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Matcha

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 30, 2021
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for anyone who have or preordered the 128gb model do you find yourself running short on space? How do you manage your storage without reaching the max ?
 
The only reason I wanted more storage was to take 3d scans which take up space, otherwise 128 would be fine
 
It would be fine. I use iCloud with 200GB to save documents and others things, so I don’t need extra storage on the iPad. On the other hand you can use an external SSD.

Unless you are going to use for edit videos, heavy apps or heavy documents, it’s not necessary more than 128GB. Then you could try for 14 days and return it if you need more space
 
I’m an undergraduate studying science, I initially was going for the 256gb model but workload wise I really only write up my notes and practical reports. Nothing overly intensive.
I’m currently using the original 12.9 inch (which you can imagine is a total pain in the ass nowadays), and even though I’ve had it for over five years I’ve only used 56gb out of 128gb. Combined with 200gb of iCloud I really don’t need much more. If for some reason I become more consistent with video editing the worse case scenario is to use external storage. I really can’t justify paying any more.
 
128 GB is not enough for me personally anymore. My next iPad will have substantially more storage.
 
I have 60 GB left on my current 128 GB 11” so I ordered 128 M1. I don’t keep as many unused apps as I used to and usually keep media on an external SSD.
 
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Depends on your usage? I have about 90-100GB of photos and all my other applications/data/songs on top of that amount to about 87 more GB. So total space on my iPhone is 187GB when I set everything to download.

So for my iPad? I usually get a 256GB'er but I optimize storage and am lucky if I see 40-60GB used and that's enough for me for many years. I like to keep at least 50% space free if I can just as a rule of thumb.
 
I've had 32gb and 64gb tablets before and found them to not be enough, I've also had 128gb models and usually do a pretty good job working within those limits.

That said, every time I buy an iPad Pro I opt for the 256gb model (did this year too) just because I consider the Pro to be a true luxury commodity and budget a larger amount of money to put into it. Having that additional storage brings me peace of mind.

But again, with past tablets of 128gb I've always been able to balance app installation and media storage well enough and imagine anyone else could too, so if you buy the 128gb model I'm pretty confident you'll be plenty happy with it.
 
Stating the obvious, but it depends on your use.

If you have an iPad you already have an idea of how much space you need. If not, 128 plus cloud storage will work for a lot of people. The big caveat for me is - what will the new version of iPadOS bring? Will it make you use your iPad more in ways that will increase the need for local storage? If the long rumored "pro apps" ever come, what will they need as far as local storage? Video editing takes up a lot of storage (but an external TB drive will help with that). And will they benefit from 16 GB of RAM, requiring the 1 or 2 TB models? I have a 256 and it, along with cloud storage, is (barely) enough for my current uses. I can easily see vastly increasing my use of it (and requiring much more storage) if a few more key missing features are added to iPadOS to make it more useful for my use case.
 
I’ve gone for the 128gb 11” pro coming from the 64gb 10.5” which will be plenty along with my 2tb dropbox account an 2tb icloud
 
46gb of 128gb used on my IPP. It’s a work machine and my job can be done in Safari! So all my files are in the cloud (of which ever app I am using) - I store some files local for offline work.

On my iPhone the biggest space is taken up by music - 70-80gb but I do not store that on my iPad (or my personal photos). If I download content to watch (while travelling) it’s 10+ hours which is 10-15gb and I delete once watched (or stream it). TBH - I got drop another 12gb if I deleted a 3D planning app I have!!
 
Stating the obvious, but it depends on your use.

If you have an iPad you already have an idea of how much space you need. If not, 128 plus cloud storage will work for a lot of people. The big caveat for me is - what will the new version of iPadOS bring? Will it make you use your iPad more in ways that will increase the need for local storage? If the long rumored "pro apps" ever come, what will they need as far as local storage? Video editing takes up a lot of storage (but an external TB drive will help with that). And will they benefit from 16 GB of RAM, requiring the 1 or 2 TB models? I have a 256 and it, along with cloud storage, is (barely) enough for my current uses. I can easily see vastly increasing my use of it (and requiring much more storage) if a few more key missing features are added to iPadOS to make it more useful for my use case.

If one thinks they might be using FCPX, virtual machines, etc, then I expect they already have an idea how much storage those will require.


If I download content to watch (while travelling) it’s 10+ hours which is 10-15gb and I delete once watched (or stream it).

1-1.5GB per hour of video translates to around 2-3Mbps bitrate or probably around 720p. Personally, I wouldn't be happy with that quality on the 12.9" iPad. Macroblocking, blurriness, etc. is more apparent on the bigger display.

Now that I'm not hurting for storage, I like to keep a few movies (including several Disney) on the iPad. Good for entertainment during internet/power outage or unexpected babysitting.
 
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Depends on your usage? I have about 90-100GB of photos and all my other applications/data/songs on top of that amount to about 87 more GB. So total space on my iPhone is 187GB when I set everything to download.

So for my iPad? I usually get a 256GB'er but I optimize storage and am lucky if I see 40-60GB used and that's enough for me for many years. I like to keep at least 50% space free if I can just as a rule of thumb.

I agree. Really depends on how a person uses the device. But with iCloud storage and the option to save files to external SSDs or other devices I think 128 is fine for the vast majority of users. I'm still using a 9.7" Pro. It was a gift and had 256gb; I would've bought less storage. I've done quite a bit of photography. When have I used more than 128gb? If traveling I might want to store a lot of RAW files on my drive as a secondary backup. I use a bunch of relatively small SD cards, and never use them for more than 1 day of photography. Then load all of the RAWs on the iPad as a backup. But that's really the only time. Lots of folks have no issue with 64gb.
 
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I use a 256GB 2020 iPad Pro. I also have a 64GB Air 2. I think 128GB is enough. But because I plan to keep my iPad for some time, I thought it would be better to go for 256. Now I don't have to fret about space.
 
128 GB is probably sufficient although I have 256 GB in my 2020 11" Pro, and for the additional $100 I'll get 256 GB again when I purchase a Pro for my wife this summer. Once we are both using Pro iPads I expect we'll be using them for a long time and I don't want to be worrying about storage space for photos, music, videos, etc.
 
I have 64gb iPad Pro - I find its been offloading apps, I hope the 128gb will resolve that but otherwise, not an issue
 
Only using 20GB of storage on my current iPad as I use icloud for photos and videos so 128GB is more then enough for me, thus I pre-ordered the 128GB 12.9” Pro.
 
256gb 2017 12.9 here. I’ll wait until after WWDC to decide on an upgrade given the cost. I can swing either way (new iPP or a new macbook) and intend to use it for video editing on either FCP or Lumafusion. For now I have no need to do any video editing so I’m in no hurry but if I do go iPP route I’ll go 512gb. As has been stated it all depends on use and typically those of us who need larger capacity already know it.
 
1-1.5GB per hour of video translates to around 2-3Mbps bitrate or probably around 720p. Personally, I wouldn't be happy with that quality on the 12.9" iPad. Macroblocking, blurriness, etc. is more apparent on the bigger display.
Incorrect.

Netflix film in highest video definition, 1h 32m is 963.8mb. Just downloaded one on my IPP 12.9”.
 
Incorrect.

Netflix film in highest video definition, 1h 32m is 963.8mb. Just downloaded one on my IPP 12.9”.
Depends on what right? I've downloaded Cheers episodes at "highest video definition" and they were a lot smaller than Longmire at same setting (I get the episode time difference). Not that I claim to know much about these things. It's been over a year since I've downloaded anything for offline viewing.
 
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