www.apple.com/shop/iphone/iphone-upgrade-program for more information.
Decide How Much Storage Is Enough
Storage is a measure of how much information — for example, movies, photos, and software applications (apps) — you can store on a computing device. Storage can also affect your iPhone’s performance when handling such tasks as streaming favorite TV shows from the World Wide Web or downloading music.
Your storage options with an iPhone 12 or 12 mini are 64, 128, and 256 gigabytes (GB), while 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max are 128, 256, and 512 gigabytes. You must choose the right amount of storage because you can’t open the unit and add more as you usually can with a desktop computer. However, Apple has thoughtfully provided iCloud, a service you can use to back up content to the Internet (you can read more about that in Chapter 4).
How much storage is enough for your iPhone? Here’s a guideline:
If you like lots of media, such as movies or TV shows, you might need 512GB.
For most people who manage a reasonable number of photos, download some music, and watch heavy-duty media such as movies online, 128GB may be sufficient. But if there’s any possibility you may take things up a notch in the future regarding media consumption and creation (such as the newest grandchild being on the way soon), you should probably seriously consider 256GB.
If you simply want to check email, browse the web, keep your calendar up to date, and write short notes to yourself, 64GB likely is plenty.
What’s the price for larger storage? For the iPhone 12, a 64GB unit costs $799; 128GB is $849; and 256GB will set you back $949. iPhone 12 mini with 64GB goes for $699, 128GB at $749, and 256GB for $849. iPhone 12 Pro with 128GB is $999; 256GB is $1099; and the model tops out at $1299 for 512GB. Not to be outdone, iPhone 12 Pro Max is the priciest: $1099 for 128GB; $1199 for 256GB; and $1,399 for 512GB. Note that prices may vary by carrier and where you buy your phone.
Understand What You Need to Use Your iPhone
Before you head off to buy your iPhone, you should know what other connections and accounts you’ll need to work with it optimally.
At a bare minimum, to make standard cellular phone calls, you need to have a service plan with a cellular carrier (such as AT&T or Verizon), as well as a data plan that supports iPhone. The data plan allows you to exchange information over the Internet (such as emails and text messages) and download content (such as movies and music). Try to verify the strength of coverage in your area, as well as how much data your plan provides each month, before you sign up.
You also need to be able to update the iPhone operating system (iOS) and share media (such as music) among Apple devices. Though these functions can be utilized without a phone carrier service plan, you have to plug your phone into your computer to update the operating system or you may also update wirelessly over a network. You need to use a local Wi-Fi network to go online and make calls using an Internet service, such as FaceTime or Skype.
You should open a free iCloud account, Apple’s online storage and syncing service, to store and share content online among your Apple devices. For example, you can set up iCloud in such a way that photos you take on your iPhone will appear on your iPad. You can also use a computer to download photos, music, or applications from non-Apple online sources (such as stores or sharing sites like your local library) and transfer them to your iPhone through a process called syncing.
Apple has set up its software and the iCloud service to give you two ways to manage content for your iPhone — including apps, music, or photos you’ve downloaded — and specify how to sync your calendar and contact information.
There are a lot of tech terms to absorb here (iCloud, syncing, and so on). Don’t worry. Chapters 3 and 4 covers those settings in more detail.
Where to Buy Your iPhone
You can’t buy an iPhone from just any retail store. You can buy an iPhone at the brick-and-mortar or online Apple Store and from mobile phone providers, such as AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. You can also find an iPhone at major retailers, such as Best Buy and Walmart, through which you have to buy a service contract for the phone carrier of your choice. You can also find iPhones at several online retailers (such as Amazon.com and Newegg.com) and through smaller, local service providers, which you can find by visiting https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204039.