Android phones increasingly lack microSD card slots, so users who run out of internal storage need other ways to manage large media libraries and files. The article says cloud storage is the easiest option, but external USB-C drives provide a subscription-free alternative for moving or storing data.

Google One can back up photos, videos and documents through Google Photos and Drive, though the free 15GB allowance also covers Android backups and can fill quickly. Most Android phones support USB OTG, allowing external SSDs, flash drives or SD-card adapters to be connected; compatible high-end phones can even record 8K video directly to an external SSD.