64, 128, or 256 GB? Everything you need to know about smartphone storage

Whether 64, 128, or 256 GB is the right amount of storage for your smartphone depends on your individual needs and personal usage habits.

64, 128 or 256 GB: 128 GB – the new standard for average users

In today’s digital age, smartphones are indispensable everyday companions. We use them for communication, work, entertainment, navigation, banking and much more. One of the most important factors when choosing a new smartphone is the internal storage space.

• Until recently, 64 GB was considered sufficient for many users, but usage patterns have changed significantly. Today, many people store uncompressed photos and videos, install increasingly large apps, and use social networks that require a lot of local storage (e.g., automatically saved media in WhatsApp or Instagram).

• The average smartphone user has around 80 apps installed, including memory-intensive applications such as games and photo editing tools. That’s why 128 GB is now the realistic entry-level recommendation for the typical average user.

• They offer enough space for: An extensive app collection, thousands of photos and videos, offline music, movies, series or podcasts, system updates and future storage requirements.

• In addition, more storage reduces the need to constantly transfer or delete data.

256 GB – For power users, gamers, and content creators

If you regularly record high-resolution 4K videos, maintain large photo archives, use professional apps, or install many mobile games, a smartphone with 256 GB of storage is a worthwhile investment.

• These devices are ideal for: YouTubers, TikTok or Instagram creators, as well as mobile gamers with lots of large games or users who regularly work with video editing or image processing. Finally, they are also ideal for those who want to clean up or transfer data as little as possible.

• Such a large internal memory offers maximum flexibility and prevents bottlenecks during intensive use.

64 GB – Only for light users or with cloud support

Smartphones with 64 GB of storage are now mostly only found in low-cost entry-level models.

• For light users who mainly make calls, chat, write emails or occasionally surf the web, this amount of storage may still be sufficient – but only under certain conditions.

• Namely, if you regularly clean up your storage space, transfer large files to an SD card (if available), or actively use cloud services such as Google Photos, iCloud, or OneDrive

• Cloud usage in particular can be a useful addition if you want to save money. According to recent user surveys, many people prefer this option to buying a more expensive model with more internal storage.