iPhone SE (2022) iCloud Backup Size Seems Too Small?

[Viridian5]

Running a brand new SE 3, upgraded from SE 2. How is my iCloud backup so small even though the photo album is so large (relatively)?

My last backup from the SE 2 before updating was 2.9 GB. Is this lower number due to indexing or something about having a new phone?

 

[hyelton]

Do you have iCloud Photos enabled? That’s why.. it’s separate

 

[Viridian5]

Do you have iCloud Photos enabled? That’s why.. it’s separate

No. I keep photos local

 

[joeblack007]

It really depends on the iOS version you used / and are now using. If the previous device backed up at 2.9gb then that has your photos included (since you don’t use the ICPL). Your new device isn’t going to include those photos unless you’ve update the iOS to a newer version (then that version will be a separate iCloud backup and contain the photos as well). That’s more than likely why you are only seeing a 412mb backup of your new device. Looks like you use an older version of iOS…the SE came with version 13.4 originally.