For the past 14 years, Apple has not changed this number.

5 GB of free iCloud is the most sustainable number in Apple's development history. Photo: PocketLint .

On October 12, 2011, Apple officially introduced iCloud along with the iOS 5 operating system, marking the replacement of the old MobileMe cloud service (operating since 2008). MobileMe at that time allowed users to synchronize mail, contacts, calendars, and Safari bookmarks, along with features such as Find My, file storage, and photo sharing.

The birth of iCloud is considered a big step forward for "Apple" when it brings a new, more stable and faster data synchronization platform. Users can automatically back up contacts, calendars, photos, emails and documents between iPhone, iPad and Mac devices without the need for a cable to connect to the computer.

At that time, Apple's provision of 5 GB of free storage per account for device storage and backup was considered quite generous compared to the common usage needs in 2011.

However, after 14 years of development, the world of technology has witnessed dizzying changes. Photos are now dozens of times higher resolution, 4K video has become popular, and the data backup of a mid-range iPhone alone easily exceeds the 10 GB threshold.

Steve Jobs first introduced iCloud 14 years ago. Photo: Apple.

From 2011-2025, iCloud added many important features such as iCloud Drive, Family Sharing, iCloud Photos, and advanced security options.

However, the 5GB iCloud storage level is still a sustainable number in the history of Apple's development. Meanwhile, major competitors such as Google and Samsung offer more generous free storage levels, specifically 15GB for each account.

This move by Apple is to encourage users to upgrade to paid Cloud+ plans with larger capacities such as 50 GB, 200 GB, or 2 TB.

There have been numerous attempts, even lawsuits, to force Apple to change its 5GB free policy, but so far, none have been successful.

According to AppleInsider , the most recent class action lawsuit accusing Apple of violating antitrust laws regarding iCloud storage and costs was dismissed by a judge in March of this year.

The lawsuit, filed in March 2024 and representing tens of millions of users, accused Apple of forcing users to use iCloud and then forcing them to pay for the necessary storage space. However, a U.S. District Judge in San Jose, California, dismissed the case, finding that Apple did not violate antitrust laws.

The judge said that users were not forced to buy storage and that the case did not prove Apple had a monopoly. The ruling also stressed that Apple's allegedly high prices would encourage competitors to gain market share.

Although the case was dismissed, the legal pressure on Apple is not over. The plaintiffs said they plan to re-file amended documents according to the judge's instructions, so the case may be restarted in a different form.

Additionally, Apple is also facing a similar lawsuit in the UK, where a consumer group is seeking a whopping $1.83 billion in compensation for iCloud users.

Source: https://znews.vn/thu-apple-khong-thay-doi-suot-14-nam-qua-post1593383.html