$200 extra for a 512GB iPhone 17 versus a $799 256GB model is the cost gap Tom's Guide says users can often avoid with better storage management.
$2.99-a-month cloud plans such as 200GB iCloud+ can delay pricier hardware upgrades, though the report warns subscriptions become recurring costs that users must keep paying to retain easy access.
Under-$100 external drives and NAS systems are pitched as cheaper long-term options, while phones with microSD slots—such as the sub-$200 Moto G 2026—offer removable expansion at the cost of flagship performance.
Storage discipline remains the cheapest fix: delete unneeded downloads, lower photo resolution, avoid RAW when unnecessary, and clear bloated app data that can run into multiple gigabytes.
As AI's hunger for data grows, are external storage solutions a temporary patch for our phones' inevitable memory crisis?
With memory costs soaring due to AI, will phone makers be forced to bring back the once-dead microSD card slot?
Is building a personal home cloud a smarter move than paying monthly fees to big tech for your digital life?