Which has more storage, iPhone 17 or Samsung S26?

The iPhone 17 starts at 256 GB base storage, which is double the Samsung Galaxy S26 base of 128 GB. At the top end, the iPhone 17 Pro Max offers up to 2 TB, while the Samsung S26 Ultra tops out at 1 TB. For most users, the iPhone 17 offers more storage at each price tier.

Is iCloud or Google One better for photo storage?

Both are excellent. iCloud integrates more seamlessly with iPhone — photos sync automatically and Optimize Storage keeps thumbnails locally. Google One offers more free storage (15 GB vs 5 GB) and works across all platforms including Android. Price-wise, they are similar: both charge $9.99/month for 2 TB. If you use iPhone, iCloud is more convenient. If you use multiple platforms, Google One is more flexible.

iPhone 17 vs Samsung Galaxy S26: Storage Compared

Q: Do iPhone photos take less storage than Samsung photos?

Yes. iPhones use HEIC format by default, which averages 2-3 MB per photo compared to Samsung's JPEG default at 3-5 MB. This means iPhones store roughly 40-50% more photos per GB of storage. However, Samsung users can switch to HEIC format in camera settings to match iPhone efficiency.

iPhone 17 vs Samsung S26 Storage: The Quick Verdict

The iPhone 17 starts at 256 GB (up from 128 GB on iPhone 16) with options up to 1 TB on Pro models. The Samsung Galaxy S26 starts at 128 GB with options up to 1 TB. iPhone 17 uses HEIC photos (2-3 MB average) while Samsung uses JPEG by default (3-5 MB), meaning iPhone photos take roughly 40% less space per shot. iCloud offers up to 12 TB of cloud storage; Samsung/Google offers up to 2 TB via Google One. Both phones have excellent storage management tools, but they work differently.

Base Storage Comparison

The iPhone 17 made a significant upgrade by doubling the base storage to 256 GB across all models. The Samsung Galaxy S26 still starts at 128 GB for the base model, with the S26+ starting at 256 GB and S26 Ultra at 256 GB or 512 GB.

Storage Tiers

iPhone 17: 256 GB, 512 GB
iPhone 17 Pro: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
iPhone 17 Pro Max: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Samsung S26: 128 GB, 256 GB
Samsung S26+: 256 GB, 512 GB
Samsung S26 Ultra: 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB

Photo File Sizes

iPhone uses HEIC format by default, averaging 2-3 MB per photo. Samsung uses JPEG by default, averaging 3-5 MB. This means iPhones store roughly 40-50% more photos per GB. iPhone 17 Pro's 48MP camera in ProRAW mode produces 75+ MB files, while Samsung's 200MP sensor in RAW produces 50-100 MB files.

Cloud Storage

iCloud: 5 GB free, then $0.99/mo for 50 GB, $2.99/mo for 200 GB, $9.99/mo for 2 TB, up to $59.99/mo for 12 TB. Tight integration with iOS — seamless backup and photo sync.

Google One: 15 GB free (shared with Gmail and Drive), then $1.99/mo for 100 GB, $2.99/mo for 200 GB, $9.99/mo for 2 TB. Works across platforms — accessible from any device.

Storage Management

Both phones offer storage analysis tools. iPhone has Settings > General > iPhone Storage with app-by-app breakdown, offloading recommendations, and Optimize Photos (which keeps low-res versions locally). Samsung uses Device Care with similar cleanup recommendations. For photo cleanup specifically, iPhone users can use Swype Photo Cleaner for fast camera roll cleanup.

For more on iPhone 17 storage specifically, see our iPhone 17 complete storage guide. For general tips, check our complete iPhone storage guide.

Keep Your iPhone Storage Clean

Swype Photo Cleaner helps you quickly sort through your camera roll — swipe left to delete, right to keep.

Free · iPhone · iOS 16+ · 100% on-device

Free · iPhone · iOS 16+