Units & Conversion · GB 与 GiB · Updated 2026-10-25
What Is GB vs GiB?
Definition
GB = 10⁹ bytes (decimal, used by drive makers); GiB = 2—³⁰ bytes (binary, used by OS). A 1TB drive shows 931 “GB” (really GiB) in Windows — no data shrank, just mixed conventions.
Formula
1 GiB = 2³⁰ B ≈ 1.074 GB; 1 Byte = 8 bits
Worked Example
A 1TB drive holds 931 GiB; a 256GB phone offers ~238GB before system files; 100Mbps internet peaks at 12.5MB/s.
Common Misconception
"Manufacturers shortchange you" - capacity is exactly per SI standard; "GB and GiB are the same thing" - mixing them is exactly what creates the "shrinkage" illusion. And do not confuse bandwidth (bits) with downloads (bytes) - an 8x gap.
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