Appalling service from Apple Help

Jumblebumble

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82152659#Comment_82152659

Its not Apples problem as no one can compel them to do what the OP wants

MCMLXXVII

ex-Apple employee here. I strongly recommend going to the store.

my normal phone has 516 of memory and this only has 128 . I have a lot of photos as I use it as my camera. I am happy to buy the extra space to do this

Pedantic but important: You're talking about storage, not memory. A free iCloud account, which you almost certainly already have, gives you 5GB of cloud storage (so several times the total storage of your normal phone).

This can either mirror (i.e. back up) or simply extend your photo storage. If you don't already do this, ask about it in the store. They will gladly show you.

I can't open the camera because it doesn't have enough memory.

Again, assuming we're talking about storage, lack of it will not prevent the camera app from opening. Scanning a QR code does not require actually taking a photograph, so lack of storage isn't an issue.

dumpster_fire2025

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82155135#Comment_82155135

To be pedantic 5GB is considerably less storage than the capacity on a regular phone and the iPhone 18 Pro starts at 256GB. It's also less than half of the actual memory capacity which is 12GB (although this is largely moot.)

I'm surprised the OP didn't just pay for upgraded storage on iCloud and be done with it, although as I alluded to in my original comment the OP seems to have made a series of "unusual decisions/requests" that have compunded to make the whole experience agonising for them, and if they'd have just accepted that they'd be without a phone for a few days, which is entirely normal when returning faulty products, this whole mess would have been avoided. Or they could have taken it to an Apple store and had a replacement there and then.

teachergirl

I do pay for 2TB of storage in icloud

dumpster_fire2025

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82156087#Comment_82156087

Then, assuming that wasn't full, you could have stored whatever you needed on there for a few days whilst your device was being dealt with.