// Your Photo Library
Settings → General → iPhone Storage → Photos shows your actual count.
I have videos too
Adds ~3× the storage estimate
I want a second backup copy
Doubles the recommended size
Estimated Storage Needed
~10 GB
photos only
// Recommendations — updates as you adjust
Adjust the sliders to get started.
Your recommendation will appear here as soon as you enter your photo count and iPhone model.
// Drive Types Explained — What's the Difference?
USB Thumb Drive (Flash Drive)
Small, cheap, plugs directly into a computer or into your iPhone with a compatible dual-connector drive.
✓ Inexpensive ($20–50)
✓ Fits in your pocket
✓ Plug-and-play
⚠ Slower transfer speeds
⚠ Easier to lose
⚠ Best under 256GB
Portable SSD
Solid-state drive about the size of a credit card. Much faster and more durable than a thumb drive — the right call for large libraries.
✓ Very fast transfers
✓ Drop-resistant
✓ Available up to 2TB+
⚠ Costs more ($60–150)
⚠ Needs a cable
Lightning vs. USB-C
iPhone 15 and newer use USB-C. Everything older uses Lightning. This determines which drives will plug directly into your phone — and which ones need a computer in between.
✓ iPhone 15+ → USB-C drives
✓ iPhone 14 & older → Lightning drives
⚠ Mixing them requires an adapter
⚠ Not all drives work with all iPhones