Summary
- The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro don't have a microSD card slot, making storage expansion difficult. This is common among flagship smartphones nowadays.
- Google offers three storage options for the Pixel 6, ranging from 128GB to 512GB. The price of the phone varies based on the chosen storage capacity.
- While there's no expandable storage, Pixel 6 s can rely on Google One for cloud storage. Google One plans start at $1.99/month and provide backup and storage options for Google apps and data.
The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are great smartphones, but there's one looming question that needs to be answered: Do the phones come with a microSD card slot for expandable storage? As smartphones have evolved with a greater focus on size, a display-first design, and durability, many of the physical ports, openings, and accessories have been removed.
Unfortunately, neither the also true for the 3.5mm headphone jack as well. However, with an emphasis on cloud-based services and storage, some may not miss the option to expand the storage quite as much as others. That is, as long as they make the right decision when ordering a new Pixel.
Choosing The Right Pixel 6 Storage Option
In total, Google offers three different storage options, but the exact number available depends on the device. For example, while the Pixel 6 Pro is available to buy with either 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage, the standard Pixel 6 can only be purchased with either 128GB or 256GB. As is to be expected, the exact price of the phone will also depend on how much storage is required. With no ability to physically expand the storage, consumers may want to consider how much they will need before placing an order. Though hard to know in advance, it might be worth considering how much storage the shopper's existing phone has and how often they run close to the overall limit.
For example, if upgrading from a phone with 64GB storage and almost never having issues with space running low, then it is likely the base 128GB version will be fine. If hoping to make the most of the Pixel 6’s camera and video-recording abilities, and not planning to rely on cloud storage solutions like Pixel , then it may be worth considering upgrading to the 256GB model. For those wanting the most storage space to play with, they will need to consider paying extra for the Pixel 6 Pro, as well as the additional cost for upgrading the storage level to 512GB.
Why The Pixel 6 Doesn't Have Expandable Storage
Why isn't there a microSD card slot for the Pixel 6? It all has to do with saving money. It costs less for a company to design and ship a phone without microSD . That doesn't necessarily mean you get a cheaper phone, but it does mean that companies get more cash in their pockets. Not including a microSD slot also means one less component to worry about, which can result in slimmer and more refined designs.
Additionally, not including microSD card slots is just the industry norm for flagship smartphones. It used to be that almost every phone had expandable storage. For the past few years, however, it's become an increasingly rare feature. Similar to how the headphone jack and metal designs have faded from existence, the same is true of microSD card for smartphones. Not having expandable storage on the Pixel 6 is annoying, but this is also true of most other phones available these days, including the cheaper Pixel 7a.
Upgrade Pixel 6 Storage With Google One
While Pixel 6 s don't have a microSD card slot to expand storage, cloud storage is a convenient alternative, albeit one that comes with a monthly cost. For Pixel 6 s, or Android s in general, Google One is the best solution when it comes to cloud storage. Not only does it include Google apps like Gmail, Photos, Drive, but it can also be used to back up a smartphone, ensuring that a 's data can be recovered in the event they lose or damage their device.
A Google comes with 15GB of cloud storage service, with Google One plans starting at $1.99 a month for 100GB, $2.99 a month for 200GB, and $9.99 a month for 2TB. There are additional storage plans available too, including 5TB, 10TB, 20TB, and 30TB. For the average Pixel 6 though, a 100GB or 200GB plan should be enough, while a 2TB plan can be purchased to share with family .
Source: Google