When you’re in the market for a new tablet or smartphone, an easily overlooked feature is the device’s storage.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Some entry-level gadgets offer 16 GB storage capacity. There are even a few that offer 8 GB. That used to be plenty of storage for apps, several music playlists, and a few movies.
However, there are new considerations for shoppers. Many models are rolling out with higher resolution displays. This makes the screens look terrific, especially for images and text. And don’t forget the nice camera that takes crisp images and HD video. But be midful that the graphics in the apps along with the pictures and videos you’re taking gobble up a lot of your device’s storage. So it might be worth considering the extra investment in additional storage.
Jumping up from 16 GB to 32 GB might be the difference in constantly deleting apps, rotating playlists, and minimizing the movies on your device. If you like to have your entire music collection in your device, then you’ll probably need to consider a 64 GB model if available.
Smartphone vs. Dedicated Media Player
You might be tempted to get a smartphone with a lot of storage, and that could make sense depending on your needs. But consider getting a dedicated media player for your music and movies.
Here’s why: You will likely upgrade your phone every couple of years or even more frequently. You’re likely to keep the media player longer, so the investment in the storage will benefit you longer than it would with a smartphone.
A Scenario
You might have an iPhone 5 with 16 GB of storage and an iPod touch with 64 GB of storage. This is probably sufficient for daily smartphone use, requiring minimal storage management because your iPod touch has all your music and several full-length movies.
So be sure to carefully consider your storage requirements and make the wisest investment in gadgetry possible.