Galaxy S5 ROM is a bit of a monster, taking up nearly 8GB of storage

[flybub]

I think it's ridiculous that a rom can take up that much space and they still call it a 16gb and 32gb device. They need to call them 8gb and 24gb. The storage is very misleading and also the reason these phone need 2gb of ram and more to perform. The S4 got a little better with 4.3 but it still stutters and lags. If Verizon and Sammy wouldn't have locked down this bootloader I definitely would be running a lighter rom or I would have said to heck with it and got a Nexus 5. Darn you Verizon.

 

[nooaah]

Agreed, I was just moaning about people not having choice

It doesn't sound like a choice if it's all preloaded. A custom installation where you can select the boat would be welcome.

 

[Lloydbm41]

Some people like all of that stuff. It's better to have the option than not. However it shouldn't come at the expense of storage space. They should have compensated for it.

Options are good. Having 2 sets of the same software (and eating up storage) is not good and there is no way to compensate for it, other than to leave it out.

 

[The Game 161]

BUT 128GB SD card is now available.

 

[Shanghaichica]

BUT 128GB SD card is now available.

I know. This is probably the feature that I'm most excited for the Note 4. Out of the ones we know about from the S5.

 

[Dr McKay]

Good lord, isn't stock android like 300-400MB?

 

[gotluck]

Are we sure 128gb doesn't work on other models? I thought the problem was the cards didn't exist

 

[Lloydbm41]

Are we sure 128gb doesn't work on other models? I thought the problem was the cards didn't exist

A 128gb card May or may not work with a phone, however, Samsung will only rate for 64 or 32gb SD cards at this point in time. If the user wants to try and use 128gb cards and ends up losing data or corrupting files, Samsung assumes no responsibility.

 

[Michael Goff]

Good lord, isn't stock android like 300-400MB?

No, it's roughly 3gb in size.

 

[blackhand1001]

There's nothing wrong with the performance of the Note 3 or the S4 and it has all the same 'bloat' on board. From 2012 onwards flagship touchwiz devices have not lagged. The S4 had a few problems at launch but that was fixed with a software update. By the time I got the S4 in August it didn't lag.

You may think its fine, until you use a nexus 5 or a moto x, or even a nexus 4 and realize how bloated those phones really are.

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Good lord, isn't stock android like 300-400MB?

Yes.

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No, it's roughly 3gb in size.

Absolutely wrong. It is in fact about 200mb and about 400mb with google services included. Even my Moto X's stock rom is under 1gb and that includes all of the google apps like play books, play music, play movies etc and stuff like touchless control (and the necessary offline recognition files), and active display, moto assist

 

[Lindsford]

Can't agree with that.

I got my S4 in November and there is definitely "lag" there. Even after having switched off loads of things like S Voice etc etc.

I had a Nexus 5 for a week - zero lag with ART enabled, it flew.

I can agree with this. Even after deleting heaps of bloat ware turning off all of the excessive features that I would never use my S4 ran choppy.

 

[Michael Goff]

You may think its fine, until you use a nexus 5 or a moto x, or even a nexus 4 and realize how bloated those phones really are.

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Yes.

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Absolutely wrong. It is in fact about 200mb and about 400mb with google services included. Even my Moto X's stock rom is under 1gb and that includes all of the google apps like play books, play music, play movies etc and stuff like touchless control (and the necessary offline recognition files), and active display, moto assist

I thought the Nexus 5 had 12.28gb of space initially on a 16gb device.

 

[blackhand1001]

I thought the Nexus 5 had 12.28gb of space initially on a 16gb device.

Remember that the actual storage on all these devices aren't actually 16gb including the iphone. Its the same thing as with hard drives.

 

[Michael Goff]

Remember that the actual storage on all these devices aren't actually 16gb including the iphone. Its the same thing as with hard drives.

I have always wondered why that's the case. Either it is 16gb or it isn't. One or the other. My GNexus shows 13.33 GB initially, apparently the Nexus 5 shows 12.28. I just don't get it.

 

[gotluck]

I have always wondered why that's the case. Either it is 16gb or it isn't. One or the other. My GNexus shows 13.33 GB initially, apparently the Nexus 5 shows 12.28. I just don't get it.

First there's the loss to the file system formatting itself.

Then each phone has a system partition that is not included in the viewable storage. Each phone is usually different. Like touchwiz's is rather large. You must be rooted to control this space.

Then there is the "sd card" partition which is your usable/viewable storage.

If you have an actual sd card, that is known as extsdcard

 

[Michael Goff]

First there's the loss to the file system formatting itself.

Then each phone has a system partition that is not included in the viewable storage. Each phone is usually different. Like touchwiz's is rather large. You must be rooted to control this space.

Then there is the "sd card" partition which is your usable/viewable storage.

If you have an actual sd card, that is known as extsdcard

So parts of what the OS takes up are't even viewable? How can be figure out how much of the space is gone because of formatting and how much for unseen system requirements?

 

[sentinelsx]

There's nothing wrong with the performance of the Note 3 or the S4 and it has all the same 'bloat' on board. From 2012 onwards flagship touchwiz devices have not lagged. The S4 had a few problems at launch but that was fixed with a software update. By the time I got the S4 in August it didn't lag.

lulz.....

It does lag. I have nandroids of official android 4.3 rom from samsung for S4, the 4.4.2 google edition rom, and the 4.3 google edition rom, and switching between them tells me how much touchjizz lags, every single time. You are just used to it. But i cannot stand it at all.

 

[gotluck]

So parts of what the OS takes up are't even viewable? How can be figure out how much of the space is gone because of formatting and how much for unseen system requirements?

some apps like 'quick system info pro' on google play should let you know how large your system partition is.

you cannot change the size of the system partition (afaik)

 

[Michael Goff]

some apps like 'quick system info pro' on google play should let you know how large your system partition is.

you cannot change the size of the system partition (afaik)

Alright, now to go check how much space is exactly being taken up by Android on my GNexus.

Thanks.

 

[gotluck]

Alright, now to go check how much space is exactly being taken up by Android on my GNexus.

Thanks.

note that the partition is not always full, for example I have 373mb of 1.10gb free in mine. There is also a system cache (706mb total, 693mb free on mine) that I am not sure which partition it resides in.

 

[Michael Goff]

note that the partition is not always full, for example I have 373mb of 1.10gb free in mine. There is also a system cache (706mb total, 693mb free on mine) that I am not sure which partition it resides in.

I give up. :|

I can't figure out how much is system and how much is something else. I know it's more than 400mb, but I can't substantiate the claim that it's 3gb.

 

[gotluck]

I give up. :|

I can't figure out how much is system and how much is something else. I know it's more than 400mb, but I can't substantiate the claim that it's 3gb.

Under 'basic info' I believe it's 'Internal Storage' + 'System Storage' + 'System Cache' = Total formatted storage

'System Storage' + 'System Cache' are not usable to the user.

 

[Michael Goff]

Under 'basic info' I believe it's 'Internal Storage' + 'System Storage' + 'System Cache' = Total formatted storage

'System Storage' + 'System Cache' are not usable to the user.

According to that, Android on my GNexus takes up slightly more than 1gb of space.