Both iPhone 16 Pro Models to Feature 256GB Base Storage, Claims Sketchy Rumor [Update: Retracted]

[Jay Tee]

Can someone explain the "base configuration" issue? It's always such a hot button. Is it simply wanting more memory for the same price? If the base configuration were simply removed, the new base model would have more memory. So the only issue can be price. Or am I missing something?

No, reading the comments, I think I have it right. Seventh rule of purchasing: Get what you want and pay for it.

Supporters of including more base-model memory believe the high volume of base model sales would make the cost of upgrading from 128GB to 256GB, or even 256GB to 512GB, negligible for Apple.

I, on the other hand, think Apple keeps track of how much memory iPhone users actually utilise.

 

[cocky jeremy]

Why's it a "sketchy" rumour? It should have 256GB minimum anyway. Apple can afford the extra 50 cents it costs...

Sketchy because it probably comes from someone with no track record of being right.

 

[ric22]

Sketchy because it probably comes from someone with no track record of being right.

Logical rumour, dodgy source

 

[paradox00]

Let’s be real, they are simply deleting the $999 128gb pro and forcing everyone up to the $1099 256gb pro and not making the $999 price point 256gb.

Yes, unfortunately Apple uses base storage bumps as an opportunity to raise base prices and improve their margins further. The wholesale cost difference of 128 vs 256 GB isn't significant and 256GB costs less now than what the cost of 128 GB was when they first introduced it as the base tier; but none of this matters of course.

 

[satchmo]

Why not with computers?

Storage on MB Pros already start at 512gb so no issues there...but RAM should start at 16gb.

 

[ksec]

Let’s be real, they are simply deleting the $999 128gb pro and forcing everyone up to the $1099 256gb pro and not making the $999 price point 256gb.

Exactly. I was surprised Apple didn't do this with iPhone 15 Pro. Considering the BOM cost went up with Titanium.

I am more interested in iPhone 16 Pricing Line up. Will they also raise the entry level to 256GB and raise the price as well. We have inflation and Cost of Money going up. Components pricing are all going up or not falling as quickly. Unless Apple is willing to sacrifice its margin or cost cutting somewhere. Rising price for iPhone seems inevitable.

 

[drony]

I think it might be because of the local AI model.

 

[SactoGuy18]

Not surprised. Especially with equally sketchy rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro models could have as much as 2 TB of local storage.

 

[paradox00]

Can someone explain the "base configuration" issue? It's always such a hot button. Is it simply wanting more memory for the same price? If the base configuration were simply removed, the new base model would have more memory. So the only issue can be price. Or am I missing something?

No, reading the comments, I think I have it right. Seventh rule of purchasing: Get what you want and pay for it.

Obviously the issue is price. There's no reason for Apple to include a 128GB tier, except to overcharge on upgrades, the cost to Apple is nearly identical for 256 vs 128. Overall the extra charges for 256GB, 512 GB, 1TB are on the order of 90% profit for Apple.

re your 7th rule: there's no rule that customers should shut up about it. I'll buy the 512 GB I need, but I'll buy it less frequently, skip the pro and be vocal about how much Apple is ripping people off.

 

[Kevin2055]

Apple will allegedly offer both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max with a minimum 256GB of storage, doing away with the 128GB starting option on its smaller Pro model for the first time.

Currently, Apple's 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 and comes with the minimum 128GB of storage, while the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 with a minimum 256GB of storage.

However, according to The Mac Observer, Apple will bump up the base storage of the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro to 256GB to match the minimum capacity of the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max, while the starting price of Apple's smaller Pro model will remain at $999.

The source of the alleged "leak" has no recent track record for accurate Apple rumors, so we are filing this one under sketchy. Having said that, the claim is not outside the realm of possibility. If Apple drops 128GB as the base on the iPhone 16 Pro, that will leave three Pro storage options across the board: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.

• Is 128GB Enough iPhone Storage?

In 2018, Apple's iPhone X came with 64GB, an entry-level storage tier that persisted in successive premium device generations until the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020, when Apple adopted 128GB as the new baseline. The next year saw all iPhone 13 models offered with a minimum 128GB. If Apple makes 256GB the new minimum across its premium devices this year, we could well see it reach all models in 2025.

At the other end of the scale, a rumor in January out of Korea claimed that both iPhone 16 Pro models will be available with double the maximum storage capacity as the iPhone 15 Pro devices, increasing from 1TB to 2TB.

The maximum storage increase is said to be a result of Apple's switch to higher-density Quad-Level Cell (QLC) NAND flash for higher storage models. Apple's use of QLC NAND could allow Apple to fit more storage into a smaller space and it is less expensive than Triple-Level Cell (TLC) NAND, which current iPhones use.

• Every iPhone 16 Rumor We've Covered So Far

This year's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are rumored to be getting bigger display sizes, increasing to 6.27- and 6.86-inches, respectively. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are equipped with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. The new display sizes will be the largest ever for the iPhone, and should also increase the physical space for internal components and parts.

Article corrected to reflect iPhone 12 Pro jump to 128GB base storage. Apologies for the original error.

Article Link: Both iPhone 16 Pro Models to Feature 256GB Base Storage, Claims Sketchy Rumor

It is impossible.

 

[henry72]

16 Pro to 256GB to match the minimum capacity of the larger iPhone 16 Pro Max, while the starting price of Apple's smaller Pro model will remain at $999.

I would be very impressed if that’s true. Fingers crossed 🤞

 

[svish]

Not sure whether this will happen. But good to have 256 GB as base storage. But with an increase to 256 GB, Apple will not keep the price of base variant at $999.