Huge Disappointment – Apple Slaps Loyal Fans with 16 GB iPhone 6s

Apple’s “Hey Siri” event was a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Apple certainly knows how to hype up a crowd, but as Newton’s third law of motion says, “what goes up, must come down”.

The show started off slowly with the Apple Watch. New Watch applications, Hermes bands, and additional casing colors weren’t really groundbreaking. Thankfully, the event would begin to pick up speed.

Toward the end of the event, the iPhone 6s was announced and our excitement level reached an all-time high. The 3D Touch interface does seem like a revolutionary way to interact with our smartphones, and we’re undoubtedly excited to try it out.

There is a great chance that other smartphone manufacturers will copy this cool new feature and implement it into their own devices, a trick that is as old as the invention of the smartphone itself.

One thing that other smartphone manufacturers won’t copy from Apple, however, is the base storage capacity provided within the iPhone 6s; and they’d be smart not to.

The moment Apple revealed the iPhone’s base storage capacity is where the event took a drastic turn. As previously reported, the iPhone 6s was alleged to come with 16 GB of base storage. This was the rumor from hell that I believed would only come to fruition in my worst nightmares; but it turned out to be reality.

The 16 GB base capacity is extremely problematic due to one major culprit: The camera.

The most monumental upgrades to Apple’s new smartphones are the new camera modules on the front and the back of the device. The rear camera is now capable of producing large 12 megapixel images with optimal color reproduction and clarity, and the front-facing camera has been bumped up to 5 megapixels.

Apple stated at the event that the 12-megapixel camera produces images that are 50% larger and ultimately more detailed than images taken with an iPhone 6. But wait, a phone that takes 50% larger photos should have 50% more memory to store those photos, right?

Even worse, there is a newfangled iPhone 6s feature called “Live Photos”.

These Live Photos are essentially mini-videos that make your images come to life for a split-second with just the tap of your finger. It’s admittedly a pretty cool concept, but in the back of my mind I wonder how feasible is this? How much storage are these Live Photos going to require? If a still-photo alone takes up 50% more memory on the new device, how much more memory is a Live Photo going to hog? 60%? 70%? 80%!?

The worst of all: Introduction of 4K video. 4K video is the gorgeous new(ish) video format that makes 1080p look wretched. The sole reason that featuring 4K video on the new iPhone 6s has become a negative is the lack of storage space on the phone.

According to 9to5Mac, a completely empty 16 GB iPhone 6s can only hold 40 minutes of 4K video. So if you’re like anyone else in the world and would like to download apps, take photos, play games, or store music on your phone, that 40-minute 4K capacity will drop drastically, and fast.

Apple argues their iCloud storage options are a great resource to hold your photos and videos remotely, rather than storing locally on the iPhone itself taking up precious memory. And while iCloud can be a good resource, the free service is limited to 5 gigabytes, which will go fast when filled with videos (especially 4K videos).

Some might argue that it would be logical just to upgrade to the 64 GB model, and we agree with them. On contract, the 64 GB model is $100 more than the base model, coming out at $299.

If you plan to purchase the 64 GB iPhone 6s off-contract, you’ll shell out $750 rather than $650 for the 16 GB model. At full retail prices, the $100 difference will leave consumers with less sticker-shock, relatively.

But no matter which way you spin it, Apple figuratively slapped iPhone fans in the face with a 16 GB 6s. This problem could definitely be distressing enough for loyal iPhone users to check out smartphone competitors who grace customers with more generous storage capacities.

Is 16 GB enough for you?
If not, will you be upgrading to the 64 GB capacity?
Or will you be switching to another brand completely?
Let us know in the comments below!