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A 256GB SSD is enough for many laptop users. It lets you comfortably store essential data like documents, images, and programs.
But you’ll need more laptop storage if you wish to store large files (think photos and video) or storage-hungry AAA games.
In this article, we’ll explore if a 256GB SSD is enough for a laptop.
We’ll also see how it suits different uses like studying, working, programming, gaming, and more – so you know whether to choose a laptop with 256GB or a larger SSD.
That said, let’s dig in.
Table of Contents
Is a 256GB SSD Enough for College?
256GB SSD storage is enough for students to store their assignments and course materials.
The assignments and related documents are usually small in size and take little to no space on your laptop. In addition, a lot of materials nowadays are in the cloud (Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud, etc.), which means even more storage for your laptop.
So, you can comfortably store documents you download on 256GB storage.
Note
Some majors require more laptop storage than 256GB. For instance, filmmaking students need to store large video files that fill up 256GB in no time.
That said, here’s a list of popular majors that will likely require more than 256GB:
- Engineering (if you are creating 3D models using CAD programs)
- Filmmaking (video editing)
- Digital Arts
- Photography (photo editing)
- Any content creation degrees (photo, video, audio)
Is a 256GB SSD Enough for Work?
A 256GB SSD may be enough for most professionals, depending on their job requirements.
If most of your work revolves around storing small office files on your laptop, feel free to go with 256GB. You can also use 256GB storage if the majority of files are stored in the cloud.
More storage is preferable if you’re in the creative industry or regularly store large files on your laptop. Below are some industries that generally require more storage than 256GB due to their large data files:
- Music production
- Digital artist
- Machine learning
- Artificial intelligence
- Data engineering
- Algorithm engineering
- Game design
- Video editing
- Photography
What about Programming?
A 256GB SSD should be sufficient for most programmers, particularly beginners.
The code and executable files are generally small and don’t require a lot of storage.
Theoretically, you could store your program files on 128GB storage, but a 256GB SSD should – in our opinion – be the bare minimum!
If, on the other hand, you’re developing storage-hungry apps or games, it’s preferable to go for 512GB or 1TB storage.
Is 256GB SSD Enough for Gaming?
You can use a 256GB SSD to store classic or light games with small storage requirements (mostly in MBs). You can also use 256GB storage for mid-tier gaming.
But the AAA titles like Red Dead Redemption are too storage-hungry for a mere 256GB SSD. One such high-end game alone will fill up your storage space.
Take Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, for example; it alone requires up to 200GB of storage. 200GB!
As a rule of thumb, most newer AAA games need somewhere between 50 and 150 gigabytes of storage.
While larger storage is preferable for high-end gaming, you can also use an external storage drive to store your favorite games.
Is a 256GB SSD Enough for Windows 10 and Windows 11?
A 256GB SSD is sufficient for installing Windows 10 and 11.
Windows 10 only requires 16GB and 20GB storage for its 32-bit and 64-bit versions, respectively. Windows 11, on the other hand, requires a 64GB storage device at the minimum.
With that in mind, it’s safe to say you can conveniently install Windows 10 or 11 on a 256GB SSD.
Windows Storage Requirements
| Windows Version | Minimum storage |
|---|---|
| Windows 7, 8, & 10 (32-bit) | 16GB |
| Windows 7, 8, & 10 (64-bit) | 20GB |
| Windows 11 | 64GB |
Note: The above storage requirements are for Windows installation only. You’ll need more storage to install important device drivers and programs on your laptop.
Is a 256GB SSD Enough for MacOS?
A 256GB SSD is enough for macOS laptops (i.e. MacBooks).
The macOS operating system consumes 26GB, while the additional 8GB is dedicated to Swap usage. So, you get 222GB of free storage on your 256GB Mac.
MacBooks are optimized to use minimal storage space for the operating system and essential apps. 256GB of storage is enough for most users.
On top of that, Apple’s ecosystem helps you make the most out of your MacBook storage. For instance, you can store essential files on iCloud for easy accessibility from all devices (it comes with a monthly subscription, but the option is there).
Check out the top laptops with SSD and get yourself a blazing-fast laptop with a suitable storage size.
Conclusion
Some people may still be wondering whether to get SSD or HDD, but for all purposes, SSD is a more practical choice.
256GB SSD is enough for most laptop users since most people use their laptops for browsing, emails, Zoom calls, streaming videos and movies, and light office tasks.
But a 256GB SSD has its limitations. Your computer will run out of space if you pile up lots of photos, videos, and other large files along the way.
Be clear on how you’ll use the laptop before deciding on the storage capacity. The good news is, though, that getting additional external storage is also an option – and it is relatively inexpensive.
If you’re still unsure, it would be good to check the tasks you do and figure out how much storage you really need on your laptop.
