iPod Chinese iPod model?

[el-John-o]

Hey folks!

I just came home from lunch to see my latest iPod acquisition; what was supposed to be a like-new 5th Gen Enhanced 80GB model.

The model number the OS reports is MA002CH which is a Chinese 30GB model. This seems to be a Chinese refurb with an 80GB hard drive.

I've reached out to the eBay seller, but I'm curious if any of you know what the differences might be over a 'rest of the world' model? Does it still have the wolfson DAC? Is it a 5th Gen enhanced model even though it would've originally come with a 30GB hard drive?

I guess what it boils down to is whether this thing is worth keeping. I might be able to negotiate a partial refund for the seller (the battery is also not holding a charge which isn't as advertised). Or I might insist on returning it.

 

[Slix]

I've not seen any other region iPods, but I've seen a Chinese iPad mini before, and the only difference that I could tell was the model number (as you mentioned), and there being Chinese lettering on the back. I'd guess they are all the same worldwide internally.

 

[el-John-o]

I've not seen any other region iPods, but I've seen a Chinese iPad mini before, and the only difference that I could tell was the model number (as you mentioned), and there being Chinese lettering on the back. I'd guess they are all the same worldwide internally.

Yeah, I figured it would be the same. What I was trying to figure out was whether it was an 'enhanced' model which had a better battery life and display; which is what I thought I was buying.

I've sent it back. On closer inspection the fit and finish is poor, and the serial number doesn't come back to the model that's described. It also appears that there never was a Chinese model in that capacity. What it looks like it was, even though it was advertised as a very good quality original 80GB 5.5G iPod, it was in fact the logic board out of a 30GB Chinese model, a new back and front cover (which weren't very high quality), and an 80GB hard drive. Essentially a hobbled together knock-off of a sought-after model.

So it's on it's way back to the Chinese restaurant it shipped from (not kidding), and I'll keep an eye out for another one.