128GB of base storage for the Pixel 9 Pro XL is a bit meager, right?

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: 128GB is not enough storage space for a top-tier flagship smartphone more. Especially one that touts cutting-edge multimedia, such as the new Pixel 9 series.

When I invest in a new device that is supposed to last up to seven years, especially one that costs $999 or more, I don't want to run out of space halfway through the device's expected lifespan.

Granted, I haven’t quite filled up my Pixel 8 Pro’s 128GB of storage yet, but by switching phones regularly, I don’t need to cram years of memories onto one device like my family members do. Still, 90GB is starting to feel the pinch. With a growing library of family photos and videos, I expect I’ll hit the wall in the next year (and I’m not even using 4K yet).

Android Authority Readers agree, and the sentiment is nearly unanimous around the office, too: The Pixel 9 Pro — and especially the XL model — should come standard with 256GB, not the paltry 128GB entry-level version that Google offers on its $999 and $1,099 flagships, respectively. Google’s most advanced offerings look bloodless compared to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultrawhich starts at 256GB, as well as its own ultra-premium Pixel 9 Pro Fold.

Sure, the Pixel 9 Pro XL is about $200 cheaper than a Galaxy S24 Ultra, though that difference narrows once you combine Google's option with similar storage. With a $100 price bump that already factored in for the latest hardware upgrades, it's not like the Pixels are much cheaper than the competition anymore.

Perhaps Google felt it best to stick with 128GB of storage options to keep its latest phones looking somewhat affordable. Choice is always good, but since 128GB has been the standard for years, smaller memory configurations should become cheaper, or the baseline should grow.

128GB on the entry-level Pixel 9 is decent enough if affordability is your top priority. But it's not like storage chips are going to cost an arm and a leg — bulk-order manufacturers can expect to pay $10-$30 to go from 128GB to 256GB, depending on the chip's specs. Would anyone mind if the Pixel 9 Pro XL started at $1,129 instead of $1,099? Probably not. But to be fair, Google would have to swallow the ~$20 storage chip upgrade cost on its most expensive models, where profit margins are already higher.

Instead, the cost of upgrading to larger storage is rising astronomically. Consumers are paying a little more than expected for the jump to 256GB, but the 512GB and 1TB options are hundreds of dollars more than the label price. It's unlikely that Google will ever bring back the microSD slotmaking such luxurious storage space unaffordable for most consumers, especially in the already expensive XL model.

A larger storage pool isn’t just necessary for media collectors; apps and the operating system take up just as much of my phone’s storage. With seven more years of Android updates ahead of us, owning a phone for its entire lifespan requires a lot of extra space to grow with.

Android is an ever-expanding operating system, the essential Google app and Play Store continue to grow and AI models such as Gemini Nano will likely only take up more space as they become more advanced. And that's before we even consider apps outside of the core OS — mobile games will only get bigger, too, as higher-quality assets and models become more common.

Once again, Google seems to be saying one thing with software and another with hardware. If you plan on keeping your new Pixel 9 for a full seven years, it's probably worth breaking out your checkbook and opting for a model with more storage than Google's bare-bones 128GB option. Hopefully I won't have the same complaint next year.