Let’s dive into a question that’s been buzzing in our community lately – “Is 64GB Enough for an iPad?” As you know, choosing the right amount of storage for your devices is always a balancing act. Weighing up between our budget, usage habits, and the myriad of digital activities we engage in.
Let’s take a look at what 64GB of storage means for an iPad – how much it can handle, what kind of user it’s ideal for, and if it’s worth your money.
We’ll delve into how much space iOS and built-in apps take up, how many photos, videos, music, and apps you can cram into the remaining space, and what happens when you hit the limit. We’ll also discuss alternatives and how to manage if you decide to stick with 64GB.
Is 64GB Enough for iPad? – Expert’s Opinion
Expert insights on the 64GB iPad highlight its suitability for basic tasks and usage scenarios, especially for users who mainly browse the web, watch videos, and play light games.
1. Average Use
The 64GB storage capacity is generally deemed sufficient for an average user. It provides ample space for storing images, videos, and other media content, along with a few installed apps. Compared to the base model with 32GB, the 64GB option is often preferred as it offers more room for applications and data.
However, users should be mindful of certain considerations before opting for a 64GB iPad. Software updates for operating systems tend to increase in size over time, which means they will consume more storage space. If you intend to use your iPad for work, design, or downloading a significant amount of media content, you might find the 64GB storage limiting.
2. Primary Use
If your primary use case involves streaming video content and you have no need to save material for offline playback, a 64GB iPad should be adequate. It is well-suited for regular browsing, low-level gaming, and managing a moderate number of apps.
It’s important to note that the 64GB iPad represents the smallest available storage size for various iPad models, including iPad Mini and iPad Air. If you are planning to purchase an iPad in 2023 or later, this capacity should be sufficient for basic tasks.
For users who enjoy capturing photos or recording videos frequently, more storage may be necessary, as media files can quickly consume space.
A helpful approach to determine your storage needs is to estimate the amount of data storage you require, add a margin for future usage, and then double that value. This allows for flexibility and ensures you have enough space to accommodate your evolving needs over time.
Is 64 GB Sufficient on iPad Air 5?
When you purchase an iPad Air 5 with a storage capacity of 64 GB, the actual usable storage will be around 55 GB.
This is due to the space taken up by the operating system and pre-installed apps such as GarageBand, iMovie, and others that are included by Apple.
However, if you don’t use these apps, you can delete them to gain additional space.
Usage Patterns
The storage sufficiency greatly depends on your usage patterns:
1. Video Creation
If you’re a content creator making videos for platforms like YouTube, the 64 GB capacity might not be sufficient. Specifically, creating 4K content can consume a significant amount of storage.
For instance, a 10-minute 4K project on an editing app like LumaFusion can take about 10 GB of space. If you create content regularly, you’ll quickly exhaust the storage.
In such cases, you’ll have two main options: use external storage or subscribe to Apple’s iCloud storage. The new iPad Air 5 has a fast USB-C port, making transferring files to and from an external storage device relatively swift.
2. Storing Images and Videos
For those who use their iPad to capture and store images and videos, storage can run out faster than anticipated. For instance, a single image shot on an iPhone 13 Pro Max can be between two to three megabytes. Therefore, if you store around 500 such images, you’ll consume about a gigabyte of storage.
Furthermore, videos take up more storage than images. A one-minute video shot in full HD can take up to 120 megabytes. If you plan on keeping many such videos on your device, the 64 GB will fill up rapidly.
3. Gaming
For gamers, individual games can require a significant amount of storage. Standard games like Asphalt 9 or Need for Speed occupy approximately 3-4 GB each. However, more resource-intensive, online streaming games can demand more than 10 GB of storage.
4. App Installations
If you plan on installing many apps on your iPad, you’ll need to factor in the storage they require. An average app can be around 500 MB in size, but professional-grade apps such as LumaFusion or Procreate can take up to 2-3 GB each.
2. External and Cloud Storage
While you can offset some storage needs by using external and cloud storage, there are some limitations. While you can move media files like videos and eBooks to external storage or the cloud, apps have to reside on the iPad, consuming the device’s storage.
iCloud storage, in particular, can be useful for storing photos and videos. Your iPad will retain a low-resolution version of the image or video for quick viewing. However, if you wish to edit these, they’ll be downloaded from the cloud, requiring adequate storage on the device.
3. eBooks and Reading Material
For users who mainly utilize their iPad for reading and note-taking, storage is less of a concern. eBooks and other reading materials generally take up less storage than media files.
For example, a graphics-heavy eBook like ‘Photoshop for Dummies’ is around 60 megabytes, which means you can store many such eBooks before running out of storage space.
Cons of 64 GB iPad
1. Limited Media and Apps Storage
iPad’s storage is used for storing your apps, photos, videos, music, and other digital content. It could seem sufficient at first glance, but it can get filled up quickly if you download a lot of high-quality media or large apps, especially games, and professional applications.
The files associated with video editing or graphic design apps can take up a significant amount of space.
2. Growing Size of Software Updates
Over time, the size of software updates for the iPad’s operating system and apps continues to increase. These updates, although essential for adding new features and maintaining device security, take up a considerable amount of space. In the long run, they can substantially reduce the free storage space available for your personal use.
3. Limited Offline Media Storage
Whenever you travel frequently or have inconsistent internet access, you might want to download and store media for offline use. Streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify allow you to download content for offline use.
However, a 64GB iPad might need to provide more space to store a significant amount of media content, especially if it’s high-definition.
4. Insufficient for Professional Work
It might not be enough if you’re using it for professional work, especially while editing videos or dealing with large datasets. Such work often requires powerful applications that, along with their working files, can quickly consume your device’s storage.
5. Future-Proofing
Technology needs to change over time. Even though this size seems enough for you now, it might not be in a couple of years, as apps get more sophisticated and file sizes increase. Investing in more storage could provide a level of future-proofing, extending the usable lifespan of your iPad.
I am the Founder and Senior Editor at TheTablofy. I am an experienced professional in the digital media industry and hold a degree of Bachelor of Science degree in Advance Technology. Meet My Meet