If you're an iOS user Fifa 14 Ultimate Team Coins who is constantly running out of storagespace on your iPad or iPhone, there might besome light on the horizon. Some of the most recent developer betasof iOS 6.1 include firmware support for iOS devices with 128GB of flash storage. While current iDevices max out at 64GB,the support for larger flash drives may be a hint that upcomingiPhone and iPad models could come in capacities up to 128GB --perhaps sooner rather than later.
iOS developer iNeal tweetedabout the 128GB configuration keys appearing in the fifth developerpreview of iOS 6.1, though apparently Apple snuck the support intoiOS 6.1 as early as the third developer preview. As noted by 9to5Mac, Apple has boosted the top-end capacity of the iPhonewith each S model -- the iPhone 3GS raised the top capacity from16GB to 32GB, and the iPhone 4S boosted it from 32GB to 64GB. IfApple releases an iPhone 5S as it is widely expected to laterthis year, logic suggests Apple could continue the pattern and bumpthe top storage spec to 128GB.
The iPad, however, might get a storage bump before a new model is released later this year. Sources for9to5Mac have shared new retail SKU information that suggests a newUltimate configuration of the existing fourth-generation iPad iscoming soon. Reported US pricing associated with the new SKU is inline with what we would expect for a 128GB iPad considering theexisting price structure.
However, releasing an updated iPad model mid-cycle would be outof character for Apple. We know that no matter what the storagelimit is for an iOS device, there are always users who want more,but it seems more likely that Apple would debut a 128GB iPad modelalong with the next hardware revision. Still, leaked retail SKUs havegenerally been a strong indicator of upcoming Apple products in thepast, and the company has definitely been more willing to breakwith past traditions of late.
None of the evidence so far gives any indication of when Applemight release a 128GB iPod touch. The extra thin design might not be able to accommodate extra NANDchips if needed to reach that capacity, though higher density NANDcould be used instead. If Apple hits 128GB for the iPod touch, thecapacity could be high enough to finally retire the iPod classic, which hasn't been updated in four years andcounting.