Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Teardown of New 16 GB iPod Touch Reveals Few Internal Changes

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
63,441
30,643



With Apple's new 16 GB iPod touch becoming available today, the teardown experts at iFixit have taken the device apart in an effort to determine how it differs internally from its larger-capacity siblings. The 16 GB model lacks the rear camera and support for Apple's Loop wrist strap, so iFixit wanted to see how those changes affected the layout of the device's components.

ipod_touch_5_16gb_teardown_1.jpg
Comparison of original fifth-generation iPod touch (left) and new 16 GB model (right)
(Rear camera would be located at top right corner)​
In the area of where the rear camera would be, the new iPod touch has a small void, while some of the flex cables have also been rerouted slightly. In addition, with the microphone no longer needing to be on the back of the device near a camera, it has been moved to the top edge of the device. Otherwise, the layout of components is the same as in other fifth-generation iPod touch models.

The logic board also appears nearly identical to the ones in the larger-capacity iPod touch models, housing all of the same chips with the exception of 16 GB of flash memory rather than 32 GB or 64 GB. The logic board also has a blank spot where the connector for the rear camera cable would have been.
With the exception of the flash memory, it appears that the ICs on the 16 GB model's logic board are the same as those found on the 32 and 64 GB models:

- Apple A5 dual-core processor, with 4 Gb (512 MB) of Mobile DDR2 RAM.
- Toshiba THGBX2G7B2JLA01 128 Gb (16 GB) NAND flash
- Apple 3381064 dialog power management IC (similar to the Apple 338S1131)
- Murata 339S0171 Wi-Fi module
- Broadcom BCM5976 touchscreen controller
- STMicroelectronics low-power, three-axis gyroscope (AGD3/2229/E5GEK)
- Apple 338S1116 and 338S1077 Cirrus Audio Codec
Click to expand...
ipod_touch_5_16gb_teardown_2.jpg
Comparison of original fifth-generation iPod touch (left) and new 16 GB model (right)
(Post for wrist strap would be located at bottom right corner)​
Finally, at the bottom of the device, the new iPod touch similarly contains a void where the post for attaching the Loop wrist strap would be. Apple has used the same speaker design as in the larger-capacity models, carrying a curved edge that wraps around the Loop post in those models.

Apple's new 16 GB iPod touch is priced at $229, with the addition allowing Apple to discontinue the fourth-generation iPod touch models it had continued selling at $199 (16 GB) and $249 (32 GB) alongside the more expensive fifth-generation models introduced late last year.

Article Link: Teardown of New 16 GB iPod Touch Reveals Few Internal Changes
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/05/31/teardown-of-new-16-gb-ipod-touch-reveals-few-internal-changes/
furi0usbee

furi0usbee

macrumors 68000
Jul 11, 2008
1,790
1,382
Seems dumb to me remove the camera, especially when everyone uses these devices now as a main camera. In terms of quality of products, I don't know why Apple would want to make a product less functional on purpose. Is this a case of removing the backlit keyboard in the Air, then hearing it from the customers, then putting backlit keys back in?

Any money Apple could save by removing a cheap camera seems to not even make a dent in their profits, so this move is strange. Do they plan on taking the camera out of the low-end iPhone as well?

Now I'm not confident in a retina display for my iPad mini...

Bryan
 
R

racer1441

macrumors 68000
Jul 3, 2009
1,863
616
Love this thing! The colors are gaudy, and who uses their music player to take pictures.

i'll be getting one for sure. Not even sure i need it, but just love the design.
 
D

DisMyMac

macrumors 65816
Sep 30, 2009
1,087
11
720p video..... woop-dee-duh.

I bet they made this specifically to upsell folks to an iPhone. Kind of like movie theaters selling "Small" sizes of popcorn... they know nobody buys that!!
 
SnowLeopard2008

SnowLeopard2008

macrumors 604
Jul 4, 2008
6,772
17
Silicon Valley
furi0usbee said:
Seems dumb to me remove the camera, especially when everyone uses these devices now as a main camera. In terms of quality of products, I don't know why Apple would want to make a product less functional on purpose. Is this a case of removing the backlit keyboard in the Air, then hearing it from the customers, then putting backlit keys back in?

Any money Apple could save by removing a cheap camera seems to not even make a dent in their profits, so this move is strange. Do they plan on taking the camera out of the low-end iPhone as well?

Now I'm not confident in a retina display for my iPad mini...

Bryan
Click to expand...

Cameras aren't cheap. There's also the fact that the iPod touch camera isn't some cheap bargain bin part with poor quality. And there's probably licensing fees for stuff too. It's not just about cost of component.
 
M

mac jones

macrumors 68040
Apr 6, 2006
3,257
2
I was having a hell of a time yesterday.

I decided I wanted an iPod touch. (I haven't been in the market for them for several years, but I vaguely know about the present models).

So I go on Ebay and do a search for 5th gen models. Fine, nothing unusual there. I then go to Amazon, where i started getting into trouble.

They had listings for 4th gen models they called (current) and 5th gen they call (newest). Yikes! no biggie though, i'll just go to Apple and check models.

Well, I go to the Apple site and they have a 16GB model on the front page as 'New' . At this point i'm totally lost, I haven't a clue.

By the time I figure out what is what i've lost interest.

Thank you Apple for saving me money.
 
K

komodrone

macrumors 6502
Apr 26, 2011
499
0
furi0usbee said:
Seems dumb to me remove the camera, especially when everyone uses these devices now as a main camera. In terms of quality of products, I don't know why Apple would want to make a product less functional on purpose. Is this a case of removing the backlit keyboard in the Air, then hearing it from the customers, then putting backlit keys back in?

Any money Apple could save by removing a cheap camera seems to not even make a dent in their profits, so this move is strange. Do they plan on taking the camera out of the low-end iPhone as well?

Now I'm not confident in a retina display for my iPad mini...

Bryan
Click to expand...

camera isn't cheap
adding a camera on 16gb would cannibalize 32gb sales which has a much higher profit margin.
 
alphaod

alphaod

macrumors Core
Feb 9, 2008
22,183
1,245
NYC
Not a surprising development at all.

I imagine Apple would want to slowly, but surely phase out all the older parts one-by-one.

This was the natural step. What I would really like to see if a high capacity flash-based iPod [classic].
 
I

iisdan

macrumors 6502
Feb 19, 2010
319
331
This ipod is Not a good move for apple but i wasn't expecting any changes to the internal ****...
 
Tankmaze

Tankmaze

macrumors 68000
Mar 7, 2012
1,707
351
the question is, why don't they do this earlier. launch it along side the one with camera.

this gimp ipod touch really convince me that apple will introduce the low cost iphones.
 
lotzosushi

lotzosushi

macrumors 6502
Jan 10, 2007
432
401
mac jones said:
I was having a hell of a time yesterday.

I decided I wanted an iPod touch. (I haven't been in the market for them for several years, but I vaguely know about the present models).

So I go on Ebay and do a search for 5th gen models. Fine, nothing unusual there. I then go to Amazon, where i started getting into trouble.

They had listings for 4th gen models they called (current) and 5th gen they call (newest). Yikes! no biggie though, i'll just go to Apple and check models.

Well, I go to the Apple site and they have a 16GB model on the front page as 'New' . At this point i'm totally lost, I haven't a clue.

By the time I figure out what is what i've lost interest.

Thank you Apple for saving me money.
Click to expand...

Um, not Apple's fault at all... don't blame them. Your first mistake is relying on eBay and Amazon for correct descriptions. Why didn't you start on Apple's site first? Second, seeing you've been on MacRumors since 2006 you should know there's a special tab just for the current models of every Apple product and info about when you should and shouldn't buy them. See their Buyer's Guide.

Also for future reference, MacTracker is a great source to find out about the history and tech details about every Apple product ever made. ;)

Hope that helps.
 
Rogifan

Rogifan

macrumors Penryn
Nov 14, 2011
24,116
31,140
Boy doesn't take iFixit long to tear down Apple devices. Are they as obsessed with taking apart other companies devices?
 
M

mac jones

macrumors 68040
Apr 6, 2006
3,257
2
lotzosushi said:
Um, not Apple's fault at all... don't blame them. Your first mistake is relying on eBay and Amazon for correct descriptions. Why didn't you start on Apple's site first? Second, seeing you've been on MacRumors since 2006 you should know there's a special tab just for the current models of every Apple product and info about when you should and shouldn't buy them. See their Buyer's Guide.

Also for future reference, MacTracker is a great source to find out about the history and tech details about every Apple product ever made. ;)

Hope that helps.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tips.

True, and true. They make it a simple as possible....really easy
Even a dead stump wouldn't have a problem.

Anyway, my post was misleading. It wasn't that, that changed my mind at all (I was kidding). I decided that the screen is just too small. I looked at my iPhone and just don't want to go there. There's the iPad mini now that is a killer size.
 
C

commander.data

macrumors 65816
Nov 10, 2006
1,057
183
Looks like the same APL8942 32nm A5 is used. With the silent 3rd Apple TV refresh earlier this year not being the 28nm Samsung or TSMC test vehicle, I thought this 16GB 5th gen iPod Touch might have been, but I guess not. There aren't really any other low volume products Apple could use to shrink an existing A series processor to trial a new 28nm process between now and September when the next iPhone would presumably use it. I wonder if that means Apple's going to take the risk of jumping directly into high volume production with a new SoC and a new process? Unless Apple isn't planning on switching fab processes and/or making major changes to the SoC design this year, which seems unlikely.
 
Chocolatemilty

Chocolatemilty

macrumors 6502a
May 17, 2009
653
113
Los Angeles, CA
commander.data said:
Looks like the same APL8942 32nm A5 is used. With the silent 3rd Apple TV refresh earlier this year not being the 28nm Samsung or TSMC test vehicle, I thought this 16GB 5th gen iPod Touch might have been, but I guess not. There aren't really any other low volume products Apple could use to shrink an existing A series processor to trial a new 28nm process between now and September when the next iPhone would presumably use it. I wonder if that means Apple's going to take the risk of jumping directly into high volume production with a new SoC and a new process? Unless Apple isn't planning on switching fab processes and/or making major changes to the SoC design this year, which seems unlikely.
Click to expand...

I wonder this as well. I guess they'll pretty secure in their new process that they won't need to trial it? Time will tell. I believe I may be waiting until Christmas for a 5S, as I'll like some reviews with the new chip and everything first. Expecting it to be great, but you never know...
 
iSayuSay

iSayuSay

macrumors 68040
Feb 6, 2011
3,791
906
About time.. The 4th gen iPod was a horrible device. Horrible display, low RAM and putrid A4 SoC.

Meanwhile the 5th iPod Touch is sweet device putting iPhone 4s a run for the money.
 
X

Xiroteus

macrumors 65816
Mar 31, 2012
1,297
75
racer1441 said:
Love this thing! The colors are gaudy, and who uses their music player to take pictures.

i'll be getting one for sure. Not even sure i need it, but just love the design.
Click to expand...

The camera matters depending what else one has, if I did not have an iPhone I would want an iPod touch with the latest camera. If one has an iPhone there is no need for this.

mac jones said:
By the time I figure out what is what i've lost interest.
Click to expand...

That was fast.

Not something you wanted all that much to loose interest that quickly.
 
S

Skika

macrumors 68030
Mar 11, 2009
2,999
1,246
mac jones said:
I was having a hell of a time yesterday.

I decided I wanted an iPod touch. (I haven't been in the market for them for several years, but I vaguely know about the present models).

So I go on Ebay and do a search for 5th gen models. Fine, nothing unusual there. I then go to Amazon, where i started getting into trouble.

They had listings for 4th gen models they called (current) and 5th gen they call (newest). Yikes! no biggie though, i'll just go to Apple and check models.

Well, I go to the Apple site and they have a 16GB model on the front page as 'New' . At this point i'm totally lost, I haven't a clue.

By the time I figure out what is what i've lost interest.

Thank you Apple for saving me money.
Click to expand...

Wow, life must be a real struggle for you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom