For most Australians, 128GB is enough iPhone storage, and 256GB is the safer choice if you shoot a lot of video. A 128GB iPhone gives you roughly 110GB of real usable space once iOS and the built-in apps are installed. That is around 36,000 photos, or about 10 hours of 4K video, or several hundred apps. If you back your photos up to iCloud or Google Photos and you stream your music and shows, 128GB will comfortably last you the life of the phone. If you film in 4K, keep films and playlists offline, or you are the kind of person who has never deleted a photo in their life, step up to 256GB.
There is also a twist that only applies to refurbished iPhones: the larger storage size is sometimes the cheaper one. We show the live numbers below.
In this article
- What actually fits in 128GB?
- Is 128GB enough for most people in 2026?
- When is 256GB worth the extra money?
- How much more does 256GB cost on a refurbished iPhone?
- What about 64GB and 512GB?
- How do you check how much storage you are using now?
- FAQ
What actually fits in 128GB?
A "128GB" iPhone does not give you 128GB to play with. iOS and the pre-installed apps take roughly 12GB to 15GB, so you start with about 110GB to 115GB of usable space. Here is what that realistically holds.
| What you are storing | Typical size | How much fits in 110GB |
|---|---|---|
| Photos (12MP, HEIC) | About 3MB each | Roughly 36,000 photos |
| Video, 1080p at 30fps | About 65MB per minute | Roughly 28 hours |
| Video, 4K at 30fps | About 170MB per minute | Roughly 10 to 11 hours |
| Apps and games | 150MB to 3GB each | Hundreds of normal apps |
| Downloaded films (HD) | 1.5GB to 2GB each | Roughly 55 films |
The pattern is clear. Photos and apps almost never fill a 128GB iPhone. Video does, and it does it fast.
Is 128GB enough for most people in 2026?
Yes, for the majority of Australian buyers. Choose 128GB if you recognise yourself in most of these:
- You back photos up to iCloud, Google Photos or your computer.
- You stream Spotify, Netflix and YouTube rather than downloading everything.
- You film in short bursts, mostly at 1080p, not long 4K clips.
- You have fewer than about 80 apps and you are not a heavy mobile gamer.
- You are happy to clear out old downloads once or twice a year.
Most people in that group finish a three year phone cycle with space to spare. If you want the cheapest safe entry point, the iPhone 14 at 128GB is currently the sweet spot in our range for price against features.
Plenty of storage for a cloud backed up photo library, with Apple's newer camera and safety features. Our most popular 128GB pick.
When is 256GB worth the extra money?
Go to 256GB if any one of these is true for you:
- You film in 4K. Ten hours of 4K footage sounds like a lot until you record a full junior footy season. Tradies, real estate agents and content creators fill 128GB in months.
- You keep your whole photo library on the device. If you refuse to use iCloud and want every photo since 2016 in your pocket, you need the headroom.
- You download instead of stream. Long flights, patchy regional coverage, or a small mobile data plan all push you towards offline films and playlists.
- You keep phones for five years. Apps and iOS updates only get bigger, and a single large game can be 5GB to 15GB.
One honest counterpoint: if you are on the fence, a paid iCloud+ plan usually costs less than the storage upgrade and it backs your data up too. See Apple's current Australian tiers on the iCloud+ plans and pricing page.
How much more does 256GB cost on a refurbished iPhone?
This is where refurbished works differently to new. Apple charges a fixed premium for storage on a new iPhone. On the second hand market, pricing follows supply, so the gap moves around by model, and occasionally it flips. Here is what the same Grade B condition costs across our range right now.
| Model (Grade B) | Smaller size | Double the storage | Cost to upgrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 12 | 64GB, $449 | 128GB, $499 | Plus $50 |
| iPhone 13 | 128GB, $639 | 256GB, $599 | $40 cheaper |
| iPhone 14 | 128GB, $649 | 256GB, $739 | Plus $90 |
| iPhone 15 | 128GB, $819 | 256GB, $919 | Plus $100 |
Prices are Grade B stock at the time of writing and change with availability. The lesson stands regardless: always price both sizes before you buy a refurbished iPhone. On the iPhone 13 right now, the 256GB model is the better buy on every measure, which is not something you can ever say about a brand new phone.
Double the storage of the base iPhone 13 and currently priced below it. If you shoot video, start here.
What about 64GB and 512GB?
64GB is tight in 2026. After iOS you are left with about 50GB. It still suits a light user, a first phone for a kid, or a work handset, and it is the cheapest way into the Apple ecosystem.
512GB and above only makes sense if you shoot ProRes video or have genuinely filled a 256GB phone before. For everyone else the money is better spent moving up a model year.
5G, an OLED screen and MagSafe from $399. Ideal as a first phone, a work phone or a light user's daily driver.
How do you check how much storage you are using now?
The best predictor of what you need next is what you use now. On your current iPhone, go to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. You will see total used space and a breakdown by category. On Android, it is Settings, then Storage.
Then apply this rule: take your current usage, add 30 percent for growth over the next three years, and buy the size above that number. If you are sitting on 70GB used today, 128GB is fine. If you are already past 90GB, buy 256GB.
If you want the newest hardware while keeping storage sensible, the iPhone 15 at 128GB brings USB-C charging and the Dynamic Island without the Pro price.
USB-C charging, Dynamic Island and a 48MP main camera. The modern iPhone experience at a refurbished price.
Frequently asked questions
Is 128GB enough for an iPhone?
Yes, for most people. After iOS you get about 110GB of usable space, which holds roughly 36,000 photos or 28 hours of 1080p video. It is enough if you back up to the cloud and stream your music and shows. It is not enough if you regularly film in 4K or keep large offline libraries.
Can you add more storage to an iPhone later?
No. iPhone storage is fixed at the time of manufacture and there is no memory card slot, so the size you buy is the size you keep. Your only options afterwards are cloud storage such as iCloud or Google Photos, or an external drive that connects over USB-C or Lightning.
Does more storage make an iPhone faster?
Not in any way you would notice in normal use. Storage capacity does not change the processor or the RAM. What does slow a phone down is running almost completely full, because iOS needs free space to work with, so leaving 10 percent free is a sensible habit.
Is 256GB overkill for the average user?
For a light user who streams everything and backs up to iCloud, yes. For anyone who films their kids, their trade work or their travel in 4K, 256GB is the right call. Check your current usage in Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage before you decide.
Do refurbished iPhones from Oz Tech Deals come with a warranty?
Yes. Every refurbished device comes with a 24 month warranty, plus a 12 month warranty on the battery, and every battery is tested to a minimum of 80 percent health before it ships. That applies to every storage size we sell.
Pick the right storage, pay a lot less
Every refurbished iPhone in our range is available in multiple storage sizes and three condition grades, so you only pay for what you actually need.
Shop all refurbished iPhones →24 month warranty on the device, 12 month warranty on the battery, minimum 80 percent battery health.
Still weighing up your options? Read our refurbished iPhone buying guide for the seven things to check before you buy, or see our picks for the best refurbished phones under $500 in Australia.