It is well known that Apple does not include expandable storage in its mobile devices, including the iPhone and iPad. In fairness, very few brands offer it anymore, relying solely on beefed-up internal storage, cloud storage options, or the use of external devices. As for the iPad, the latest models now include a minimum of 128GB of storage and go up from there, including 512GB. The cost of storage is increasing significantly, so it can be tempting to opt for the 128GB version to save a few dollars. But how much are you really saving?
To determine this, you need to consider a few things. First of all, what will you store on the tablet? While there are some clever tricks for freeing up space on an iPad, you’ll likely be loading a selection of apps and games, as well as files such as high-resolution photos, videos, documents, emails, messages, and more. You get basic iCloud storage for free, but if you want more than 5GB of additional space, you have to pay to upgrade. So it’s a good idea to consider the cost of this monthly upgrade versus the increased price of a higher storage option as an investment. When you weigh the pros and cons, you’ll probably find that you’re better off getting the 512GB version, unless you don’t plan to store many files in it or you only need a little more than 128GB but less than 512GB.
How You Use iPad Matters
Your storage needs will always depend on your individual use case. Someone using an iPad for productivity purposes, to use with a case and keyboard, will likely need more storage than someone streaming videos and playing simple games. An average user can get by with 128 GB, but apps, games, and images can quickly take up space. Creatives using an iPad to create and edit music, videos, sketches, or high-resolution photos will require more storage, but those users could invest in an iPad Pro with even more space. Plus, if you’re considering subscribing to Apple iCloud, purchasing an Apple One subscription, or using an external storage device, you can save money by going with a 128GB option, right? Let’s explore this.
The base iPad – which is the best iPad for most people – starts at $349 for the 128GB model and goes up to $649 for the 512GB version. The thin and sleek iPad Air starts at $599 for 128GB of storage with its 11-inch screen size, and the price goes up to $899 for 512GB. $999 for 256GB of storage (there’s no 128GB option) and will cost $1,199 for the 512GB option. Basically, you’re looking at a $300 delta for the iPad and iPad Air and a $200 gap for the iPad Pro (which has twice the storage to start). This represents a considerable premium for pure storage space, but when you add up the number of years you’ll spend using the device, the value might be better than it seems.
Weigh the cost of storage
If you opted for the 128GB model and need more storage later, you get 5GB of iCloud storage for free. You can also upgrade to 50GB for $0.99 per month, 200GB for $2.99, 2TB for $9.99, 6TB for $29.99, and 12TB for $59.99. So for 328 GB of storage (128 GB on device, 200 GB in the cloud), it would cost $35.88 per year. Apple typically supports iPads for about six to eight years, so taking the high end at eight years, that’s an extra $287.04, a bit less than upgrading to a 512GB iPad, but with 184GB less storage.
By upgrading to the 2TB plan, it would cost $959.04 more over the expected life of the tablet. Granted, you also get a lot more storage. Apple One, which starts at $19.95 per month, includes Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade and 50 GB of iCloud storage (or $37.95 per month for Premier with Apple News, Apple Fitness and 2 TB of storage). But this only makes sense if you use all or most of these services. Note that this is all based on US pricing: the cost of iCloud tiers is slightly different in other countries.
What about the external drive route? You can get a basic 1TB drive for just $100, or a premium drive for around $250. This is a lot more storage, but you have to manually unload the files, which can be a chore. Additionally, these files are only accessible from the tablet itself if you load them back onto it. So, unless the tablet is intended for a child or light use, get the 512 GB model. If you plan to keep the iPad for a long time, this is the most cost-effective option.
