How much phone storage do I need? 128GB vs 256GB vs 512GB
How much storage photos, video, apps and games really use, which size to buy for an iPhone or Android phone, and what the jump to the next size costs at Australian stores today.
In this guide
Storage is the one thing you can't upgrade on most phones, and running out is the most common reason people replace a phone that otherwise works fine. It's also the easiest way for stores to upsell you. Here's how to pick the right size.
The short answer
- 128GB: fine if you mainly message, browse and stream, and keep photos in the cloud.
- 256GB: the right size for most people. Room for years of photos, apps and some downloads.
- 512GB: for heavy 4K video, big mobile games, or keeping music and films offline.
- 1TB and up: for people who film a lot of high-quality video on their phone.
What uses the space
- The system itself: iOS or Android plus pre-installed apps take a sizeable chunk before you add anything, and it grows with updates.
- Photos: a few megabytes each. Thousands add up over the years.
- Video: the big one. 4K video at 60 frames per second uses a lot of space per minute; ProRes and similar pro formats use far more.
- Apps and games: most apps are small, but big games can take several gigabytes each.
- Messaging apps: WhatsApp and similar apps quietly fill up with photos and videos people send you.
Check what you use now
On an iPhone: Settings → General → iPhone Storage. On Android: Settings → Storage (or Battery and device care → Storage on Samsung). Whatever you use today, buy at least double, because it only grows.
What the bigger size costs
The price gap between storage sizes varies by store and by phone. Here are today's prices for each size of the most compared phones:
| Store | Apple iPhone 17 | Samsung Galaxy S26 | Google Pixel 10a |
|---|---|---|---|
| JB Hi-Fi | $1,499 256GB | $1,649 256GB | $949 128GB |
| Harvey Norman | $1,547 256GB | $1,147 256GB | — |
| The Good Guys | $1,547 256GB | $1,647 256GB | $949 128GB |
| Mobileciti | — | $1,147 256GB | $747 128GB |
| Apple Store | $1,549 256GB | — | — |
| Samsung Store | — | $1,649 256GB | — |
| amaysim | $1,549 256GB | $1,549 256GB | — |
| Costco | — | $1,449.99 256GB | — |
| digiDirect | $1,497 256GB | $1,547 256GB | — |
| Betta | $1,549 256GB | $1,649 256GB | — |
Each store's cheapest size in stock is shown next to its price; open a phone to see every size at every store.
Cloud storage: a cheaper alternative?
iCloud, Google One and similar services let you keep photos off the phone for a monthly fee. Over the years you keep a phone, that fee can add up to more than the cost of the bigger size, but it also backs up your photos if the phone is lost. Many people do both: a reasonable size, plus a cloud backup.
Tips
- Many current iPhones start at 256GB, so the base model is enough for most people.
- Samsung's bigger storage sizes are often discounted during launch promotions.
- Some Android phones take a microSD card, though fewer flagships do now.
Ready to buy? See the best phones in Australia and where to buy a phone outright.
