iPhone 12 - capacity options

[Fluke]

I'm thinking of upgrading from the iPhone 7 to the 12. I bought the 7 about 4 years ago and, not knowing whether or not I'd need it, I opted for the middle capacity option, I had a choice of 32GB, 128 or 256, I went for 128. I just checked how much of that is currently being used and it's 34.7GB out of 128. So I guess I did the right thing in once sense in that I would have exceeded my capacity if I'd gone for the cheaper option but only just and I'm sure I've got loads apps that I never use that I could have got rid of. Out of interest the one that takes up the most room is my podcast app - Overcast - 7.69GB. I've probably downloaded loads of episodes that I could quite easily now delete but since capacity isn't a problem I haven't bothered. So, bottom line, there's an awful lot of unused capacity there that I needn't have paid the extra for.

If you want to check yours btw go to settings>general>storage

So my options for the 12 are 64GB 128 and 256

https://www.apple.com/uk/shop/buy-iphone/iphone-12

I'm thinking 64 but who knows what I might be using it for in a couple of years when I work out what all this 5g business is about. Of course that's the logic I used last time and look where that got me.

What say you?

[swill453]

For another £50 for the 128GB? No brainer for me. Over 4 years you might have to spend many hours housekeeping to keep within the minimum storage. How much do you value your time?

(The app-bloat-factor will make the minimum storage on the new phone pretty much the same as the minimum on the old phone.)

Scott.

[GrahamPlatt]

Given that with the Apple ecosystem, everything on the 7 is going to port over to the 12, your 12 will be starting with whatever Gigabytes you choose-34.7 (housekeeping excluded). So if that’s the 64, you’d be starting with 29.3 free... that’s not enough, is it?

[Fluke]

Well since you put it like that. Yes very good points.

Thanks.

[MaraMan]

I made the same move but from an iPhone 7 onto an 12 max pro with 128Gb, which seems to be more than adequate for me, but I would not have less.

MM

[AF62]

I went for 128. I just checked how much of that is currently being used and it's 34.7GB out of 128. So I guess I did the right thing in once sense in that I would have exceeded my capacity if I'd gone for the cheaper option but only just and I'm sure I've got loads apps that I never use that I could have got rid of. Out of interest the one that takes up the most room is my podcast app - Overcast - 7.69GB. I've probably downloaded loads of episodes that I could quite easily now delete but since capacity isn't a problem I haven't bothered. So, bottom line, there's an awful lot of unused capacity there that I needn't have paid the extra for.

I believe you are overlooking that IOS manages the available space quite effectively and would have offloaded unused apps more aggressively or downloaded fewer podcast episodes if you were running out of space.

[dave559]

As others have pointed out, 64 GB is likely to be scrimping it over time, probably annoyingly so.

Another factor to consider is that newer phones have higher resolution cameras, so if you use your phone a reasonable amount for taking photos or videos, these will take up a bit more space than those you had taken before with your current phone.

Given the figures that you quote, I suspect that 128 GB will probably be enough for you, but you can never be sure!

I faced a similar dilemma when I upgraded my phone last year. Based on my previous usage, I suspected that 128 GB would probably be enough for me, but, being cautious, I decided to "go large", just in case. Like you, I tend to use my phone for about 4 years before upgrading: I justify the extra cost to myself by averaging it out over that timescale in my head, which makes it seem less unreasonable (the only way I can justify many of Apple's add-on prices over base spec, especially for Macs, to myself!).

[AF62]

Another factor to consider is that newer phones have higher resolution cameras, so if you use your phone a reasonable amount for taking photos or videos, these will take up a bit more space than those you had taken before with your current phone.

That assumes you store them all on the phone and don't let the phone pull them down from iCloud when needed as an iPhone will automatically store photos and videos there, so freeing up space when needed.

[Fluke]

All very valid points, glad I asked. Thanks folks.