I bought an iPhone 15 Plus with 128 GB of storage when it was released, but years of concert videos, photos, and messages have now filled it completely. I want to keep my old photos and messages, and I really like the larger Plus-sized screen. Since the Plus model may no longer be available, I'm concerned about having to switch to a smaller phone. A Pro Max is outside my budget, so I'm considering a newer Plus-sized model with more storage, such as the iPhone 16 Plus, to give myself more room for the future. I'm also considering cloud storage, but I'd rather avoid an ongoing subscription if possible. What would be the most practical and cost-effective way to preserve everything while freeing up space?
2 Answers
The two realistic solutions are moving your photo and video library to cloud storage or buying a phone with substantially more internal storage. Cloud photo storage can keep full-resolution originals safely backed up while leaving smaller versions on the phone. The 200 GB plan costs about $3.99 per month, while the larger plan is around $12.99 per month. It also includes automatic backups and can be shared with family, which may make the cost easier to justify.
Your photos and videos are the irreplaceable part, so prioritize preserving them before deciding on an upgrade. Messages can also be included in device backups, but it’s worth checking that your backup completed successfully. In practical terms, the choice is paying for convenience with cloud storage, or paying upfront for storage and managing your own backups. Neither option is completely free, and a new phone by itself should not replace a proper backup.
My concern is that the subscription cost adds up over many years, especially if I eventually need the larger plan. I’m wondering whether buying more phone storage would be cheaper in the long run.