A smartphone allows you to connect with friends and family anywhere on the planet. Your device will run smoothly when new, and you’ll switch between mobile apps without any slugging performance. 

However, you might begin to notice a sluggish performance as you store more data on your phone’s internal storage.

You can optimize your smartphone storage to maintain smooth performance and make you love lightning-fast performance. You’ll back up your photos on Google Photos or iCloud and delete them from your smartphone’s internal space. We’ll look at other things you can do to smoothen performance.

Where Smartphones Store Apps and Data

Smartphones use a combination of storage devices to keep mobile apps and your data like photos and music files. You can be sure to find one of two types of storage solutions for your smartphone:

Internal Storage

Your smartphone has a built-in memory that functions like a computer’s hard drive. It stores most mobile apps in this internal storage chip. Your smartphone uses a specific operating system (OS), either Android or iOS.

The smartphone stores the OS in its internal storage space. Additionally, it stores pre-installed apps in its internal memory, which has capacities of 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and higher.

External Storage

Your smartphone has a memory card slot allowing you to expand its storage capacity. Specifically, you’ll insert a microSD card in the slot to store your favorite photos, music files, and other digital content on your smartphone.

You can also store apps you download later after buying the smartphone. This allows the smartphone to work faster since it will have enough space in its internal memory card to launch apps faster.

Data Taking Up Smartphone Space

Media files such as your photos, videos, and music take up internal space if you don't insert an external storage device like a microSD card. 

Apps you download also take up precious space in your smartphone’s internal storage. These apps accumulate data over time as you use them, leading to less storage space in your phone’s internal memory.

Cache and temporary files also take up some space. Some mobile apps create temporary files to work faster. If you don’t delete temporary files and cache, you’ll deplete your smartphone’s internal space.

Signs of Overload Internal Storage

If you notice a sluggish performance or a slow response in your smartphone, it could be a sign of an overrun internal storage. Your smartphone can’t allow you to install app updates if its internal memory is full. These are signs of an overloaded internal storage.

Clearing Storage Space

Since your smartphone performs poorly if it runs low in internal storage space, you want to free up some space to restore smooth operation. There are three things you’ll do to clear your smartphone’s storage space:

Regularly Delete Unused Apps

The pre-installed apps take up your smartphone’s internal space. However, you can’t delete them. You can download other apps to your smartphone’s internal space. If you don’t use some apps, delete them to free up internal space and restore fast and smooth operation.

You can identify rarely used apps by going to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps on your Android smartphone. Review the list of rarely used apps and install them. On an iOS device, go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

Manage Media Files

Aside from the apps you download later to your smartphone, your photos, videos, and documents take up the smartphone’s internal space. You can backup your photos and videos on a cloud storage service for your version of OS.

Android smartphones have Google Photos, which allows you to back up photos and videos. On the other hand, iOS devices have iCloud for the same purpose. Delete the photos and videos you’ve uploaded to your cloud storage to free up internal space.

At the same time, you can use Photo Compress or Video Compress apps to reduce the size of your photos and videos. The compression saves some space without reducing the quality and resolution of your photos and videos.

Clear Cache and Temporary Files

Your mobile apps create temporary files that also take up internal space. For an Android smartphone user, you’ll go to Settings > Storage > Cached data. Clear cache to free up space. On an iOS device, you’ll go to Settings > Safari > Clear History.

Using Cloud Services

Storing some files on cloud services like Google Photos and iCloud can save up space and boost your smartphone’s smooth performance. Cloud storage has a few benefits:

Access to Files Anywhere

Your photos, videos, and digital media uploaded to the cloud are stored on remote servers. You can access them anywhere in the world if you have an internet connection. Even more impressive, you can access your backed-up data on another device signed into your cloud service account.

Freeing Up Local Storage

Transferring files to the cloud allows you to delete them from your smartphone’s internal space. This allows your smartphone to perform faster and smoother.

Cloud Services for Smartphones

Google Drive

You’ll have 15 GB of free storage for your photos, videos, documents, and digital media. If you want more space, you’ll pay $1.99 per month for 100 GB. You’ll use this service if you own an Android smartphone.

iCloud

It provides 5 GB of free storage space for your files. You can get 50 GB of space for $0.99 per month. It’s compatible with iOS and MacOS devices.

Dropbox

This is a third-party cloud storage service for use with any OS. It offers 2 GB of free space. However, you can get 2 TB of space at $9.99 per month.

OneDrive

OneDrive is a cloud service integrated with Microsoft products like Microsoft Word and Excel to store your documents. It offers 5 GB of free space. However, you can rent 100 GB of space for $1.99 per month.

You should create folders on cloud storage for easy file organization. Label the folders so you know what to find in them. You should also sync your cloud account with apps for automatic and effortless backup.

Leveraging External Storage Options

You can use external storage devices like a microSD card to free up internal space and improve smartphone performance. 

MicroSD Cards

Android smartphones have a slot for a microSD card. However, iOS devices like iPhones and iPads don’t have the slot for expanding storage capacity. Instead, you can use adapters and card readers to expand iOS storage capacity.

MicroSD Card Compatibility

Your Android smartphone can accept a given maximum microSD card capacity. If you want to use the extra storage space in your microSD card, ensure you don't exceed the maximum capacity supported.

External Drives

Additionally, you can store data on portable USB storage devices. These devices feature a USB OTG to connect to your smartphone’s charging port. They allow you to transfer large files to your external drive and free up internal space.

Ensure you safely eject external drives to avoid corrupting your files. You want to organize files in folders for easy organization and retrieval. You also want to backup data to the cloud to avoid losing data if you lose your external drive.

Wireless Storage Spaces

Most top wireless storage solutions boast a capacity of up to 4TB. They allow you to store your photos and videos wirelessly from your smartphone. They create a Wi-Fi network that you can join with your smartphone and transfer files effortlessly.

Some options use a Bluetooth connection for wireless file transfers. Therefore, you don't need cables to back up data and free up the phone’s internal space.

Preventive Measures to Maintain Storage

Having enough internal storage space in your smartphone is essential for optimal performance. You can do three things to keep your storage space enough for smooth operations:

Adopt a Minimalist App Philosophy

First, you want to download only the apps you need. Being selective of mobile apps you download to your smartphone can converse internal storage space. You also want to avoid downloading large game apps, especially if your internal space is limited.

Download lighter versions of apps designed to save space. You can get good apps like Facebook Lite and Messenger Lite, which are lighter versions.

Enable Auto-Cleanup Features

Android smartphones come with a built-in tool for cleaning temporary files. Even iOS smartphones have their own version of storage management tools. You can go to Storage Settings or iPhone Storage Settings to see the allocated space for each app. You’ll then delete apps taking up more space.

You can also set your smartphone to delete photos and videos you’ve backed up already. Automation apps can help you do this effortlessly. They can even delete old messages.

Regular Backups and Maintenance

Your smartphone also allows you to set it to automatically back up photos, videos, and documents to cloud storage like Google Photos, OneDrive, and iCloud. This will free up local storage, allowing your phone to operate optimally.

Setting a monthly reminder about smartphone internal space usage can help you track and delete apps you don’t often use.

Tools and Apps for Storage Optimization

Keeping your smartphone working smoothly is easy with the right tools and apps that optimize internal storage space.

Google Files

Android users can use this tool to remove junk files and delete duplicate photos. As a result, you’ll free up some space and improve your phone’s smooth performance.

Clean Master

Also ideal for Android users, this tool clears junk files and app cache. It also deletes residual files leaving your smartphone’s internal space clutter-free.

CCleaner

You’ll clear cache and junk files and manage apps with the CCleaner tool. However, it’s only available for Android users.

PhoneClean

This iOS tool frees up internal space by deleting temporary files and

junk. It does all that while protecting your privacy.

My Data Manager

This management tool allows you to know which mobile apps you should delete. It’s available for iOS devices like iPhones.

Storage Analyzer & Disk Usage

It analyses your app usage and breaks down data by files and folders to help you understand which data you need to delete.

Final Verdict

Managing your smartphone’s internal storage space will help your device work faster and a lot smoother. However, you might have more files to store when your phone has limited space. 

You can store some files on external memory devices like a microSD card and free up internal space. You can also use the cloud to back up data and store digital data.

Working with a fast computer is convenient as it allows you to deliver work with tight deadlines. Your computer can only be fast if it has the right-size hard drive. You might think hard drive size doesn’t matter if you have an SSD.

However, size matters because your computer stores the operating system and applications on the hard drive. If you’ve installed the right-sized hard drive, your computer will perform optimally. 

What’s more, your computer will store personal data on the hard drive. You’ll need to know how to choose the right size for optimal performance.

Uses of Computer Hard Drive

A computer’s hard drive is an essential component in the optimal functioning of your computer. Your computer can’t operate without it. That’s why you have to ensure you’ve installed the right hard drive on your computer. Your computer uses the hard drive for the purposes below:

Operating System Storage

Your computer needs software to operate as intended. Among the software needed is the operating system (OS) which controls your computer’s hardware. Computers use different versions of OS with Windows and MacOS being the most popular versions.

Additionally, some computers use Linux. Whichever OS version your computer uses, it stores it on the hard drive. The OS instructs the computer hardware to execute your input. 

Application Storage

Your computer also stores software programs on the hard drive. The applications (Apps) perform specific tasks such as processing words or browsing. 

Personal Data Storage

The document you wrote on a word processing app like Microsoft Word is stored on the hard drive. What’s more, your computer will store your favorite pictures, videos, and music on the hard drive.

Gaming

If you love the thrill of computer gaming, you want to allocate a substantial portion of the hard drive space to your large game files. The computer will access the files when you launch and play the games downloaded to your hard drive.

Data Backup

Your computer also relies on its hard drive to prevent you from losing important documents, pictures, and music files. The computer will duplicate these data to prevent any important data loss.

Virtual Memory

Sometimes, your computer borrows a small portion of your hard drive capacity to supplement the RAM. This improves computer speed when you’re running a more demanding task.

Types of Hard Drives and Their Capacities

You already recognize the importance of a computer’s hard drive. Your computer can’t work without it. When looking for a hard drive for your computer, you’ll choose between three options:

HDD (Hard Disk Drives)

These hard drives feature a platter with a magnetic surface on which the computer writes data. The platter spins incredibly fast when your computer is powered on. They have been the traditional devices on which computers stored data.

You can still find these hard drives with capacities starting from 500 GB up to 20 TB. Their incredible capacity range makes them ideal for storing very large files. Aside from high capacity, HDDs are cost-effective. However, they’re slow, which will cause your computer to lag.

SSD (Solid State Drives)

This type of hard drive was developed to improve the performance of computers since HDDs weren't fast enough to catch up with advanced software. These hard drives have no moving parts. They use flash memory to store essential data, making them incredibly faster than HDDs.

You can find SSD capacity as low as 120 GB. You can also buy an 8 TB SSD for your computer. Usually, these hard drives have a lower storage capacity than HDDs. You’ll pay a higher price for these hard drives since they’re much faster than HDDs.

Hybrid Drives (SSHD)

Solid-state Hybrid Drives (SSHD) are hard drives that bring the best of both worlds to your computer. They are HDD hard drives with a small built-in SSD for storing frequently used data. These drives range from 500 GB to several terabytes.

The SSD memory inside these drives ranges from 8GB to 32 GB. With an SSHD drive, you can store a significant amount of data while having decently fast performance. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing Capacity

You’ll have three types of hard drives to choose from. However, you’ll consider a few factors to get the best hard drive for the purpose at hand:

Your Budget

HDD drives have the lowest cost per GB of storage capacity. You’ll pay $0.03-$0.04 per GB of HDD storage. On the other hand, you’ll pay $0.05-$0.06 per GB for SSHD storage. SSDs have the highest cost, making you pay $0.08-$0.15+ per GB of SSD storage.

When choosing the best hard drive for your computer or laptop, consider cost and storage needs.

Speed vs. Storage Capacity

There is a correlation between hard drive speed and capacity. HDDs with larger storage capacities offer a slight speed advantage since they can pack more data on the platter. If you choose an HDD and want faster performance, you’ll go for one with a higher capacity.

However, you’ll trade off speed for affordability and more storage if you opt for HDDs. SSHDs don’t perform any differently than HDDs except for the small SSD that caches data and improves boot time and application load time.

An SSD is a clear winner if you want speed in your computer performance. You’ll have an even better speed if you choose an SSD with a higher storage capacity. 

While higher capacities can yield a slight speed increase, SSDs perform differently based on their primary performance factor, such as SATA and NVMe. The controller also impacts speed.

You’ll trade off cost-effective performance for speed and better responsiveness if you choose an SSD hard drive. If you’re working with a tight budget and need more storage, you'll choose an HDD. At the same time, you’ll opt for an SSD if you want performance and responsiveness.

An SSHD drive offers the best of both worlds, balancing speed and storage.

Compatibility with Existing Systems

Connecting a hard drive to your computer requires a specific connection interface. SATA is the most widely used one for HDDs and SSDs. This interface provides a connection speed of up to 6 Gbps. 

NVMe hard drives connect directly to your computer’s motherboard. As a result, they provide higher data transfer speeds than SATA hard drives. You can be sure to get speeds exceeding 3500 MB/s.

Recommended Capacities for Common Use Cases

You want to consider your activities on a computer when buying a hard drive with the right storage capacity. You’ll consider the activities below:

General Home Use

If you use your computer for tasks such as writing documents, watching favorite movies, or running browsing applications, a hard drive with a capacity between 500 GB and 1 TB will be very capable of handling these tasks.

Gaming Activities

While you’ll benefit from faster game loading and launch speeds with an SSD, you can still run a game from an HDD. 

However, your HDD will need a capacity ranging from 1-4 TB for improved gaming speed. SSDs perform incredibly faster ,even with lower capacities. You’ll still need a 500 GB–1 TB SSD drive.

Content Creators

Being a content creator means you often work with large files. Your videos and images will boast high-resolution graphics, increasing file size significantly. As a result, you’ll need more storage capacities. You’ll need over 4TB of HDD to store your content.

Enterprise or Data Centers

An enterprise has many files to store. Data centers also have a lot of data to store. A multi-terabyte hard drive might be enough for an enterprise. 

But it might not meet the needs of a data center. In this case, the data center will organize multiple multi-terabyte hard drives into a single logical unit (RAID setup) for all the storage needs.

Future-Proofing Your Storage

As your data grows, you’ll need more space to store important information and data. It is very important to make your data accessible even in the future. You can do a few things to prevent data loss and ensure you can retrieve data for future processing and use.

Cloud Storage

You want to adopt a hybrid approach to your data storage needs. Storing some data in the cloud can free up precious hard drive space. You’ll combine local storage with cloud storage to ensure you store all essential data without losing any important data.

The computer’s hard drive will store frequently used data. This leaves data you don't often use in cloud storage for later usage. The cloud offers a supplementary space for extra data that you will need later.

Utilize RAID Configurations

If you can't get a single hard drive with the capacity to store all data, you can organize different physical hard drives into one single storage facility called RAID. This configuration allows you to divide data into blocks and store them on different hard drives.

This configuration even repeats data on multiple hard drives, so you can always retrieve data from another hard drive if one of the hard drives fails.

External Hard Drives

You can also invest in external hard drives to free up space in your hard drive that’s inside your computer. You can even choose to store data on labeled external hard drives for easy identification of the types of data you need.

External hard drives are good for data backup. You can transfer data from your computer’s hard drive to an external storage unit to prevent any data loss if you lose your computer. 

Summing Up

Your computer needs a hard drive to function. It will be impossible to use it if you don't have enough storage on your computer’s hard drive. Remember that the computer allocates a portion of your hard drive space for the operating system and software programs.

Since the OS and applications share the hard drive space, you'll need to opt for a hard drive with the right capacity. Generally, SSDs perform better than HDDs and SSHDs. However, you’ll pay a price for these superior hard drives, but you can choose HDDs for more storage.

If you are like me, you may favor buying affordable devices like my 128GB iPhone 13 or 256GB Dell PC. Well, these devices cost less but can be costly over time. Or imagine the frustration of not being able to use your device due to limited storage. If you use a limited storage device, the issue of low memory isn’t so far flung. 

But what is the best way to tackle the problem of low memory on your smartphone? Some smartphone owners swear by cloud storage. Others are yet to try storing valuable data on the cloud and prefer physical devices like SSDs (Solid State Drives). Still, others say it’s time for a device upgrade when you start getting “low memory” notifications. Which camp are you on? Which storage solution is the best for mobile? 

Solving Smartphone Storage Problems: Cloud vs. SSDs vs. Upgrades

With smartphone storage problems, there is no best solution. You will have to evaluate your situation and determine your best bet. For example, if you have enough to splurge on an upgrade, that may be the way forward. Or if you’re looking to save money, the cloud or physical SSD may serve you better. However, you must consider your internet connectivity strength before choosing cloud storage. 

Yes, each storage solution has its good and not so go side. You will be able to decide after we consider each solution on its own merit. We would first start with cloud storage. 

Solution #1: Cloud Storage

With cloud storage, you can save large videos, audio, and other digital files via the internet. The cloud here is really another computer, a server. The most popular cloud storage option is Google Drive. This solution is used by billions of Android smartphone users worldwide. The iCloud by Apple is equally very common on iOS (iPhone Operating System). 

How Cloud Storage Works

When you choose to save or backup files on the cloud, you are simply saving on another computer that has space. These files are transferred via the Internet. So a strong internet connection would help. 

You can download the files back to your device when you want. This could be when you change your device, or when you need a particular file or data. 

The Benefits of Cloud Storage

Smartphone users who rely on the cloud have good reasons for doing so:

1. Easy access: Cloud storage isn't physical but you can reach your files in any location on any device as long as you have internet.

1. Secure storage: Your files on the cloud would only be breached if someone else has your login details. So, the cloud is pretty safe. 

1. Offers you more space: You can free up device space by uploading some heavy files to the cloud. These files may not be useful to you at the moment.

1. Shared access: You can allow others to access the files stored in the cloud by simply permitting their ID. This is a great option for family-owned or work-related files. 

1. Auto Syncing: You can set the cloud to sync with your device. So you don't have to manually backup every new photo or video you record. The system will ensure your phone and the cloud are identical. 

The Challenges of Cloud Storage

Using the cloud isn’t always smooth though. You may run into these issues:

1. Depend on the internet: The cloud 100% depends on being online.

1. Growing cost: Cloud subscriptions must be paid monthly. Your cloud provider may offer a free plan with limited storage space. So you have to pay for more space. This routine payment and internet fees can grow your monthly expenses. 

1. Privacy risk: You may suffer a data breach if your cloud security is compromised.

When to Use Cloud Storage

We’ve seen the pros and cons but when should you use the cloud? Cloud storage is not affected by device failure or fire. So this method is a pretty good safeguard in the event of an accident. Also, the cloud option would be advised if you and others must access the data on different devices. 

Solution #2: External SSDs and OTG Drives

External SSD (Solid State Drive) or an OTG (On The Go) drive is a physical memory drive that is portable. These drives will fit in your palm or pocket. You can plug them into your device at any time to store or retrieve your files. 

How External SSDs and OTG Drives Work

These devices have a connecting port which is often a micro USB or Type C port. You can access the stored files by simply connecting to your smart device. Then you can move files to and from your smart device. External SSDs will work on your iPad, iPhone, PC, or Android. As you can imagine, these gadgets excel in certain areas but may not be your best bet in some situations. 

The Benefits of External SSDs and OTG Drives

External SSDs and On-The-Go Drives have these benefits:

1. Portable: There is a physical drive but would fit in your pocket or palm. 

1. High speed data transfer: Reading and writing files on the drive is fast.  

1. Works on all devices: These drives will work on any OS (Operating System) or device.

1. Does not need internet: You can transfer data without being online.

The Challenges of External SSDs and OTG Drives

The issues with an SSDs or OTG drive are:

1. Cost: External SSDs cost more than regular HDD (Hard Disk Drives), although the former is superior to the latter. 

1. Durable: SSDs can become damaged when mishandled. 

1. Fixed capacity: You can expand an external SSD but you can get an additional device. 

1. Security risk: Your physical drive may get stolen or lost. This increases your risk of data leaks. 

When to Use External SSDs and OTG Drives

Still, an external drive can be remarkably useful. For example, they can hold a large file without needing internet connectivity. This benefit is handy in areas with poor or no internet. Also, they can be a medium to move files between devices. And just as important, external drives help you avoid monthly or annual costs of cloud storage. 

Solution #3: Device Upgrades

Device upgrade is when you switch to a higher end gadget. Often, this change is necessitated by storage concerns. For example, you may switch from a 128GB iPhone to a 512GB device. This is 4 times your original space. 

How Device Upgrades Work

Device upgrades are pretty straightforward and they happen all the time. To preserve and move your phone’s data to a new device, you can back up the content on the cloud and then redownload the content on your new device. So you won’t be losing any information when this happens. 

The Benefits of Device Upgrades

When it comes to a device upgrade, a benefit comes to mind:

1. Improved performance: Upgrading your PC or mobile phone will improve your work or other operations. For example, you may no longer have to deal with lag or insufficient space. 

The Challenges of Device Upgrades

There are a few strong drawbacks to device upgrades: 

1. Expensive: Upgrading your gadget can feel like paying with an arm and a leg. Sometimes, you may recoup this cost by selling the older device. But due to the high cost, it may be impractical to upgrade all your smart devices at once. 

1. Fixed capacity: A higher end device will offer more space but remember that this free space is often fixed and unexpandable. So it may be impractical to get a device each time you run out of storage room. 

When to Use Device Upgrades

Device upgrade has its drawbacks but sometimes you are due for an upgrade though. For example, your device may no longer be responsive or fast. If the issue is a deeper problem other than low memory, then you should consider an upgrade. Also, there are times when you need an additional device to the one you currently use. Then an upgrade is advised. 

Comparing the Solutions

We have considered the three main solutions to insufficient storage issues. Sometimes, you may not have the luxury of employing all three solutions. Instead, you may prioritize based on cost, usage ease, and scalability. Which solution wins in these categories? Let’s see. 

Cost Analysis

Here, device upgrade is perhaps a capital no. A new, high end gadget will cost a fortune. Also, clod storage payments seem to be minimal but consider that you will make these payments terminally. This cost can really add up over time. 

The clear winner in this category is the SSD or OTG option. You can get up to 2TB storage for just a few hundred dollars. 

Ease of Use

Even though you are non-technical, upgrading a device or obtaining an SSD seems straightforward. Using cloud storage seems like a challenge but only because you may be unfamiliar with the process. 

If you operate a smart device, you should have no challenge using any of the three solutions. However, getting an SSD seems the easiest, especially when you have to move your data after an upgrade. 

Longevity and Scalability

Unfortunately, you can only scale an external SSD by buying another gadget. The same applies to device upgrades. In contrast, cloud storage is practically unlimited. 

Also, physical devices must be well cared for so they don’t go bad. Mishandling your gadgets will reduce their longevity. We’ve designed our SSDs to withstand external pressures. But we still recommend you care for the device.

In the area of longevity and scale, the cloud wins. Remember that you can combine these storage methods to create a robust and flexible solution. 

Tips to Maximize Existing Storage

These tips will help you manage storage as you figure out what storage solution is best for you:

Regularly clear cache and unwanted files: Caches can take up valuable storage space. Clear caches to free space and delete unwanted files, especially heavy files like videos. 

Use compression apps for media: Using a compression app is a little technical and cumbersome. But it can save you some megabytes and gigabytes here and there. If you judge that this is good enough benefit, then try a software like Winrar. 

Offload infrequently used apps: Any apps you’re not using? Consider removing them from your phone, PC, or tablet. 

Our Final Words

Don’t let storage concerns force you to upgrade your device. This is a financial decision that can empty your purse. Only seek an upgrade when it is in your interest. 

A picture tells a thousand words. Unfortunately, storage spaces can be quite limiting on smartphones. So, we’re sooner or later in the situation where we are unable to take any more photos.

What if there is an expensive and practical way to expand the fixed memory storage on your gadget? Think of the benefits this will have. You can pursue your mobile photography career. Or you can preserve even more memories with friends and loved ones without experiencing the limits of smartphone storage.

Well, this is exactly what the article is about. Shall we take a dive? 

DIY Hacks and SSD Storage Tips for Mobile Photography

When it comes to mobile phone photography, one of the biggest drawbacks is lack of storage. You may be positioning to take a snap when you get the infamous “memory full” message. Often, you may be forced to delete some valuable files before you can proceed. 

What of the event where your phone unfortunately packs up? You can lose a lifetime of work if it is not backed up. Hence, we’d be providing pertinent tips on mobile photography, particularly tips that address your storage concerns. 

You must have noticed the upward trend of mobile photography. What is behind this popularity though? We’d see. 

The Growing Importance of Mobile Photography

More recently, smartphones are becoming pretty powerful. One area that has seen a lot of improvement is camera. Many flagship devices now spot a high-resolution camera that can compete with most low to medium range digital cameras. 

Also, many manufacturers now include controls to help professional photographers and photography enthusiasts alike. Often, you can purchase additional do-it-yourself devices like a tripod or selfie stick to expand the range of what’s possible on a phone. 

So while digital cameras still have their applications, this improvement in smartphone camera technology will only mean that mobile photography is big business. Mobile photographers are not limited to landscape, wedding, or branding photography. But let’s discuss must-have devices that can enhance those snaps. 

DIY Devices for Mobile Photography

When it comes to mobile photography, there are a few tools that can simplify your work. Below, I have listed these tools and how they come in handy: 

• Tripods and Stabilizers
• DIY Lighting Solutions
• Macro and Wide-Angle Lenses
• Creative Filters and Accessories

Tripods and Stabilizers

This is like the most basic photography equipment. It's no wonder that many smartphone owners have a tripod or phone stabilizer. Also, its popularity mean that it is a must-have. 

A tripod or stabilizer has the same function of holding your phone in place when recording a video or taking a snap. However, their physical features can be different. For example, a tripod is often long enough to be placed on the floor while the length can be extended to match your height. This flexible setup can be handy but you pay a price for the extra bulk or weight. 

In contrast, a stabilizer can work on a table. This device may not extend to the ground, but it serves a similar purpose as the tripod if you are sitting at a desk. Some stabilizers double as a selfie stick. You should opt for a versatile device to reduce how much you carry on a trip. 

DIY Lighting Solutions

Lightning can enhance your shots. You can't rely on flashlight from your camera when taking a shot, especially under low light. Investing in professional lighting can gulp a sizable portion of your budget but see the purchase as an investment. Also, you may want to use a desk lamp for controlled lighting. Such a tool can enhance product photography. A white bedsheet can act as a diffuser to soften harsh light.

Macro and Wide-Angle Lenses

If you take close-up photographs, a macro lens is a must have. Simply attach the lens to your camera and you can magnify or zoom out on different objects. With these lenses you can capture fine textures and structures of even small objects. Let's say you do e-commerce photography, macro lenses will help you showcase products in the best light. 

Similar to macro lenses, a wide angle lens will enhance your phone's camera, helping you capture a wider range. This type of add-on will profit landscape and architecture photographers. 

Creative Filters and Accessories

Of course, there is no leaving out filters as far as photography is concerned. These enhancements can add light and color to your photos, making it artistic. Some polarizing filters will reduce glare from light and make colors pop. 

Enhancing Storage with SSD Devices

After you’re all done with the set up, you’re ready to start taking shots but not so fast. Mobile phone storage is pretty limited. Many high end devices can spot just 256GB of space. It seems like a lot, until you start taking high resolution shots and recording every day.  

Why SSD Storage Is Crucial for Mobile Photographers

Storage is especially crucial to photographers. Remember, you must back up photographs or risk losing your life’s work. Duplicating photos this way will require even higher storage. 

Sadly, there are many storage solutions out there but they are hardly built for smartphones. But what if there is a portable and powerful storage solution for your phone? 

Setting Up an External SSD for Your Smartphone

You may know of micro SD (secure digital) cards that you insert in your phone to expand the storage capacity. These cards are not practical to use as a professional photographer. They can become corrupt suddenly, causing you to lose all of your hard work. Also, they offer limited storage capacities and their read and write speed is dreadfully slow. 

Often, these cards are not an option. Most flagship devices like the iPhone and Samsung do not have an external memory card slot. Even if this is the case, we will not recommend you get one. 

Instead, you should consider switching to the Digiera Portable SSD! Let’s find out why. 

Portable SSD Recommendations

The Digiera Portable SSD is lightweight and sleek, easily fitting into a pocket. More importantly, however, it packs up to 2TB of free space! 

This gadget is cross functional and will work across all other devices like your iPhone, Android, PC, Xbox, and Macbook. The magnetic case mean it will stick to the back of your phone without coming off. 

Its 2GB per second read speed means it’s blazing fast and file transfers just got easier. Finally, you can shoot in 4K without the disturbance of low storage. 

Tips for Seamless Workflow Integration

Our Portable SSD (Solid State Drive) comes with a USB C. On supported devices, you can plug it in and shoot directly to the external storage. You can eject once you’re done with the shoot. 

Backing up Photos Efficiently with SSDs

Alternatively, the external SSD may serve as a back up device. Store duplicate copies of your photos and videos for easy retrieval. Our SSD supports all the major operating systems (OS). Just plug it in and you are ready to move files back and forth. 

Organizing Your Media for Easy Access and Editing

Organizing your files is easy. You may want to create a folder for each day’s shoot. This way, it is easier to locate your work. Alternatively, you can organize your shoot by type. Create separate categories for nature, wedding, or product photography. 

Sorting your photos this way will give you easy access, making editing and file transfer a breeze. How you choose to sort your photos will depend on your work and preference. 

Apps and Tools to Optimize File Transfer and Management

Often, there is no need to get another file manager separate from the one on your device already. However, the portable SSD is compatible with any file manager you may prefer. 

The Budget-Friendly Advantage of DIY and SSDs

One of the benefits of handling your gadget and storage needs is that you get to save costs. Below, we will discuss this benefit alongside others.

Comparing Costs of DIY Solutions vs. Professional-Grade Tools

Professional grade tools like cameras and set ups are great but they can cost thousands of dollars. If you're a photographer who is just starting out, it is best you look for cheaper alternatives like a DIY and affordable storage solution. You may later reinvest into your craft once the money comes streaming in. With photography, it is really important that you seek creative ways to make do with what you have. 

Long-Term Benefits of Investing in Portable SSDs

Buying a portable SSD is an investment that you will later recoup in hundred folds. Imagine the security of carrying back up storage gadget in your pocket that is equal to the storage capacity of several phones at once. Our storage SSDs won’t get corrupted. So they continue serving through what will be an illustrious career in photography. 

Maximizing Creativity without Breaking the Bank

Our Portable SSDs do not cost a fortune. They come at 3 price points, depending on the amount of storage you’d need starting at 500GB up to 2TB. This flexibility allows you to pay for just the space you need without denting your budget. 

Real-World Examples and Success Stories

Take the case of Julius, a mobile photographer in Alaska. He had the unique challenge of shooting in remote locations with limited access to cloud backups. In his words, he knows firsthand "My portable SSD was a lifesaver, letting me transfer and edit photos on the spot without worrying about storage." You too can experience the magic of SSD devices. 

Final Thoughts DIY Devices and SSD Storage

If you are an up and coming photographer who’s finding a cheap but functional set up, we hope this info helps. In the world of photography, there are a lot of fanciful and expensive addons that will cost you a lot of money to acquire. 

But in the end, one must still improvise in certain situations. Remember, it is your ingenuity and love for the craft that will do you the best good. What is important is that your photos speak for itself and they tell the stories you want them to. 

Ready to upgrade your storage lifestyle? Lay hold of our high capacity, resilient SSD. Also, read other storage tips on our blog.