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Hi-res pics, videos, demanding games: Choose wisely based on needs, habits.
Far past the era of microscopic storage spaces, modern smartphones offer storage from around 64GB up to 1TB. But how much does each smartphone user really need?
Ultimately, it depends on what they use their devices for.
Storage black hole
Before tackling storage spaces and how much is enough, we should look at and understand how much, on average, is used for particular elements or tasks in a smartphone.
➤ A single high-quality photo typically uses up to 10MB.
➤ Video recordings consume far more space, where one minute of HD video can use 100–200MB, while 4K video eats 350–700MB per minute.
➤ Apps, games and their updates also take space. Some games or resource-intensive apps may occupy 1GB–4GB each.
➤ The phone’s operating system and preinstalled apps often use 15GB–30GB before you add your own files.
Due to these, a phone that is advertised as having 64GB or 128GB will rarely offer that much usable space, especially as system files and formatting will reduce available storage.
Different users, different storage preferences
Most people fall into three groups when it comes to storage needs. Light users who stick to calls, messaging, basic apps and a small number of photos usually manage with 64GB–128GB.
Typical users who rely on social media, take regular photos and run a moderate number of apps are better off with 128GB–256GB.
Heavy users who frequently shoot 4K video, have a large library of huge games, save music or movies offline, or keep extensive photo libraries often need 256GB–512GB or more.
This spread reflects how differently people use their phones and why choosing storage based on habits matters more than just picking devices based on cheaper price points.
As apps grow, their demands rise and over time, what fits today might not fit tomorrow. Similarly, video and photo file sizes grow as cameras improve, especially when using high resolution or RAW format.
Consumers should also be aware that the advertised space is precisely that – “advertised” – as the OS and system overhead will take a chunk.
There is no one-size-fits-all number. A modest user may get away with 64GB–128GB. For those who shoot video, install many apps or want their phones to last several years without stress, go for 256GB or more.
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