Apple has silently slimmed down the iPhone 16 line-up: as of now, the regular model is now available in just one capacity, 128GB, on Apple’s online store. The shift is the result of the introduction of the new iPhones and the retirement of the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, restructuring Apple’s midtier lineup to steer buyers to newer or bigger models.
There is only one iPhone 16 storage tier left
The iPhone 16 is priced from $699 at Apple’s store with 128GB of storage and no option to upgrade. Apple used to have several categories for its mainline phones; now the choice has moved up and down the range rather than having an additional tier in the middle.
If you need more local space, there’s the iPhone 16 Plus, which will offer 128GB for $799 and 256GB for $899. There’s also the iPhone 16e, which comes with 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB options in a lower entry price range, but it makes sacrifices in the camera department in order to hit those price points. The iPhone 16 storage change was first spotted by MacRumors and Apple hasn’t publicly disclosed it.
How it compares to Apple’s current lineup
Apple’s latest models all begin at 256GB, up from 128GB, to accommodate the greater demands of photo, video and app storage, although at a higher price all around.
The 128GB iPhone 16 is therefore in an odd position: it’s the cheapest way to buy an iPhone design that is still sold new by Apple, but it’s also locked to the smallest tier of storage that Apple sells new.
For purchasers considering longevity, the math is clear. If you expect to hang onto the phone for three or more years, then moving up to 256GB — either via the 16 Plus or the new generation — decreases the likelihood of triggering the “Storage Almost Full” warning as apps, camera capabilities and system data swell over time.
What 128GB means in day-to-day use
Actual usable capacity less than the label. iOS and preinstalled apps and system files take up a significant portion of the storage, and “System Data” can vary with caches and logs. That leaves you with a practical ceiling well short of 128GB for your photos, videos, apps and downloads.
How quickly you’ll fill it will vary according to your habits. 1-3 MB per still image or frame of video for compressed images or video, adequate for print or onscreen use, large enough to require the intern to wait a few seconds to view the first frame of any clip still on the hard drive, small enough (with 1 MB images) that it’s even practical to send the images abroad by e-mail. Hundreds of still images or frames of video will consume only tens or hundreds of MB, while footage from a weekend out shooting can easily raise the total to multiple GB. High-res photos, offline music and movies, and big games add up fast. Cloud services, such as iCloud Photos, help mitigate this, but there are reasons an on-the-go worker, traveler or parent/creator might want even more onboard space.
Practical tip: See for yourself on your current phone by tapping Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If you’re already teetering at or over 80–90GB under normal use, that 128GB window doesn’t leave you much room for expanded growth.
Strategic, not accidental, downsizing
Apple typically prunes away those older configuration when new models arrive, in part to streamline production, and in part to steer demand. The 128GB cap for the iPhone 16 does them both: It simplifies SKUs and nudges shoppers who want more space in the direction of the 16 Plus or up to the latest model that comes with 256GB of original storage.
Industry watchers have long observed that Apple uses storage tiers to differentiate products and pad its average selling prices. The strategy also diminishes model year overlap, which is good, to more clearly offer a “step-up” proposition: You spend less and take the base, or you spend more and leave room for growth.
If you need additional space
If 128GB isn’t going to suffice, the simple path is the iPhone 16 Plus with 256GB. The iPhone 16e has 256GB and you can get even 512GB with it at an attractive price if you are willing to stomach its camera tradeoffs.
There’s also the retail shuffle. Third-party retailers and carriers occasionally stock last season’s models with more than one storage tier for a brief period after Apple prunes back. Certified refurbished channels could also time to time have higher capacity iPhone 16 units. Promotions and trade-in credits can further close the price gap to a 256GB device, making the upgrade easier to swallow.
For people who take a lot of photos and 128GB is the maximum, there are USB‑C accessories that allow those photos to be sent off, and for videos to be off-loaded, but apps cannot run from external storage. It’s a solution, not a substitute for greater onboard capacity.
Bottom line
The iPhone 16 is still a great entry point at $699, but Apple’s one-size-storage-fits-nearly-none strategy will be most comfortable for light-to-moderate users or anyone heavily reliant on cloud workflows. If you shoot a lot of 4K video, travel frequently or simply plan to own your phone for a long time, a 256GB (or more) version — whether it’s in the 16 Plus, the 16e or the latest series — will probably age better.