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Report: Apple to Ditch 16GB iPhone

According to the Wall Street Journal, the base iPhone will have 32GB of storage.

By Angela Moscaritolo
July 6, 2016
Apple iPhone 6s Plus

The days of 16GB iPhones may be numbered.

Citing an unnamed person "familiar with Apple's plans," The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday reported that Cupertino is doing away with the 16GB storage minimum, which has been a mianstay of its iPhone lineup for years. Instead, the base model for the upcoming "iPhone 7" will double that amount to 32GB of storage.

Currently, Apple offers its iPhone 6s lineup in 16GB, 32GB, and 128GB versions.

PCMag has repeatedly advised iPhone buyers against purchasing the 16GB version: "It's worth it to spring for at least the 64GB model—16GB just isn't enough for all the pictures and videos you'll likely be taking with this phone," Lead Mobile Analyst Sascha Segan wrote in his review of the iPhone 6s Plus . Come September, if may no longer be an option for new iPhones.

"Hallelujah!" writes the Journal's Joanna Stern. "I've long said that keeping the 16GB iPhone was just a ploy for Apple to get people to buy the 64GB model—for $100 extra."

Meanwhile, if you're in the market for a new iPhone, you should probably hold off until September, when Apple is expected to release the iPhone 7, and drop the prices on its current lineup.

Other recent rumors indicate that Apple is planning only minor changes for the models coming this fall, the most notable of which might be the removal of the headphone plug. With this component gone, upcoming models will likely be thinner, but will keep the same 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch screen sizes used for the past two years.

Those waiting for a huge design change will need to practice their patience until next year. Apple is reportedly planning bigger changes for 2017, which will mark the iPhone's 10th anniversary.

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About Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

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