It’s not “better” to backup via iTunes vs. icloud. iCloud is arguably “better” for most people.
That said, when I worked at the Apple Store, we observed that even plugging someone’s phone into the store laptops for a while with iTunes open could reduce the phones’ system data. We didn’t know exactly why this was the case, but it does appear to be possible to reduce system data by having your phone plugged in to a device with the modem equivalent of itunes open.
bedazzlerhoff t1_ixhni0i wrote
Reply to comment by Camp808 in How to remove system data? Or at least reduce it? (16.1.1) update. by [deleted]
It’s not “better” to backup via iTunes vs. icloud. iCloud is arguably “better” for most people.
That said, when I worked at the Apple Store, we observed that even plugging someone’s phone into the store laptops for a while with iTunes open could reduce the phones’ system data. We didn’t know exactly why this was the case, but it does appear to be possible to reduce system data by having your phone plugged in to a device with the modem equivalent of itunes open.