to all users with pricing plans after that and Google Photos allows unlimited photo and video storage with a small amount of compression if you prefer to save your original photos. Unless you really need high-res versions of your photos for large photo prints, the minimal compression will be fine. Plus, you can still access the high-res and compressed versions of photos through the phone’s native photo app.

Extra Flash Storage
If Cloud storage isn’t for you, you can offload your storage using physical storage options. Some Android phones still offer expandable storage by way of a microSD. We’ve covered how to choose the best microSD here youtube.com/watch?v=dSlZeLc7PT... Kingston’s Canvas Select Plus microSD has A1 app support, and is available in sizes all the way up to 512GB. If you have an iPhone you also have external storage options via a lightning USB like the Kingston Bolt, but you still need an app to use it. iOS 13 doesn’t support external storage like the new iPadOS does.

Tl:Dr
Most users really don’t need 256GB, 512GB or even 1TB of phone storage. Most of us sit right in the 64GB or 128GB space. Weigh your needs thinking about the things we’ve discussed in this video and shop accordingly. What is the one thing taking up the most space on your phone right now? Let us know in the comments.

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#androidstorage
#microsdcards