The iPhone 6s is set to be Apple’s biggest incremental “s” iPhone release of all time, but don’t expect the 16GB entry-level model to go anywhere.
A newly leaked photo appearing to show the next-gen iPhone’s user information sheet demonstrates that the 16GB base model will remain for at least one more year.
Check out the photo below:
Photo: Steve Hemmerstoffer
Although this is only “confirming” what we’ve already heard anecdotally, the news will likely still be met with derision by some users. Even with the increase of streaming services like Apple Music as opposed to downloads, the continued rise in popularity of apps and photos means a 16GB iPhone fills up incredibly quickly.
Some will argue that iPhone models with more storage are for so-called “power users,” but in an age in which almost everyone is an amateur photographer, that divide means less than ever. Still, there’s always next year, right?
Apple also this week confirmed that September 9 is the date the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus will be unveiled.
Source: Twitter/Steve Hemmerstoffer
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
41 responses to “Sorry, 16GB iPhones will be around for at least one more year”
Huge capacity storage phone are meant for amateur !
Argh! I’m so sick of hearing that 16GB isn’t enough.
It really isn’t, and it’s a shame because these smaller units of flash storage are very cheap.
It really is. For many people. Maybe not for you, but Apple’s already got your money so…
You’re sick of hearing the truth? 16GB in 2015 is 100% not enough without compromises
I think Apple is factoring in the “Over 50” crowd who have no idea what a GB is, they see a cheaper price and deduce that all the phones are the same so why not go with the cheaper model. While people like me don’t even consider the 16 GB model. Honestly 32GB wouldn’t be enough for me UNLESS I do decide to pay for Apple music, which is a strong possibility. But I Have the 64 GB 5s and there is no way I’m downgrading on storage.
Only way to not use all 16GBs is to not have anything at all on it except business and select movies, recordings and photos. I’m using 35GBs of my 64GBs unless I delete all my video games and entertainment section and limit it to business related and/or have no more than 8 hours of HD movies on it.
There are lots of folks who have zero movies to store on their iPhones. I’m one. But I do have a bit of music – my collection is about 15gb. And then I have another 2-3 gigs of pictures…yet I’ve only ever had base 16gb iPhones.
How, you ask? The answer is MusicMatch ($25/year) and 20gjgs of iCloud storage ($12/year). So for $37 per year, my music and pictures are always available on 3 iPhones, 2 iPads, 2 laptops, and 2 Apple TVs. Our family has a lot more than 2-3 gigs of pictures, of course – more like 200gb – all automatically synced to one of the laptops thanks to Photo.
Truth is relative.
lol then why the hell are you “sick of hearing that 16GB isn’t enough” if the truth is relative.
I’m just sick of hearing it. True or false, opinion or fact, I’m just tired of this story. It’s like Han shot first. Why are we still talking about it? Why is this news? New products are news. Apologizing because they didn’t kill something you don’t think anyone else would want just because you don’t want it? Not news.
The solution appears to be evident:
I pay $100 more for 64GB. You should too.
As an AAPL shareholder, I approve of this solution.
The fact that people still think they know better than Tim & The Gang perplexes me. They’ve obviously done myriad extensive research and analytics that show the increase and sales/revenue by having a low-end entry storage and higher-end 64/128. If they started at 32, most everyone would buy the 32. By having 16, they force a decision and most will say, Oh, for $100 more I quadruple my storage!” Boom, increased revenue.
Okay, you make a good point, but did you really like your own comment?
As an Apple investor, I love his comment
This comment makes sense if you are an investor. Consumers aren’t going to care about what’s best for Apple’s bottom line though.
That was true when carriers were subsidizing phones, now that the big 3 carriers are forcing people to pay full retail, the 16 GB iPhone 6s will cost a customer around $700. I love Apple but that is despicable. At LEAST 32GB would soften that blow! & Actually many potential customers, just went with Android, when they offered expandable storage.
I’m so sick and tired of Apple fanboys always making excuses for Apple. In 2015 there’s definitely no reason to start off at 16GB at all without making compromises on your usage.
I’m sick and tired of people complaining that Apple should stop selling something they’re never going to buy. Why do you care? If you were whining that they’re not making something you do want, I’d understand. How does it affect your life it they want to make something you don’t like? You’re not their only customer.
It affects my life because if they get rid of the base 16 and replace it with 32, that means 64GB gets a price cut. & That is better for MY bottom line. With Carriers no longer subsidizing phones i estimate the number of new iPhone activations is going to drop. NOBODY wants to pay $700 for a 16GB phone, people could tolerate it when they were $199, but $700!
$700? I’m pretty sure the base version is $649 – but haven’t checked since we had to buy a 5s for in-laws in China.
LMFAO, did you really just try that? REALLY. Add tax @ 7% and tell me what you get….
So now it’s 16, 64, 128 and you think if they made it 32, 64, 128 that the 64 would get a price cut? I don’t how that makes any sense. The 64 is the second tier either way.
You are correct, same with your theory, if 32 GB was the new base model, those who want more get more. But with 32 GB users can have some breathing room the increasing size of apps, and since the new phones photo optics are being increased so it their file size. Ditching 16 GB is the way to go and you know it. There is no excuse, beside Apple’s right to be greedy. I get WHY they do it, but they don’t have to Especially in a world where Android dominates the market share. Apple is in TROUBLE, their Stocks have been in a nose dive, the iPad is on the brink of death, and As an iPhone users who loves Apple products its getting difficult to defend some of their practices. I mean the iPhone 6 has a 720p display in 2015! & an 8MP camera, yeah the pictures look nice, but the optics are dated and it shows. Apple needs to step its game up, and asking $700 for 16GB is BEYOND despicable.
You lost me at ‘Apple is in TROUBLE.’ Seriously, you lost all credibility.
Yup, casually dismiss the fact that there is a distinct possibility that a 16GB iPhone 6s could cost $700 when last years model was $199 at that storage configuration, but IM the one that has lost credibility… ok
LOL! Which is it, a fact or a possibility?
I worked as a Genius in an Apple Store for a couple of years. Safe to say I spoke with over 10k people about their device and how they use it. I would have no doubt that well over half the user base would have more than enough space with 16gb of local storage as long as they were properly educated as to how to use their device and services. The vast majority of people eat up space with photos and videos they take themselves and not games or apps.
I would say it’s time to retire 16. I get that there are people out there for whom 16 is plenty, but for the vast majority of people 16 will eventually lead to a poor user experience. Online photo storage helps for the selfie-taking crowd and Apple Music / Match help with music, but soon after it becomes “why can’t I upgrade to the latest iOS?”, “apps are getting too big to have more than a few…”, and “I can’t believe how much time I have to spend managing my storage!”
16 might look good to avoid an extra $100 initially, but eventually it will catch up!
What really is the big deal? If you don’t want a 16GB phone, don’t buy it.
It keeps 64GB at a higher (more premium) tier. Apple is a Multi billion dollar company, the price of phone storage goes down every year, but the consumers aren’t benefiting from that trend, and its not fair. Now carriers are no longer subsidizing phones, so now the consumer, is about to get financially hit AGAIN if they want a new phone. The LEAST apple could do is offer the 32GB as an entry phone option. $700 is a lot of money for 16GB.
I don’t feel the need to carry movies and entire TV series on my iPhone.
A premium phone should always give you a premium experience.
– Dumping stuff to create the headroom for a point upgrade is NOT a premium experience
True – but no company *always* provided a premium experience. E.g. If you buy a Samsung flagship, is it a “premium experience” to have all the crapware preloaded?
i keep everything in the cloud (yes I pay Apple an extra $37/year for MusicMatch and 20gb iCloud storage) and have never needed more than 16 gb – except at upgrade time. I agree I shouldn’t have to temporarily delete apps just to upgrade…but I’m willing to spend that extra 5 minutes once a year to save $100. My time isn’t worth $1200/hour.
No. If Apple feel they have to have a low entry price point – but offer phones with a meaningful storage capacity at $100 more then so be it.
What they should not do is then require the use of that limited storage capacity to perform point upgrades during the life of the phone.
A simple way of overcoming this would be to provide/use additional capacity that can only be accessed for such tasks. The owner gets their full 16Gb to use as they want and Apple get to provide a fully upgraded phone at all times by having the capacity to do it in the background.
The cost of the additional capacity is not significant – particularly when they charge $100 for the upgrade.
I agree with you that users should be able to upgrade their phone without having to delete stuff. But Apple (nor anybother vendor) will set aside storage for upgrades because (a) that space would be wasted 99% of the time and (b) they’d have to set aside a pretty huge chunk to make sure all future upgrades will fit into that area.
It is what it is. You either save money and live with some small inconveniences or you spend extra money and don’t.
As a side note: has anyone done any comparison of how much free space a 16gb iPhone has versus a 32gb Samsung? I know the Samsung will have more – but not 16gb more – equivalent apps are larger on Android and there is, of course, all the bloat ware.
The memory is as cheap as chips. put a 32GB chip and allocate some of it to system – Only the 0.1% of owners are going to jailbreak the system to try and unlock it. For everyone else they get their 16GB (or whatever) and don’t have to delete any of it for system updates. How much per phone do you think it would actually cost Apple to give users the full 16GB advertised capacity – $5 ?
On the up side the user gets a premium service from a premium priced phone
I understand that it wouldn’t cost Apple much – probably even less than $5 – but why do it if people buy your product with 16gb? Apple is simply maximizing its profit. The only reason they’d change is if sales start flagging – I.e. enough people cared about it and voted with their wallets. I don’t see that.
Yes you CAN run and manage an iPhone with 16gb. But I believe we’ve crossed the point where memory has gotten so cheap that it now is insulting to have a base phone at 16gb. This is good for Apple, not the consumer.
It loses money in the long run. My 16gb is perpetually full. The hassle of memory management means I skip a lot of new apps at the purchase point, and I don’t install updates which take 500+mb when you have 100mb free at any given time. It’s fine for them to do it if they want to, but I thought the real money maker wasn’t the phone but the profitable ecosystem surrounding it.
It is – maybe there are enough wankers like me that are paying Apple a good amount of cash every year to keep their stuff in the cloud that it offsets the lost $$ from guys like you who don’t end up buying apps?