Smartphones now ship with at least 128GB of internal storage, but heavy apps, large media files and growing app libraries can quickly fill that space. While a microSD card used to be the simplest upgrade, many modern Android devices omit the slot, pushing users toward other solutions. Adnan Ahmed for Engadget notes that even phones that retain a slot can now move installed apps to the card natively.

For media‑heavy users, cloud storage is the most convenient route. Subscribing to a Google One plan syncs photos and videos via Google Photos and lets you offload documents through Google Drive. Every Google account with a linked phone number starts with 15GB of free cloud storage, though Android backups now count toward that quota, so it can fill quickly. More economical third‑party cloud services are also available if you don’t mind losing some ecosystem convenience.

If you prefer a physical solution, USB‑C makes external storage easy. Nearly all Android phones support USB OTG, so an external SSD or flash drive—often shipped with a USB‑C to USB‑C cable—can be attached via a dongle or directly. After enabling OTG in settings, the built‑in file manager lets you move files at decent speeds. You can even use a full‑size SD card with an adapter, and high‑end models like the Galaxy S26 Ultra can record 8K video straight to a compatible external SSD.