Especially surprising given how much they're pushing it to replace camcorders as well as DSLRs. I mean, how much raw HD video fits in just 16GB? Or even what's left over after half of that 16GB is filled with various apps and music?
I miss when phones used to have easily accessible microSD slots.
> Especially surprising given how much they're pushing it to replace camcorders as well as DSLRs. I mean, how much raw HD video fits in just 16GB?
Storage space is far from the biggest problem with the iPhone replacing DSLRs ("camcorders" are perhaps a different story, if only because "camcorders" is a broader category that includes the equivalent of "point and shoot" devices as well as higher-end, replaceable-lens, analogs of what DSLRs are for still photography.)
It is more than a little absurd in 2014. Many other manufacturers have at least moved up to 32 GB base. Don't get me started on the utility of a micro-SD card slot.
>> "I would imagine many people are the same way."
Most people are out of space. The number of people I heard complaining when iOS 7 was released and they didn't have enough space to install it shocked me. I also know a tonne of people (especially younger people) who can't backup to iCloud because they have filled their device with photos and they would have to pay for more backup space. When most new games are over 500mb and even things like Facebook require nearly 200mb of space it's very easy to run out of 16GB.
I'm another that can't fill my 16GB. Believe it or not, all of us don't record live videos or download full length movies to our phones. I have exactly 3 screens of icons. If I download a new app, I will delete an old one. It's just how I roll :)
surely Apple has the ability to determine the minimum space people need from actual usage statistics. I would expect that usage like that is fed back to them. If not it would be one helluva blown opportunity.
I keep a lot of pictures and videos I've recorded on my phone, as well as music. In addition I like having TV shows stored on my phone, for instance, every season of Archer, because I love that show and I don't want to use up my battery by streaming it constantly(especially when I'm on 6hr runs). My 5s is the 64GB model so I'm still doing quite fine on space, but I can definitely say I've used more than half of it already.
But that's why there are options. No need to up the minimum from 16GB IMO. Not everyone uses their phone as a mobile entertainment device. But some do.
You don't actually get 16. IIRC about 3 is taken up for the OS, so you're really at ... 12 and change out of the gate. I had a 32g 4s - got a 16g 5s and I feel the difference, often bumping in to space issues, having to move/remove photos, and generally having to think about it more - didn't have to with 32.
Everyone's uses are different, but think of resale as well - 2 years from now, what will you get for a 16g device vs a 32 or 64?
I suspect more people than ever share your view. Personally, I'm still old school and prefer to keep an archive of music on my phone. It's great for road trips where cell service may not always be strong. Also in subways or other transit tunnels. Because of this, I love option for mirco-sd. If no expansion is available, I'd expect more than a measly 16GB for everything
I think they could easily sell the 32GB model at the $199 price point. Also, remember that you pay $199 with a carrier but it is something like a $500 phone.
I was surprised by this as well -- despite hearing a rumor of it a week ago. I've given it some thought.. It's a common complaint: $100 for flash storage that costs them a fraction of that. But Apple isn't measuring P/L on a component basis.
It's important to Apple's business to maintain margins. Taking down margins would be punished heavily by investors. So this move seems calculated to me to, yes, push more people to the $299 model. And to do that to offset the cost of more expensive components elsewhere in the device. We'll have to wait for a teardown to be sure, but that's my hypothesis.
I hardly use half of my 16gb model... cumulonimbus computing all the way.
I'm sure they do the research on storage usage... From my personal experience, I have never even heard a complaint about storage space. That doesn't mean I wouldn't appreciate a buffer but definitely not a deciding factor for most. And heh, they give you options
Unless you believe that removing the 16GB model would magically cause all other models to drop $100 in price, then why do you view keeping the 16GB model as a bad thing? I'm sure it sells quite well. If it didn't, they would get rid of it.
They're still selling the 8GB 5c as their 'low end' phone, too, so there will still be new users hurting for space. For "free" with a $2,000 2 year mobile contract.
