How Much Phone Memory & Storage Do I Need? | Samsung UK (2024)

Find out the ideal phone memory your smartphone
needs to suit your usage.

How Much Phone Memory & Storage Do I Need? | Samsung UK (1) How Much Phone Memory & Storage Do I Need? | Samsung UK (2)

Is RAM important on a smartphone?

The more RAM your smartphone has the quicker you can access and switch between apps without experiencing any lag. Without RAM, apps would close when you switch to another app, causing delays and slowing your phone down.

How Much Phone Memory & Storage Do I Need? | Samsung UK (3)How Much Phone Memory & Storage Do I Need? | Samsung UK (4)

What is the difference between phone storage and memory?

Phone memory refers to RAM (Random Access Memory). RAM is the part of the phone that is used to store the operating system (OS) and where apps and data currently in use are kept. Whereas, phone storage is used to store data such as apps, photos, videos, and files that are necessary for the phone to run. RAM is a lot faster than phone storage but you don’t have as much of it.

How Much Phone Memory & Storage Do I Need? | Samsung UK (5)How Much Phone Memory & Storage Do I Need? | Samsung UK (6)

How much memory do videos use?

Recording in 4K will use around 300MB of storage for every 1 minute of filming. Whilst recording in Full HD only uses approximately 100MB of storage per minute. Operating at 4x the resolution of 4K UHD, 8K requires around 600MB of storage per minute of recording. Whilst this is a significant amount, you have the option to choose up to a whopping 1TB of expandable storage with the latest Galaxy S24 Ultra, and 256GB or 512GB with the Galaxy S24+, so you’ll have plenty of space for all your recordings.

How Much Phone Memory & Storage Do I Need? | Samsung UK (7)How Much Phone Memory & Storage Do I Need? | Samsung UK (8)

What are GB?

When you're choosing your new Samsung smartphone you will need to decide between different Gigabytes options. But, if you are not familiar with this technology jargon you may be wondering what does Gigabytes actually mean? GB is an abbreviation for gigabyte, you may also hear it referred to as ‘gigs’. It’s simply the measurement used to calculate storage on smartphones, computers, tablets and gaming consoles.

How much phone storage do photos use?

Although photo file sizes differ between smartphones depending on their camera specs, on average each photo requires 5MB of storage. For the occasional photographer, 1GB should be enough phone storage for 200 photos. If you’re a selfie addict, 30GB will allow you to store approximately 6,000 photos. Working out what you need will help in deciding which phone to buy that suits your photo-taking habits.

How Much Phone Memory & Storage Do I Need? | Samsung UK (11)How Much Phone Memory & Storage Do I Need? | Samsung UK (12)

Are you a gamer or a photographer? You might need more storage

Taking lots of photos and videos or playing graphic-intensive games will all place huge storage demands on your smartphone.

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How much RAM for gaming?

For gaming beginners, 8GB of memory is a good starting point. However, we recommend at least 16GB of memory to ensure an uninterrupted, speedy and high quality gaming experience.

For more advanced players who prefer large adventure games with lots of exploration and high quality graphics then 32GB+ is more suitable. Large RAM is also advised for those who like to record and share their gameplay.

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Is 128GB enough for a phone?

Overall, for most casual smartphone users 64GB phone memory is enough, although many people prefer to choose between 128GB and 256GB. Those who use their mobile phone to the absolute maximum should consider phones with storage of 512GB and 1TB to avoid running out of storage space and suffering with a slow phone speed.

A 128GB smartphone on average can store:

• 900 photos
• 60 minutes of UHD video
• 1,000 songs
• 100+ apps and games
• 20 movies

Calculating how much phone storage you need

When you calculate your potential usage remember that you will need to leave enough space for additional files and software updates (approx. 10GB). You should then add 20% to allow for a buffer. You can also increase your phone’s memory capacity with a Micro SD card1. Explore our range of Micro SDs

here

.

It’s important to remember that the numbers discussed are estimates and the exact photo, video and app size will always vary.

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How do I get more storage space for my phone?

You can increase the storage on your phone by increasing your phones memory with SSD hard drives and Memory cards. The Samsung Pro Plus microSD Card also has 256GB of storage & gives you up to 140K hours of 4K recording.

What about storing games & apps?

Typically, individual apps can use between 40MB – 1GB of phone storage. If you anticipate downloading just a few key apps and the odd game, then 5GB of storage space should be plenty. If you are a pro gamer and plan to download 200+ apps and large games, then you will require 50GB of phone storage.

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1Micro SD card sold separately. External memory can be used to store media (photos, video and music files), but not applications.

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FAQs

How much phone memory and storage do I need? ›

Typically, individual apps can use between 40MB – 1GB of phone storage. If you anticipate downloading just a few key apps and the odd game, then 5GB of storage space should be plenty. If you are a pro gamer and plan to download 200+ apps and large games, then you will require 50GB of phone storage.

Do I need a 128GB or 256GB phone? ›

The 64GB is enough storage for a basic user. It would keep quite a number of your information and apps. 128GB is enough for an average user, while 256GB can be considered by a high-end user.

How many GB do you really need on a phone? ›

In addition to pricing and cloud storage considerations, you should factor in what you'll be using your phone for. If you play a lot of mobile games and/or take a lot of high-res photos, you'll want at least 128 GB.

What is a good memory size for a phone? ›

Let's find out. Based on our testing, we'd recommend 8GB RAM for most Android users. That said, we noticed tangible benefits to having 12GB of memory as well. While Android phones with 4GB of RAM do exist, it's not enough for a smooth multitasking experience so budget shoppers should look for at least 6GB instead.

How much memory and storage do I really need? ›

Generally, we recommend 8GB of RAM for casual computer usage and internet browsing, 16GB for spreadsheets and other office programs, and at least 32GB for gamers and multimedia creators. How you use your computer influences how much RAM you need, so use this as a guideline.

Does more storage mean faster phone? ›

While the amount of storage your computer or smartphone has doesn't affect its performance as much as RAM, it's still important.

Is 256GB overkill for a phone? ›

256GB might seem like a lot of storage for a smartphone at first, but if you either hoard media files, play resource-intensive games, or create video or image content online, this option gives you more freedom than 128GB.

Is 128GB really necessary? ›

That depends entirely on how you intend to use it. If you plan to load up some apps, but stream most of your entertainment media, then 128GB will be more than what you need. In fact, you could save some money by going with a model with less storage.

What is the difference between memory and storage on my phone? ›

Storage is where you keep data, like music and photos. Memory is where you run programs, like apps and the Android system.

How many GB does the average person use per month on cell phone? ›

According to Ericsson's Mobility Report released in November 2023, the average smartphone around the world uses 21 GB of data per month.

What to do when phone memory is full? ›

Clear cache of apps

So, don't make the mistake of clearing data of the app by tapping on Clear Storage. It is safe to clear Cache for apps. All you need to do is go to the phone's Settings section > Apps > tap on any app > tap on Storage > Clear Cache. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.

How many GB does a person really need? ›

How much data do I need on my phone?
User typeMonthly data usage
Minimal use (basic browsing, messaging)Up to 2GB
Light use (social media, some video streaming)2-5GB
Regular use (frequent video streaming, many app downloads)5-10GB
Heavy use (extensive video streaming, large file transfers)10GB+
1 more row

What should I delete when internal storage is full? ›

How to Free Up Storage on Your Phone
  • First, See What You're Storing. Both Android and iOS make it easy to see exactly what's on your phone and how much space it takes up. ...
  • Next, Optimize Your Storage. ...
  • Move Your Files to an SD Card. ...
  • Optimize Your Photos. ...
  • Clear Your Cache. ...
  • Delete Old Files. ...
  • Pare Down Your Apps.
Jun 26, 2023

Does bigger RAM mean faster phone? ›

RAM in your phone is mostly used as a place for running apps to store their data. In the simplest terms, that means more RAM can let more apps run in the background without slowing your phone down. But, like most things, it's not really that simple.

Do pictures take up a lot of memory? ›

If you're capturing photos and videos in the highest resolution possible, they can take up quite a bit of space.

Is 256GB enough for a phone? ›

256GB: enough for the average user

You can download the latest apps and games without having to worry about how much space you have left. You have plenty of storage space for photos, videos, and music.

What happens when phone memory is full? ›

What happens if you run out of storage? While you won't lose any of your files already stored, you won't be able to store anything new and you may stop being able to receive emails.

How much storage does the average person have on their phone? ›

How much storage does the average phone have? - Quora. Nowadays you can have 64GB to 256GB storage for your smartphone. In the past 1 year, storage for the average phone has moved from 64GB to 128GB.

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