Apart from camera quality, battery life, functionality, hardware, and processors, one critical consideration is the internal storage capacity when planning to buy a smartphone. It is even germane for iPhone enthusiasts because iPhone memories are not expandable with MicroSD like other brands. As such, if you are about to purchase the latest iPhone 13 Pro Max, you are right to be careful about your choice based on internal storage. With insufficient space for your files, you might get frustrated with the device over time.
Storage Options for iPhone 13 Pro Max
The traditional 64GB storage option is unavailable for iPhone 13 Pro Max, but Apple has generously introduced 1TB for this flagship. See the table below for storage options available and their price implications.
| Storage Options | 128GB | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB |
| Price | $1099 | $1199 | $1399 | $1599 |
What’s Your Budget?
The cheapest iPhone 13 Pro Max will set you back by $1100 even without accessories. So, as you try to settle for the right storage option for you, your budget determines a lot.
From the table above, you can see that more storage spaces mean more money going out of your pocket. So, let’s say the maximum amount you can part with for an iPhone 13 Pro Max is $1,300; you can only aim for the 256GB option.
Remember that you need accessories such as a protective phone case plus screen & camera protectors to enjoy this pricey device maximally. As such, you would want to budget an extra $50 to $60 for this.
ESR’s iPhone 13 Pro Max cases are arguably the best you can buy, going by the finesse they put into their products and numerous global certifications. You will also find their screen and camera protectors apt for your delicate Apple flagship.
These extra bucks you’d spend on accessories and the phone price itself are about the most critical determinant of the storage option you can get. After all, if your situation requires that you use a 1TB iPhone 13 Pro Max, but you cannot afford it, what difference does it make?
What’s Your Storage Habit? On the phone or iCloud?
How you usually store your files can also determine the right storage option for you. For instance, if you keep 60% of your files on the Cloud, you don’t need a 1TB iPhone!
Apple allows its iCloud subscribers to upgrade their cloud storage space from the free 5GB it gives on signing up to 2TB with a monthly subscription fee of about $10. Lesser storage space, such as 50GB and 200GB, costs $0.99 and $2.99 per month, respectively.
So, if you already have a subscription on Cloud that is 200GB or above, you can even settle for the minimum storage option of Pro Max, which is 128GB. That way, you can keep your TV shows, iOS backups, movies, books, etc., that often consume spaces on the Cloud while light files take up your local phone storage space.
But let’s assume you don’t have a subscription on iCloud, and you don’t plan to have one; the other considerations below can help you nail the best storage option for you.
Photos and Video Interest
Fewer things occupy most of our phone storage, as do movies and photos. And as for iPhone 13 Pro Max, you’re dealing with a camera that has no equal in the history of iPhones. As such, a single shot in a brightly colored environment can gulp 10MB or more. The more of this you have on your phone, the easier it is to exhaust your storage space quickly.
Again, do you plan to stream movies, or do you love to save them locally? Many high-end movies are usually in GBs, and with a few of them occupying your local storage space, you may find out that your iPhone is full in less than six months.
So, if you plan to use your new iPhone 13 Pro Max as a mini camera or for video recording, you should opt for at least 256GB, especially considering that other things like iOS updates need space too.
Do You Love Mobile Games?
There are tons of exciting mobile games on the Apple Store, and if you are the gaming type, you would want to have a couple of those apps on your home screen. That’s besides other compelling social media apps that are space-demanding, too.
So, you shouldn’t aim for anything less than 256GB if you are into games. With this storage option, you can accommodate a few of these gaming apps and even have unused spaces for updates and upgrades when necessary.
Who is OK with 128GB?
Well, a minimalist who doesn’t fancy too many photos or movies will do perfectly well with iPhone 13 Pro Max 128GB. That storage is more than enough to accommodate the essential apps, games, music, and even movies for a light mobile phone user.
When Should You Start Considering 256GB?
If you’re a heavy-duty phone user constantly downloading movies and music for offline use, your mind should be on getting iPhone 13 Pro Max 256GB or more. Memory should not pose a barrier to getting the exciting content that matters to you.
Do You Need the new 1TB?
Even if you can afford the 1TB iPhone 13, you need to ask yourself whether you need it. Most PCs are not even up to this capacity, and many of us still have unused spaces on them. So, unless you’re confident of maximizing the memory space, it might end up being a waste of money.
So, How Do You Make The Right Choice?
Check how much your budget is and how far you can stretch it. The difference between the 128GB type, which is the lowest, and the 1TB, which is the highest, is about $400. Of course, you can do a lot with this amount. Therefore, if you don’t use your smartphone for heavy photography and movie recording, 128 or 256GB should serve you perfectly well.
