Apple Officially Bids Farewell to the 64GB Era: 128GB Becomes the Entry-Level Storage for All iPhones and iPads

Apple Officially Bids Farewell to the 64GB Era: 128GB Becomes the Entry-Level Storage for All iPhones and iPadsWith the iterative update of the third-generation iPhone SE last month and the release of the 11-inch iPad (with A16 chip) yesterday, Apple's ecosystem has reached a significant milestone: all currently available iPhone and iPad models now feature 128GB as their base storage option. This marks the official end of the 64GB era, a long-standing source of storage anxiety for countless users

Apple Officially Bids Farewell to the 64GB Era: 128GB Becomes the Entry-Level Storage for All iPhones and iPads

With the iterative update of the third-generation iPhone SE last month and the release of the 11-inch iPad (with A16 chip) yesterday, Apple's ecosystem has reached a significant milestone: all currently available iPhone and iPad models now feature 128GB as their base storage option. This marks the official end of the 64GB era, a long-standing source of storage anxiety for countless users.

The significance of this change extends beyond the simple increase in storage capacity; it represents a major adjustment in Apple's product strategy. For years, 64GB was the standard storage for Apple's mobile devices. However, with the increasing size of mobile applications, the proliferation of high-definition videos and photos, and the growing data storage needs of users, 64GB became increasingly inadequate for daily use. Many users frequently faced storage shortages, forcing them to constantly delete files or photos, significantly impacting user experience.

Apple's adoption of 64GB as the base storage for iPhones can be traced back to 2017. The iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, all launched that year, featured 64GB as their entry-level storage configuration. The iPad Pro series launched that same year also adopted this standard. While this configuration may have sufficed for most users at the time, its limitations became increasingly apparent over time.

However, Apple wasn't oblivious to this issue. Over the past few years, Apple had gradually increased the base storage capacity of its mobile devices. Some iPhone and iPad models had already adopted 128GB as the standard, offering users more storage space. The universal upgrade to 128GB across all currently sold devices signifies Apple's complete acknowledgment of this trend and represents a comprehensive upgrade to its product strategy.

It's noteworthy that the last mobile devices offering 64GB base storage were the third-generation iPhone SE and the tenth-generation iPad. These models have since been discontinued and replaced by the A16-powered iPhone SE (fourth generation) and the new 11-inch iPad, respectively. This further underscores Apple's determination to completely abandon the 64GB era.

Beyond the storage upgrades in mobile devices, Apple has made similar adjustments to its Mac computer product line. Since last October, all new Macs sold (excluding refurbished models) have come standard with at least 16GB of RAM. Previously, the minimum RAM configuration for Macs was 8GB. This change also reflects Apple's emphasis on user needs and its pursuit of improved product performance.

However, this RAM upgrade has produced some unintended consequences. Due to the fixed 15% discount on refurbished Mac minis, the refurbished M2 Mac mini with upgraded 16GB RAM now costs more than the new M2 Mac mini with 16GB RAM. The new Mac mini with 16GB RAM is priced at $599, while the refurbished M2 Mac mini upgraded to 16GB RAM costs $799. This clearly indicates a shortcoming in Apple's pricing strategy, failing to fully consider the impact of the fixed discount on refurbished models.

In conclusion, Apple's decision to abandon the 64GB era and adopt 128GB as the entry-level storage for all its iPhones and iPads is a necessary step in keeping pace with technological advancements and meeting user needs. This change not only enhances user experience but also signifies a major adjustment in Apple's product strategy. The RAM upgrade for Macs and the resulting pricing discrepancies provide further insight into Apple's product strategy and pricing mechanisms. While there are minor flaws in the Mac mini pricing, this doesn't detract from Apple's positive efforts in product upgrades and user experience optimization. As technology continues to evolve and user needs change, Apple will undoubtedly make further adjustments to its product strategy and technological innovations to better meet market demands. Bidding farewell to the 64GB era is undoubtedly a significant step for Apple towards the future. [Insert 11-inch iPad (A16) official purchase link here] for users to easily purchase and experience the latest product.