iPad Less Obvious Advantages of More iPad Storage

[mailman199]

Planning on getting a new iPad soon and although I have had many iPads over the years I always get the base storage and use my 2tb iCloud account for storage. Aside form the need to wait for files to download form the cloud to view them occasionally are there any other benefits to have more storage?

 

[VaruLV]

Offline Spotify and Netflix? Those and anxiety of course ?!
Also, limited tethering options or lack of also might prompt for potential storage upgrade.
I was fine with 64Gb on iPP 10.5, tho I sold it after Apple replaced it with new/refurb due to white spot issue.
64Gb on Air 4 seems like ok’ish, wouldnt mind 128Gb version for the same price because 256Gb is imho too expensive and too close to iPP 11.
But 32Gb on regular iPad imho is bit too thin when you install some apps and game or two.
If iPad is being used as laptop repoacement, then, again, imho, 256Gb should be minimum.

 

[sparksd]

I have travelled a lot to places where Internet access is extremely poor or nonexistent so I don't use cloud storage at all except for off-line file backups. External attached storage is now a good option but I prefer on-board storage. And for video processing, LumaFusion requires that the video in work is local (it can access external storage but requires that a video being edited is on-board).

 

[AutomaticApple]

And for video processing, LumaFusion requires that the video in work is local (it can access external storage but requires that a video being edited is on-board).

Have they ever considered changing that requirement?

 

[sparksd]

Have they ever considered changing that requirement?

Don't know.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Planning on getting a new iPad soon and although I have had many iPads over the years I always get the base storage and use my 2tb iCloud account for storage. Aside form the need to wait for files to download form the cloud to view them occasionally are there any other benefits to have more storage?

You can't upgrade it after the fact. Also, iCloud account storage won't let you install more apps or download more media for offline viewing. Similarly, even when optimized, photo storage for on-device viewing still takes up local space even when your originals live in iCloud. Same with Apple Books storage.

I'll put it to you this way, 32GB of space on an iPad these days is cramped. 64GB is doable if you don't have much in the way of apps or content. 128GB is usually fine for most. 256GB is ample. I'd imagine 512GB and 1TB are only really necessary for tons of content creation or for extremely large content libraries.

My general rule of thumb when it comes to non-removable storage on Apple devices is to always get one size bigger than I think I will need. That way, I have breathing room. iOS and iPadOS devices behave in fifty shades of cray when their storage medium becomes full.

 

[ofarlig]

I might go for 256 GB this time around although 128 GB should be plenty. Cloud storage does it all and movies for long flights can easily fit on 128 GB.

I have had different sizes over the years and I don’t really think theres any less obvious advantages with it. If you like saving stuff locally you need more.

 

[Richard8655]

I've not gone with large storage iPads for a few reasons. As mostly an in-home user, I find iCloud and WiFi access to local computer files more than sufficient. I also think Apple charges an unreasonable premium for every increment of storage. I'd rather save that extra cost for more frequent future iPad upgrades with the latest processors.

But though 32gb had been ok with me, I think 64gb is the new minimum needed.

 

[sparksd]

I have travelled a lot to places where Internet access is extremely poor or nonexistent so I don't use cloud storage at all except for off-line file backups. External attached storage is now a good option but I prefer on-board storage. And for video processing, LumaFusion requires that the video in work is local (it can access external storage but requires that a video being edited is on-board).

Have they ever considered changing that requirement?

Looks like a change in LumaFusion is in work -

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/lumafusion-to-support-editing-on-attached-drive.2293317/

 

[QCassidy352]

I have 256 on my 2019 Air, and it’s overkill. I definitely could get by with 64 GB. Yes I have more than 64 GB on it now just because I can, but next time I’ll go for 64 (or probably 128 will be standard by the time I get a new iPad).

 

[ZBoater]

If they sold a 4TB option, I would buy it.

 

[DreamPod]

I've never found a need for more than 64GB storage on the iPad. Especially now that the iPad Pro supports external USB-C storage, you can get a very fast 1TB USB drive for like $160.

I mean, really depends on your usage, but even without external storage or iCloud my iPad right now has 54GB used.