IPhone six Storage Capacity: Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
iPhone six Storage Capacity: Apple Takes Two Steps Forward, One Step Back
Last updated on September Ten, 2014 by Christopher Meinck
The iPhone six and iPhone six Plus produce on much of what consumers have been wanting from Apple. The largest being the display. If they were to release a single Four.7-inch iPhone 6, it would have addressed most of the market clamoring for a thicker phone. They went one step further, delivering a massive Five.5-inch display on the iPhone six Plus. Now customers who are upgrading have rough decisions on which iPhone six to buy. As we see with each fresh year of iPhones, purchase decisions revolve around which color and storage capacity. Yet again, those are part of your decision process. Amidst all of the upgrades, Apple switched the storage capacity options. With an enlargening number of premium smartphones offerings kicking off at 32GB, there have been no shortages of calls from users for Apple to dual storage capacity. This year, they took two steps forward and one step back.
Apple has lagged the market for years, clutching on to the 16GB/32GB/64GB options, while costs were a minimal factor. More on that later. This year, things switched, but they missed an chance to get things right. Instead of simply doubling storage across the board, Apple chose to dual the the 32GB and 64GB options respectively to 64GB and 128GB. While those are good moves, they overlooked the fattest problem in their product line. The 16GB iPhone 6/6 Plus, priced at $199/$299, doesn't get a storage bump. So just like the iPhone 4s that was available on October 14th, 2011, the base model is stuck in the quicksand when it comes to storage. While all of the technology has improved, including a camera that takes bursts of pictures and slow-motion movie, the storage hasn't made the requisite bump.
They don't break out just how many they sell for each storage capacity, but it's a safe assumption that the lowest cost model outstrips other models by a fair amount. For Apple, as with any company, it's a matter of pricing and margins. The base model is their bread and butter. Despite massive upgrades across, they've managed to retain their $199 price point for the base model. Still, the leap from 16GB to 32GB is not an expensive proposition for Apple. If we look at the cost of materials from IHS for the iPhone 5s (and they might be adjusted down since 2013), the 16GB NAND Flash is priced at $9.40. The 32GB is $Eighteen.80 and the 64GB is $29.00. So, basically it would cost Apple an extra $Ten to ship a 32GB iPhone six and six Plus. Doesn't sound like much, until you multiply it by millions.
Having spent the last year with a 16GB iPhone 5s, I've had a number of occasions where I've bumped into storage capacity issues. Oddly enough, it doesn't happen when I'm shooting pictures or taking movie. Apple's very own iOS updates require a significant amount of free storage, beyond the actual size of the update. So albeit I've often preached that you don't need the one with thicker gee-bees, most folks do need more than 16GB. I keep my iPhone lean and mean. It's got zero music on it and attempt to do a bi-monthly spring cleaning, where I delete apps that aren't used with any regularity. When you undertake this sort of routine and still have issues, it's troubling. With built-in storage, there is no turning back, unless you're within the fourteen day come back period. The choice you make is what you're saddled with until the next upgrade cycle.
I certainly don't blame Apple for my choices. I also get the economics of selling smartphones. It would be fine if every kid got a free pony with each iPhone six purchase, but that's not realistic. When the unpreventable iPhone six teardown and cost of materials comes out, I suspect the BOM + Manufacturing will be just south of $199. Reminisce, these phones retail for $649, so they are making a fair amount from each sale. If it's way south from $199, than yes, I'm shifting my blame squarely on Apple. If it's north, I'll applaud their decision to give their customers more for their money, rewarding iPhone users with more phone, for less.
Ultimately, Apple cares about the iPhone practice. In 2014, that practice should begin with 32GB of storage. Hey Apple, what do you say we split the difference. Better yet, I'll gladly pay $Ten to cover your costs. And if at any point, they want to throw in a free pony, I'm ok with that too.
What iPhone six Storage Capacity Is Right For Your?
Editor's note: If you've made it this far, thanks for reading. As for which storage choice is best, I very recommend either the 64GB or 128GB models. Both suggest a much higher value proposition than the base model. As a reminder, this price includes a costly 2-year contract, which subsidizes the price of the iPhone 6. Make sure you are getting the most bang from your buck. Apple also has this handy recommendation for folks who aren't sure which best suits their needs. It should help guide your decision on how much storage is right for you. I'd also encourage you to use our comments or forum for further discussion.