The iPhone 6s Was Always Destined to Start at 16GB -- and Investors Should Love It

Apple unveiled its latest and greatest iPhone 6s and 6s Plus models last week. The new 3D Touch was largely expected and seems like a promising selling feature that may spur the next wave of upgrades among loyal iPhone users. But something else seemingly caught consumers by surprise: the entry-level models still include just 16GB of storage. And people aren't all too pleased by the move.

Consider some of these reactions:

Or maybe some of these recent headlines from mainstream media outlets:

How to Live With the 16GB iPhone's Pitiful Storage (Wired)
Apple's 16GB iPhone 6S is a serious strategic mistake (Vox)
Why Apple shouldn't be selling a 16GB iPhone 6S or 6S Plus (The Guardian)
Don't Buy a 16 GB iPhone!(Gizmodo)
Friends don't let friends buy 16GB iPhones (Fortune)

Here's the thing. You should never have expected Apple to boost the entry-level storage to 32GB. The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus were always destined to start at 16GB.

Apple already warned you this was comingAt WWDC in June, marketing chief Phil Schiller sat down with prominent Apple blogger John Gruber. The pair specifically discussed iPhone storage configurations, with Gruber arguing that 16GB simply isn't sufficient in this day and age, with apps becoming larger and the increasing size of photos and videos. That last part is particularly poignant considering the new iPhones shoot 4K video, which translates into massive file sizes. The size of iOS itself is also swelling, leaving less for user files.

When discussing the entry-level storage of 16GB, Schiller justified that continued level of storage by pointing to iCloud:

Schiller also said that by saving money on storage, Apple could invest in other areas like improving the camera.

Frankly, Schiller's justifications are dubious at best, but the point is that this conversation took place just three months ago. This is why consumers should have expected Apple to stick with 16GB in the entry-level model.

What it's really aboutThis isn't about maximizing margins on the entry-level model. The difference in cost for 16GB and 32GB is potentially less than $1, according to flash spot prices on DRAMeXchange. (Apple uses forward contracts and doesn't pay spot prices, though.) This is all about the upsell to the 64GB model, since quadrupling the storage for $100 is very compelling specifically because 16GB is insufficient.

Just look at how average selling prices, or ASPs, have benefited from both the new storage pricing structure combined with the 6 Plus release (which comes in at a $100 premium).

Source: SEC filings. Calendar quarters shown.

As a consumer, 16GB is frustrating because it really isn't sufficient for a modern smartphone. As an investor, 16GB is genius. Remember that Apple implemented this new storage pricing structure just last year, boosting the midrange model to 64GB and the high-end model to 128GB. Considering how successful the strategy has been, why would it change now?

The article The iPhone 6s Was Always Destined to Start at 16GB -- and Investors Should Love It originally appeared on Fool.com.

Evan Niu, CFA owns shares of Apple. The Motley Fool owns and recommends Apple. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.