SweepiusQuick answer: estimate what you’ll shoot (video matters far more than photos), clear at least that much plus a few GB of headroom before you leave, and empty Recently Deleted so the space is really free. If you’ll mostly watch your clips on a phone, record in 1080p instead of 4K.
Why phones fill up on holiday
You shoot more in a week away than in a month at home, and most of it is video: the sunset, the street performer, the kids in the pool. Running out of space mid-trip means deleting on the spot, in a hurry, which is exactly when good shots get lost.
Step 1: Work out how much you’ll need
| What you shoot | Roughly how much space |
|---|---|
| 1,000 photos (12 MP HEIF) | about 2 GB |
| 10 minutes of 1080p at 30 fps | about 0.6 GB |
| 10 minutes of 4K at 30 fps | about 1.7 GB |
| 10 minutes of 4K at 60 fps | about 4 GB |
The iPhone storage calculator does the maths for your exact settings. Then check what you have in Settings › General › iPhone Storage.
Step 2: Clear space at home, calmly
Do it the week before, not at the airport.
- Last trip’s videos. If they’re backed up, delete the long clips you never rewatch.
- Retakes and duplicates. Apple’s free Duplicates album catches copies; retakes need a manual pass. See delete duplicate photos.
- Old screenshots. Boarding passes from last year can go — here’s how.
- Empty Recently Deleted, or none of it counts.
Step 3: Change one camera setting
In Settings › Camera › Record Video, 1080p at 30 fps uses about a third of the space of 4K at 30 fps. Keep 4K for the moments that matter by switching it in the Camera app when you need it.
Which should you pick?
| Your situation | Do this |
|---|---|
| Less than 10 GB free | Clear old videos and retakes, empty Recently Deleted |
| You film a lot | Also switch to 1080p for everyday clips |
| You have iCloud Photos | Turn on Optimize iPhone Storage before you go |