I use Apple Notes on both my iPhone and iPad. Synced using iCloud. Default note storage is iCloud folder. No notes in device folders. Auto Updates on. Notes uses 20Gb of device storage on both iPhone and iPad as well as iCloud.
Have removed and reinstalled app. No change. Default account is iCloud.
iPhone XS Max
I'm confused.
Why do you think it should use less storage locally?
Notes syncs to iCloud, everything on iCloud would have a mirrored local copy on the device that is synced, so uses the exact same amount of storage since it contains the same information.
It is not offloaded to iCloud.
Photos is not offloaded either. If you are using iCloud Photos, and have Optimize Storage turned on, then it may reduce the quality and file size of locally stored photos, but it does not offload them. It still holds all the photos locally, just they are reduced in quality while the ones in icloud are full size and quality.
If you are not using iCloud Photos, or do not have Optimize Storage turned on, then the Photos are stored locally in full quality and use the same amount of space.
click here ➜ Manage your photo storage - Apple Support
Music is a different thing all together. Apple Music can stream music without downloading it entirely when you use the the Apple Music subscription service and its iCloud Music Library option.
click here ➜ Use Sync Library with your Apple Music subscription - Apple Support
Notes, does not reduce the file size of notes nor can it stream note to a device. It keeps all notes and their data locally on the device and syncs any changes to iCloud.
Not offloaded???… The way that Photos and music is?
Apple Notes using large amount of device storage despite using iCloud.
