The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro should start at 256GB of storage, matching the flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max model expected to start at 256GB.
The Mac Observer has learned from an unknown source that the iPhone 16 Pro will start at 256GB of base storage instead of 128GB. If true, the smaller iPhone 16 Pro will for the first time match the flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max with 256GB base storage and eliminate the 128GB option from the iPhone Pro lineup.
Despite twice the storage, the iPhone 16 Pro should still cost the same $999 as the iPhone 15 Pro (which also starts at 128GB). In other words, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max should come with 256GB, 512GB and 1TB storage tiers.
Rumor: With iPhone 16 Pro, 256GB is the new 128GB
MacRumors cautions against taking the report at face value because the source lacks an established track record.
Apple will unveil the iPhone 16 family in September, with the devices expected to feature bigger displays. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro are said to feature 6.3-inch screens instead of 6.1-inch ones. At the same time, the iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16 Pro Max are expected to grow from 6.7 to 6.9 inches.
How much base storage is enough?
Every few years, Apple updates the iPhone’s storage to keep up with the times. In 2021, iPhone 13 ditched the 64GB option in favor of a new 128GB one. And 2018’s iPhone X started at 64GB instead of 32GB like prior models.
128GB is perfectly adequate if you don’t shoot many 4K videos or take lots of photos. Even if you do, the Photos app can optimize its storage consumption with space-saving media previews. Full-resolution photos and videos are kept in iCloud and downloaded on demand, like when you edit an image.
“Lots of storage for lots of photos”
Apple highlighted this feature in a recent ad that calls 128GB “lots of storage for lots of photos.” Unfortunately, the advertisement doesn’t even show where to enable this feature, simply assuming your average viewer is familiar with it.
That couldn’t be farther from the truth. As a result, the ad leaves you feeling like Apple is out of touch with reality regarding how much storage is enough for the average user, although that wasn’t the ad’s intention.
The problem with Apple storage is iCloud, not iPhone
As John Gruber opined on his Daring Fireball blog, the bigger problem is the limited iCloud storage people get for free. Since Steve Jobs announced iCloud in 2011, every account has included five gigabytes of free storage.
5GB is barely enough to sync an empty iPhone! In comparison, Google Drive offers fifteen gigabytes of free cloud storage per account. Apple lets you expand iCloud storage, with 50GB at $1/month, 200GB at $3/month and other plans available.
“Like the stingy U.S. minimum wage — which was last increased, to $7.25/hour, in 2009—these tiers ought to be adjusted for inflation periodically, but aren’t,” Gruber writes. “If Apple really wants iPhone users not to worry about photo storage, they should offer more with iCloud, cost-to-Apple be damned.”