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iPhone 7 To Start at 32GB Storage, Says WSJ (time.com)

An anonymous reader writes: It appears Apple has finally decided to do something about the not-so-enough 16GB storage on its base iPhone model. According to a report on WSJ, the Cupertino-based company's next smartphone -- expected to be named iPhone 7 will have 32GB internal storage on the base model.For years, Apple has offered a 16GB iPhone version for those who were on a budget or just didn't necessarily need too much storage. But as we moved forward -- the iPhone got better cameras and improved video recording capability and apps became more sophisticated and ate more storage -- we really reached a point where 16GB wasn't enough for most people. In many cases, people were unable to update their iPhone to the latest version of iOS because there wasn't enough storage left on the device. It's a welcome move, and something millions of people will appreciate.

22 of 235 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Probably an excuse to jack the price. by Yvan256 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Yes it should.

    If we were still in 1996.

  2. How about having a user accessable mem card slot? by xystren · · Score: 5, Insightful

    And let the consumer decide how much memory they want/need? Ohh, wait, that's not the Apple way. Silly me.

  3. 16 GB flash is 2$ by tommeke100 · · Score: 2

    A quick search reveals that 16 GB flash is like 2$ on Alibaba, and that's as an USB stick. This is like a 1$ manufacturing cost for Apple. Big Deal!

    1. Re:16 GB flash is 2$ by Aaden42 · · Score: 5, Informative

      Flash *does* come in more than one grade, interface type, speed, etc. The crap(*) they put on a $2 USB stick isn’t the same thing that’s in even a cheap smartphone. If you don’t believe there’s a difference, buy a cheap micro-SD card and a good one, then compare benchmarks. You’ll easily see 5-10x increase in throughput on the good one.

      (*) And that’s even assuming you’re getting an actual 16 GB module instead of a counterfeit with 2 GB of actual flash and a controller reprogrammed to make it look like 16 GB.

    2. Re:16 GB flash is 2$ by drinkypoo · · Score: 3, Insightful

      A quick search reveals that 16 GB flash is like 2$ on Alibaba, and that's as an USB stick.

      Do us a favor, buy one and test its actual capacity, and then get back to us so we can have a good giggle.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    3. Re:16 GB flash is 2$ by Aaden42 · · Score: 2

      Clearly their customers (self included) disagree. The number of co-workers I've heard complaining about the SD slot on their phones flaking out after a few months makes me content to pay a little extra for soldered on flash. I'm willing to pay for good UX.

  4. Steve would be so proud. by CaseyB · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's inspiring to see that Apple can still Think Different, and radically reinvent its products generation over generation. Who could have predicted such a groundbreaking development?

  5. Re:Nothing new by Teckla · · Score: 2

    They used to offer 4GB and 8GB models too, the 16GB was actually the highend model a few years back.
    Storage capacities increase, not really news...

    I think the news is that it took Apple so long to increase the storage on their entry level iPhones to something resembling reasonable.

  6. You know what I'd like even more? by _xeno_ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You know what I'd like even more?

    A removable memory card slot. Wait, it's Apple, so if I say that we'd end up with iMemoryStick. I mean a microSD card slot.

    If Apple is going to pretend that their phones double as cameras and throw in things like 4K video support, they should have removable media support. No photographer is going to use a camera without removable media. (Or field-replaceable batteries, but that's a different issue.)

    --
    You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    1. Re:You know what I'd like even more? by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      No photographer is going to use a camera without removable media.

      What does that have to do with iPhones? A photographer will use the right tool for the job, which presumably would be a camera with different lenses, battery packs and memory cards.

    2. Re:You know what I'd like even more? by _xeno_ · · Score: 3, Interesting

      What does that have to do with iPhones? A photographer will use the right tool for the job, which presumably would be a camera with different lenses, battery packs and memory cards.

      Agreed. But if you ever watch any of Apple's keynotes about their phones, they always inevitably contain a section where they gush about the camera and show pictures shot "by a professional photographer" with the phone.

      Apple loves to pretend that their phones are totally amazing cameras that can completely replace that DSLR the pros use.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little relative jumps, all alike.
    3. Re:You know what I'd like even more? by Immerman · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Heck, why exactly do you suppose they gush about the "professional photographer" aspect? It's actually a disclaimer covered in glitter - professionals are the only ones who could coax such a nice picture out of it.

      --
      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
    4. Re:You know what I'd like even more? by ravenscar · · Score: 2

      It's much easier to remove your phone case, pull open the media card slot, eject the card via software (assuming that is even still necessary in Android), remove the micro sd card, put the card in a card adapter, insert the card in the reader, and read the media. Then follow all the same steps in reverse. Yeah, that's way better than plugging in a cable or using wifi.

      I assume SD cards are the "thing" for real photographers using real equipment, but I also see that they aren't nearly so great when applied in the phone world.

  7. Re:How about having a user accessable mem card slo by HornWumpus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Apple owns the chump market. Duh.

    It also caps their market share.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  8. Re:How about having a user accessable mem card slo by narcc · · Score: 2

    That's fine from Apple's perspective. I'm not so sure it's a net positive for consumers, however...

  9. Re:How about having a user accessable mem card slo by ilsaloving · · Score: 4, Informative

    Having used android devices with SD Card slots, I will never again consider an SD card slot to be a worthwhile feature. Not being able to offload applications was a big one. Having to play games like "Where the f__k is my data?" was another.

    The hoops you had to go through to work with the things was just awe inspiring, and even then they didn't work reliably. I'd rather pay the premium and get more internal storage to begin with. At least then I know what to expect.

    I understand that the most recent versions of android deal with external storage in a much more sane way, but that doesn't mean much when said versions of android have 10% penetration despite having been out for over a year.

  10. Re:How about having a user accessable mem card slo by Drethon · · Score: 2

    All I remember running into is plugging in to charge and my SD storage was gone. Change USB plug in settings and never had a problem.

  11. Re:Just put an SD slot on the damned thing by known_coward_69 · · Score: 2

    the latest anandtech review says apple's way is still the fastest for performance. micro sd is ok for streaming but sucks for putting apps on the it

  12. Re:How about having a user accessable mem card slo by tlambert · · Score: 2

    It's not only Apple. My Nexus from Google doesn't have a memory slot either. Why!?

    You got sent the one without the slot because you are on the "don't slot list". You probably dropped you phone in the toilet while in a drunken stupor at some point in the past (that's how most people end up on the "don't slot list").

  13. Re:Probably an excuse to jack the price. by Captain+Splendid · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Commenters bitching about tech they have no intention of using is this website's business model. Be nice.

    --
    Linux, you magnificent bastard, I read the fucking manual!
  14. Re:Probably an excuse to jack the price. by Immerman · · Score: 2

    You seem to have misunderstood - I meant that the cost of a quality 8GB chip might be around $8, while a 32 GB chip would be only $10 or so, so 25% greater expenditure on a relatively inexpensive component gets you a 400% increase in capacity. In that case, it would be foolish to buy the 8GB chip unless you were completely certain you would never use the extra 24GB during the life of the device. Unless of course the manufacturer used the distinction as a completely artificial delineator between product tiers and charged a massive premium for that extra $2 worth of capacity. In which case, personally, I'd question whether I wanted to support that company's exploitative business model with my purchase

    If 2TB drives are still costing 2x as much as 1TB then obviously they're beyond the sweet spot (or I suppose within it, really) - but the fact that you didn't save yourself some money by going with 500GB drives for $40 each suggests that either you understand my basic point, or know for certain you're going to want the extra capacity.

    All I'm really saying is that there's typically a wide range of products at the low end where slight increases in cost net large increases in value, just as at the high end you reach the point were large increases in cost net only small increases in value (a 10TB drive will cost a heck of a lot more than 10 1TB drives). In between lies the "sweet spot", where cost and value scale roughly linearly. In general, there's very little reason to buy outside the sweet spot unless you are absolutely certain your usage justifies it. Which typically means either extreme high- or low-end products - neither of which is particularly relevant to the range of flash capacity in your typical smartphone.

    --
    --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
  15. Re:How about having a user accessable mem card slo by acoustix · · Score: 2

    Having had contacts on removal cards wear out while in a mobile device and fail (SIM cards included), I'd actually prefer something with fewer mechanical links which is soldered on. More drop safe.

    On the other hand, you can't replace the soldered mem cards by yourself. Which is worse, having removable memory that can wear out (but you can back it up), or having non-removable memory card go bad?

    --
    "A plan fiendishly clever in its intricacies"- Homer Simpson