I hope this has a quick and easy answer.
I want to buy a new phone (Motorola G4 or G5 plus with 32GB memory). I can easily find 16GB models.
If I can't get a 32GB model, is a 16GB model with a 16GB+ micro SD card equivalent to 32GB internal memory phone wrt speed etc? Is the difference noticeable?
PS. I am aware that the 32GB model will also have 3GB vs 2GB RAM.
4GB is barebones system, where the just the Light OS struggles to fit.
(It's like getting a laptop with 32GB memory, Windows 10 Light fits)
8GB is barely enough to house the OS. It might not be enough for a heavy OS, which might need trimming.
(It's like getting a laptop with 64GB memory, Windows 10 Pro fits with a couple gigs to spare)
16GB is just enough to house the OS without problems, but there won't be much space left after that.
(It's like getting a laptop with a 128GB memory, its enough for light use).
32GB is the minimum/standard these days.
The OS (be it iOS or Android) has gotten much larger. Apps now take up much more space. And taking voice records, photos and videos demands more and more memory as we push the quality ever higher and higher.
(It's like getting a laptop with a 256GB memory, its enough, until you have a lot of media).
64GB is mainstream.
There's a lot of breathing space for the OS, Apps, Recording, and your media. Most people don't need more.
(It's like getting a laptop with a 512GB memory, most people can get by)
128GB is luxury.
There's ridiculous amount of space for the OS, Apps, Recording, and your media. Few people need this.
(It's like getting a laptop with a +1TB memory, luxury indeed)
A microSD card/storage on a phone is akin to using a USB Flash drive on your computer. Carrying it is a small burden, and it can "disrupt" the aesthetic design of your device. Its good for your files and media, but not good to run Apps from. When phones were slower in their Android <4.3 OS and Cortex A9 SOC, microSD storage wasn't out of spec, and a good option in comparison to ye olde eMMC 4.5. Just like when laptops had Windows XP and they ran on much slower Core2Duo processors, the difference between USB 2.0 flash drives and their internal HDD's was much smaller. But modern phones have Android 5.1 or better, and have eMMC 5.0 or better… much faster than a microSD can provide. And modern laptops have Windows 7 or better, and have TLC SSD's or better… much faster than standard USB flash drives.
Internal is always better IMO - faster, less prone to corruption but since Android 6 Marshmallow you can setup the SD card as a portable card (removable like an USB) or as "internal" where it stays in there forever and isn't readable by other devices like a PC.
If you setup the SD card as portable and you remove the SD card often, especially without ejecting it properly, you will most likely damage the card and lose your data on it. Its like removing a USB without ejecting it first. Most times it will be fine, but there will be a time when it fails and you lose your data hence internal is less prone to corruption.
Speed wise - Its hardly noticeable (maybe for a few large apps). I would prefer more RAM over internal storage.
you will most likely damage the card and lose your data on it.
That's never happened to me so I don't think it's very likely.
Happened once to me, and twice to friends.
So its a common occurrence that is rare.
You can always make backups, or store in the cloud.
But the cloud can get corrupted as well, and you can lose your data there as well.
The more internal memory the better
All good points, thank you.
is a 16GB model with a 16GB+ micro SD card equivalent to 32GB internal memory phone wrt speed etc? Is the difference noticeable?
No. The external memory will be significantly slower.
I am aware that the 32GB model will also have 3GB vs 2GB RAM.
Sounds like another good reason to buy the 32GB
I went nuts with my 16gb z3, glad to have a 32gb s7 now. Just use expandable memory for media mainly.
Thanks all, I'm convinced, internal memory is the way to go!!
Haven't had a problem with my 2G/16G Chinadroid running Android 6.0.
My daughter has a 3G/16G and I can't tell the difference.
It's like anything with tech - if you buy the top spec you'll always pay too much. Buy adequate and you'll always get good value. Yesterday's ytop spec is today's adequate. And when you pay $110 for a phone you can upgrade eight times and still have change from a gotta have the best ideology.
Internal is way faster than SD cards, also depending on Android version you can't install apps or directly move files to the SD card.
Overall I've never really cared too much, but 32gb is the standard for most people these days.