Buying Guide
128GB or 256GB — which storage tier should you buy?
4 min read
Storage affects both daily use and resale value. Match it to how you actually use your phone, without overpaying or regretting it later.
Storage is one of the few specs you cannot upgrade later on most smartphones. Buying with some headroom is usually worth more than the money saved at purchase.
Roughly how space gets used
- Operating system
- 12–20GB
- Photos and video per year
- ~35GB
- Apps and games
- 20–60GB
before any apps
typical user
varies widely
Short version
- Shoot photos and video regularly? Start at 256GB
- General use with cloud backup? 128GB is enough
- Avoid 64GB if you plan to keep the phone beyond two years