Apple's upcoming iPhones now start at 256GB, which is enough storage for most typical users, but certain habits can quickly eat through that capacity, making it worth considering a bigger option. The main culprits are large media files: 4K video, RAW photos and sizeable games can fill a device far faster than everyday photos or apps, so people with these habits should weigh paying extra for more storage against constantly managing space.

A single photo takes up around 3MB, meaning 256GB could hold roughly 70,000 images, but a minute of standard 4K video is about 440MB, rising to 6GB using Apple's ProRes codec, while RAW photos can reach 50MB each. Games add further strain, with titles like Resident Evil 4 taking over 30GB, and iOS itself uses up to 24GB out of the box, more once it downloads extras like AI models and offline maps. Those happy to rely on iCloud storage and streaming, with features such as automatic offloading of older photos, can generally stick with 256GB, whereas frequent travellers or those without reliable internet access are advised to opt for 512GB or higher to keep content stored locally.