Wondering how much storage you need for your iPad? In this article, we’ll break down all the available iPad storage options, their prices, and the most popular choices among users to help you decide the best fit for your needs.
What Is iPad Storage?
The storage capacity of an iPad refers to the amount of internal memory available for storing apps, games, photos, videos, movies, music, notes, documents, and other data. The latest iPad models start with a minimum storage capacity of 64GB. If you opt for the iPad Pro series, storage options extend up to a whopping 2TB.
if you’re seeking a more budget-friendly option, you can consider purchasing a refurbished iPad 8th generation, which offers a storage capacity of 32GB. You can also get older-generation iPads with 128GB storage.
How Much Storage Are You Getting When Buying an iPad?
When you purchase an iPad, the actual storage will be less than the advertised capacity.
The amount of available storage varies. Depending on the iPad model you have and the iPad OS you have on. The operating system, system files, and pre-installed apps usually take up a significant portion of the storage capacity.
- The newest iPad OS will take approximately 6.5GB
- The system data will take up approximately 5GB (sometimes more)
So, when you buy a 64GB iPad, you are not getting 64GB of free storage space; you are getting approximately 52GB of free storage space.
Storage Options
| iPad (10th gen) | 64GB | 256GB | ❌ | ❌ |
| iPad Mini (6th gen) | 64GB | 256GB | ❌ | ❌ |
| iPad Air (5th gen) | 64GB | 256GB | ❌ | ❌ |
| iPad Pro 11-inch (4th gen) | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB | 2TB |
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th gen) | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB | 2TB |
iPad, iPad Mini, and iPad Air start from 64GB storage, and iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch starts from 256GB and goes up to 2TB.
Storage Prices
| 64GB | 256GB | 512GB | 1TB | 2TB | |
| iPad | $449 | $599 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| iPad Mini | $499 | $649 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| iPad Air | $599 | $749 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| iPad Pro 11 inch | ❌ | $899 | $1099 | $1499 | $1899 |
| iPad Pro 12.9-inch | ❌ | $1199 | $1399 | $1799 | $2199 |
The iPad prices will vary depending on your location and the retailer you buy it from. The more storage you want, the more you have to pay. If you want your iPad to have an LTE(cellular) connection, that will increase the price; if you want to buy accessories like Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard, that will also add to the price.
Most Popular iPad Storage Options
The most popular storage option for iPads is 256GB. It’s no surprise since every iPad model, iPad, iPad Mini, iPad Air, and even iPad Pro, offers it. It’s also the most searched iPad storage option, according to Google Trends.
64GB iPad is the second most popular pick right after the 256GB model. Sometimes, it’s a good option to go with the crowd if you’re indecisive. 256GB storage for iPad is a safe bet if you are not sure whether or not 64GB will be enough for you.
Which iPad Storage Options Should You Choose?
64GB iPad is for basic usage, and you will have limits on the app count and games. 256GB iPad is considered for power users who want to use many apps, save photos and videos, surf the web, download movies and music, and play heavy games.
| Description | Usage | |
| 32GB iPad | Limited | Few apps, few media files, web surfing, social media, streaming apps. |
| 64GB iPad | Basic | Apps, games and media will still be limited. Streaming services, web browsing, and social media. |
| 128GB iPad | Average User | Photos, music(offline), videos, apps, games, web surfing, social media, movies(offline) and all streaming services. |
| 256GB+ iPad | Power User | Heavy apps, photos, Videos (4k), web, social media, music(offline), movies(offline), heavy Games and all streaming services. |
Is 32GB Enough For an iPad? For Who Is It For
A 32GB iPad is enough for basic users who primarily use it for browsing the web, checking emails, and streaming content without downloading it. It’s suitable for those who don’t plan to install many apps, games, or store large amounts of photos and videos. However, the limited storage may quickly run out for users who want to download lots of media, use larger apps, or store extensive files.
Is 64GB Enough For an iPad? For Who Is It For
A 64GB iPad is suitable for moderate users who want a balance between affordability and storage. It offers enough space for a variety of apps, some games, and a modest collection of photos and videos, making it ideal for everyday use, light productivity, and casual entertainment. However, users with more demanding storage needs, like frequent offline media downloads or large app installations, might still find it restrictive.
Is 128GB Enough For an iPad? For Who Is It For
A 128GB iPad is generally enough for most users, providing ample storage for a wide range of apps, games, photos, videos, and documents without constant space management. It suits people who use their iPads for work, school, and entertainment, allowing them to download apps, store media, and create content comfortably. This storage size is a good fit for those who need a versatile device with enough room for regular use without worrying about running out of space.
Is 256GB Enough For an iPad? For Who Is It For
A 256GB iPad is ideal for power users, professionals, or those who need extensive storage for large files, high-resolution photos, videos, and apps. It provides more than enough space for heavy multimedia use, extensive app libraries, offline downloads, and even light video editing or graphic design. This storage size is best for users who want to maximize their iPad’s potential for both work and entertainment without worrying about storage limitations.
64GB iPad vs 256GB iPad
The key feature distinguishing the 64GB iPad from its 256GB model is the price. Storage capacity is the only thing that changes; specs, RAM, and everything else is identical for these models.
Price
The iPad 10th gen, which was released in October 2022, has two storage options: 64GB and 256GB. The 64GB model costs $449, and the 256GB model costs $599. If you want cellular connectivity, the price will increase; you want accessories like a keyboard or Apple Pencil, the price will increase.
| 64GB | 256GB |
| $449 | $599 |
Price Per Gigabyte
| 64GB | 256GB |
| $7 | $2.33 |
An alternative perspective on pricing is to calculate the cost per gigabyte of storage. In this calculation, you’ll find that the 256GB option equates to $2.33 per gigabyte, whereas the 64GB iPad amounts to $7 per gigabyte. This makes the 256GB iPad a more favorable deal.
How To Increase iPad Storage
Physically, you can’t expand iPads storage. If you buy a 256GB iPad, it will stay that way. But there are some things you can do. You can purchase an external hard drive and store files and photos there, and you can buy more cloud storage for your iPad.
Getting an External Hard Drive
When your iPad is running out of storage, one option is to get an external hard drive. iPads can connect to these external drives, making it easy to store photos, videos, music, documents and other files.
Connecting an external hard drive to an iPad is possible. But there are things you should know. You can store files like PDFs and photos, but you won’t be able to store your apps and games on an external hard drive.
Cloud Storage
The second option to expand storage on your iPad is to buy cloud storage. There are many cloud storage options to choose from, such as Dropbox and Google Drive, but I recommend using Apple’s own cloud storage, iCloud, for easier setup. It works really well with iPads because it’s built right into iPad OS.
By the way, if you want to use your cloud storage anywhere, think about getting an iPad with cellular. So you have an internet connection at all times, and you are not dependent on WiFI accessibility.
iPad App Sizes
If you know the size of the apps you want to download on your iPad, it will make your decision on storage size easier. Here’s a list of some of the most popular iPad Apps and their size. Keep in mind that app sizes change with updates.
| App | Size |
| YouTube | ~600MB |
| TikTok | ~372MB |
| YouTube Kids | ~189MB |
| Spotify | ~160MB |
| Twitch | ~200MB |
| Discord | ~192MB |
| Google Chrome | ~282MB |
| ~312MB | |
| Twitter/X | ~231MB |
| ~150MB | |
| Adobe Photoshop | ~308MB |
| Procreate | ~580MB |
| Lightroom | ~308MB |
| Microsoft Teams | ~331MB |
| Zoom | ~184MB |
| Netflix | ~163MB |
| Disney+ | ~240MB |
| MAX: Stream HBO, TV & Movies | ~110MB |
| Peacock TV | ~106MB |
| Roblox | ~242MB |
| ChatGPT | ~41MB |
| Duolingo | ~310MB |
Games Sizes
Knowing how much each game you want to download helps users choose the best iPad storage for them, so here’s a list of popular iPad games and how much they weigh.
| Game | Size |
| Among Us | ~540MB |
| Hearthstone | ~3.5GB |
| Monopoly Go | ~240MB |
| Pokemon Go | ~351MB |
| Stardew Valley | ~367MB |
| Clash Royal | ~208MB |
| Royal Match | ~240MB |
| Minecraft | ~900MB |
| Alto’s Odyssey | ~218MB |
| Bastion | ~1.4GB |
| Catana HD | ~813MB |
| Monument Valley | ~316MB |
| Call Of Duty | ~2.8GB |
| Asphalt 9 | ~3GB |
| Genshin Impact | ~3.46GB |
Photos & Videos Size
The average photo taken on an iPad is 1.5MB to 2.5 MB. The size depends on many factors, like filters, lightning, resolution settings, HDR or live photo, metadata, etc.
The average video on iPad depends on the settings, but on average, a 10-minute long video weighs around 400MB. But it will depend on resolution, frame rate, audio, etc.
Movies Size
The average size of the movie will depend on the quality, the resolution, the audio, etc. Movies you can download on Netflix weigh, on average, 600-900MB. One episode of a TV show (Breaking Bad) will weigh from 150MB to 500MB, depending on which quality settings the show is downloaded to.
Songs Size
The size of the song depends on the audio format, bitrate, and length of the song. Medium-quality songs are 3-6MB, and high-quality songs range from 6MB to 10 MB.
How To Check Your iPad Storage
In order to check how much storage your iPad has follow these steps:
- Step 1: On your iPad, launch the ‘Settings’ app by tapping the Gear icon.
- Step 2: Under the Settings menu, look for ‘General‘ and tap on it.
- Step 3: Find and hit the option that says ‘iPad Storage‘
Once done, you’ll find your iPad displaying a visual representation of the storage section left for usage. The screen also showcases the list of apps taking up the most memory.
FAQ’s
How Much Storage Does iPad OS Take?
iPad OS approximately takes 6.5GB of iPads initial storage space.
How Much Storage Does iPads System Data Take?
The system data vary based on several factors, including the iPad model, the version of iPadOS installed, the user’s usage patterns, and any additional data stored on the device. It’s common that the system data takes up from 5GB to even 20GB of storage space.
How To Clear iPads Storage?
Begin by removing unnecessary apps, games, documents, and messages. Clear the Safari cache and data, then review and manage the contents of your download folder.
Does the iPad allow for expandable storage through external devices or SD cards?
No, iPads do not support expandable storage through external devices or SD cards.
Is it worth paying more for higher storage capacities on iPads?
Yes, it can be worth paying more for higher storage capacities on iPads if you use your device for storing large files like videos, photos, or games, or if you prefer not to manage cloud storage. However, if you mostly use cloud services or don’t need to store a lot of local data, you might find lower storage capacities sufficient.
Which iPad Storage You Recommend?
The recommended iPad storage depends on your usage. For most users, 64GB or 128GB is often sufficient if you primarily stream media and use cloud storage. If you download movies, games, or work with large files offline, 256GB or higher may be more suitable to avoid storage constraints. We also recommend taking a look at the newest and best iPads.
I'm a writer and editor in iPads & Android Tablets, Windows Tablet section. I'm passionate about technology, especially about tablets. I'm on a mission to assist people in discovering their ideal tablets. In addition, I'm dedicated to producing helpful how-to guides and sharing top-notch tips and tricks. In my early carrier I founded and became and editor at worldoftablet and have been a guest author at many other tech blogs. In wolfoftablet I'm focusing on iPads, Tablets, Apple Pencil, Apps, Reviews, Buyers Guides and Tablet Accessories. In free time I like to play games on my PS5 or iOS.