Hands-On With Apple's New 7th-Generation iPod Touch

[VeryVito]

For those managing hundreds (if not thousands) of existing iPod Touches (and their accompanying form-dependent scanner sleds, card readers and hard-shell cases) in corporate settings, the new iPod Touch is a gift from above. Clients no longer have to hoard their old iPod 5th- and 6th-gen devices while wondering what comes next, and the upgrade path is now as simple as possible.

These things aren't just for kids' games -- they're the brains inside a huge number of point-of-sale devices and inventory trackers today. By keeping the dimensions the same, Apple has let a huge portion of its corporate customer base breathe a huge sigh of relief.

 

[YaBe]

I guess I know what I'm getting my nephew for Christmas?

Lucky Kids , and it's nice you are thinking of him /her first thing after you see this!

gee, thanks uncle. this device will be 4 years out of date by then and my friends will all be getting a hand-me-down iPhone X

If you have spoiled nephews yes, but that opens up a whole new problem, and an iPod would be the last of my worries.

Mine would be all over it, first of all because they get their OWN device, then because they get all the services I am paying (Music, Video and Games) and finally because it is all they really need.

I as a kid, even when I got something I didn't like much, was tought to show respect, and to learn the value of things.

This device is perfect for many kids (depending on age) and they really shouldn't have more than that, remember your kids are what you make of them!

 

[modemmex]

iPod’s are handy to have when traveling - at the end of a long day I want to charge my phone but still click around to plan the next day or to fall asleep to a show while my iPhone charges across the room. I used them for work when I was a music supervisor and needed to make and distribute playlists for events and fashion shows with sound systems or pop ups and parties with Bluetooth speakers. That said, the company paid for them and I’ve never bought one with my own money.

 

[JOBS-3:16]

I love that they updated this. I use an iPod in my car for music. It is permanently connection via USB and sounds way better than Bluetooth from my iPhone. The old iPod touch was sllooooooowwwwwww

This is the same reason I will buy one. Any audiophile knows that Bluetooth is straight up trash compared to having the device hardwired. It's sad, but it is true.

 

[baryon]

Funny. you act as if apple wouldn't brick a device just because they felt like it as opposed to if they had to due to specs.

I know, I mean this only gets rid of one of the possible "reasons" that the SE might not be supported. There are plenty more that Apple could use as an excuse. Though since the SE was still for sale not long ago, it would be a very short useful life... Still, I'd rather they not make iOS 13 compatible with the SE if it meant the SE would run slower.

 

[Manatlt]

i'm sorry but they need to bring back some type of old school Ipod. I would never take a device with a glass screen on a workout especially so bulky. I'm sure this works for so people but it's not for everyone.

There's Apple Watch for that.

 

[jcshas]

There is still a viable market for this device or apple wouldn't waste their time. I know some retailers use them as a POS device.

 

[msama]

I really wish they still had a shuffle or nano type solution for running... well, in my case I know they got me because I ended up getting the apple watch. I like the watch, but in principle I'm not very happy with the situation.

 

[Average Pro]

In response to "who buys this?"...I do. I keep all of my apps such as DJI, twitter and instagram on my iPod Touch. I do no upload any contacts or use the email. This way, I never have to worry about the apps pulling any personal info from it.

 

[JM]

I was really hoping that the write-up would say:

“
Hands-On With Apple's New 7th-Generation iPod Touch”

Just like the old one. Cool.
[doublepost=1559307800][/doublepost]

Now let's take that casing, put in cellular hardware, and make it a new iPhone SE. I'd snap it up with the quickness.

But the battery life.... they probably don’t want to release 4” phone size since the battery wouldn’t last all day.

 

[satchmo]

There's Apple Watch for that.

In principle, yes.
But this means $300 plus for a watch plus the cost of an iPhone.

I'm still rockin' my iPod Shuffle. Love the tactile feel and I don't worry if it gets knocked around at the gym.

 

[cocoua]

A killer device would be a 4.7" edge-to-edge touch at 88 grams and updated electronics (bluetooth 5). It'd be a bigger, lighter SE(X) without the phone. I'd love this.

Add the phone, that would be my perfect iphone at 4”
[doublepost=1559309951][/doublepost]

I was really hoping that the write-up would say:

“
Hands-On With Apple's New 7th-Generation iPod Touch”

Just like the old one. Cool.
[doublepost=1559307800][/doublepost]
But the battery life.... they probably don’t want to release 4” phone size since the battery wouldn’t last all day.

Iphone SE is the longest stand iphone, I think is even better than the iP XS max

 

[Videot27]

I have four young kids and in the past, when my wife and I upgraded from 5c phones to 7+ models, we'd already paid off the 5c devices and handed them down to our twins, the oldest kids, without active accounts so they were essentially iPods anyway.

They were promptly broken — one screen was shattered, the other one bricked for no known reason. So I transplanted the bricked phone's screen onto the the functioning phone's front, transplanting the broken screen onto the bricked phone in case I can ever figure out why it's bricked and then just replace the screen on that one. But I suspect the next time my wife and I upgrade, our 7+ phones won't yet be paid off so we'll have to return them upon upgrade, so we have nothing else to hand down to the kids.

Since all four kids are under 10 years old, none of them will be getting a new phone of their own, so an iPod like this one would be the most likely bet. Maybe the grandparents can pitch in....

 

[markrath]

This is of interest to me because it means I may be able to find the previous model at a much lower price.

Right now at my office I use a Nano for music but hate having to take it home to put music on the nano. With an iPod touch all my music is with me all the time. I don’t want to use my phone as I get too many calls and they go through my Bluetooth speaker and then the hassle of switching audio from speaker to phone. I did use my iPad for a while but it takes up too much space on my desk.

 

[Jett0516]

I hate this short sighted attitude. There are TONS of reasons to have a dedicated iPod. Not everyone wants to risk their $1500 phone in a sweat and metal filled gym. Not everyone wants to use wireless. Not everyone wants to store their music on their phone and kill the battery during their workout. Not everyone wants to be interrupted by a phone call during their workout.

Bro..
iPhone SE
Low power mode
Do not disturb mode

 

[WilliamDu]

In principle, yes.
But this means $300 plus for a watch plus the cost of an iPhone.

I'm still rockin' my iPod Shuffle. Love the tactile feel and I don't worry if it gets knocked around at the gym.

Apple earlier this week introduced new iPod touch models, updating the 4-inch device for the first time since 2015. Not a lot has changed, but there's a new processor and updated storage tiers.

We thought we'd go hands-on with the new iPod touch to see if it still has a place in Apple's lineup in 2019 and who might want to purchase one.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

The new 7th-generation iPod touch is now Apple's smallest device and the sole device that has a 4-inch display. The smallest iPhones (7 and 8) have 4.7-inch displays, so the new iPod touch is a good bit smaller and comparable to an iPhone 5s or SE.

Coming to a 4-inch iPod touch from a larger iPhone is quite an adjustment because most of us are no longer used to using a device with such a small display. It's tiny and it's made from a lightweight aluminum, which is nice if you need something you can just tuck in a pocket.

We have the iPod touch in blue, but it's also available in five additional colors: pink, (PRODUCT)RED, silver, gold, and space gray. As with the previous-generation iPod touch, there are thick bezels at the top and bottom of the device.

The bottom bezel houses a Home button, but unlike the iPhone, there's no Touch ID built in. There's also no Face ID, because the iPod touch has no biometric authentication system at all. You need to use a passcode for unlocking the device.

Camera tech hasn't been updated, so the new iPod touch is still using an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera, both of which are pretty far behind current camera technology in more modern Apple devices. For those who prefer wired headphones, there is a headphone jack.

The sole major update to the 7th-generation iPod touch is its new processor, which is an A10 Fusion chip that Apple first used in the 2016 iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The A10 Fusion chip is a good bit faster than the A8 chip that was in the 6th-generation iPod touch, but it's worth noting that it's underclocked in this new model compared to other A10 devices.

The A10 chip in the iPod touch is running at 1.6GHz compared to 2.3GHz in the 6th-generation iPad and iPhone 7, both of which use the A10 chip. Apple is undoubtedly underclocking the processor to save battery life. Since this is a 4-inch phone, it has a small battery.

The iPod touch earned a single-core Geekbench score of 2722 in our testing, and a multi-core score of 4695. That's a good bit slower than the 6th-generation iPad, which earned a single-core score of 3520 and a multi-core score of 6079.

It's faster than the 6th-generation iPod, though, which has a single-core Geekbench score of 1330 and a multi-core score of 2250. Apple also underclocked the A8 chip in the 6th-generation iPod touch, so having a chip that runs a bit slower in an iPod touch isn't new.

You can get the iPod touch with 32GB of storage for $199, while 128GB of storage will cost $299 and 256GB of storage (a new storage tier) will cost $399.

As for the question of who the iPod touch is for, it's not entirely clear. This is probably a good starter device for a younger child that needs access to games, FaceTime, iMessage, and other features, but there are also potential business applications, as this is an affordable device for something like mobile checkout. It could also be useful for schools looking for inexpensive Apple devices.

For the average person that has other Apple devices like an iPhone or iPad, you're probably not going to want to pick up an iPod touch unless you have a specific use case for it, such as listening to music with wired headphones while at the gym or something. Most people aren't going to have a use for an iPod touch over an iPhone, which is likely why it received only a modest processor update.

What do you think of the new iPod touch? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Hands-On With Apple's New 7th-Generation iPod Touch

Apple earlier this week introduced new iPod touch models, updating the 4-inch device for the first time since 2015. Not a lot has changed, but there's a new processor and updated storage tiers.

We thought we'd go hands-on with the new iPod touch to see if it still has a place in Apple's lineup in 2019 and who might want to purchase one.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

The new 7th-generation iPod touch is now Apple's smallest device and the sole device that has a 4-inch display. The smallest iPhones (7 and 8) have 4.7-inch displays, so the new iPod touch is a good bit smaller and comparable to an iPhone 5s or SE.

Coming to a 4-inch iPod touch from a larger iPhone is quite an adjustment because most of us are no longer used to using a device with such a small display. It's tiny and it's made from a lightweight aluminum, which is nice if you need something you can just tuck in a pocket.

We have the iPod touch in blue, but it's also available in five additional colors: pink, (PRODUCT)RED, silver, gold, and space gray. As with the previous-generation iPod touch, there are thick bezels at the top and bottom of the device.

The bottom bezel houses a Home button, but unlike the iPhone, there's no Touch ID built in. There's also no Face ID, because the iPod touch has no biometric authentication system at all. You need to use a passcode for unlocking the device.

Camera tech hasn't been updated, so the new iPod touch is still using an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera, both of which are pretty far behind current camera technology in more modern Apple devices. For those who prefer wired headphones, there is a headphone jack.

The sole major update to the 7th-generation iPod touch is its new processor, which is an A10 Fusion chip that Apple first used in the 2016 iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The A10 Fusion chip is a good bit faster than the A8 chip that was in the 6th-generation iPod touch, but it's worth noting that it's underclocked in this new model compared to other A10 devices.

The A10 chip in the iPod touch is running at 1.6GHz compared to 2.3GHz in the 6th-generation iPad and iPhone 7, both of which use the A10 chip. Apple is undoubtedly underclocking the processor to save battery life. Since this is a 4-inch phone, it has a small battery.

The iPod touch earned a single-core Geekbench score of 2722 in our testing, and a multi-core score of 4695. That's a good bit slower than the 6th-generation iPad, which earned a single-core score of 3520 and a multi-core score of 6079.

It's faster than the 6th-generation iPod, though, which has a single-core Geekbench score of 1330 and a multi-core score of 2250. Apple also underclocked the A8 chip in the 6th-generation iPod touch, so having a chip that runs a bit slower in an iPod touch isn't new.

You can get the iPod touch with 32GB of storage for $199, while 128GB of storage will cost $299 and 256GB of storage (a new storage tier) will cost $399.

As for the question of who the iPod touch is for, it's not entirely clear. This is probably a good starter device for a younger child that needs access to games, FaceTime, iMessage, and other features, but there are also potential business applications, as this is an affordable device for something like mobile checkout. It could also be useful for schools looking for inexpensive Apple devices.

For the average person that has other Apple devices like an iPhone or iPad, you're probably not going to want to pick up an iPod touch unless you have a specific use case for it, such as listening to music with wired headphones while at the gym or something. Most people aren't going to have a use for an iPod touch over an iPhone, which is likely why it received only a modest processor update.

What do you think of the new iPod touch? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Hands-On With Apple's New 7th-Generation iPod Touch

Apple earlier this week introduced new iPod touch models, updating the 4-inch device for the first time since 2015. Not a lot has changed, but there's a new processor and updated storage tiers.

We thought we'd go hands-on with the new iPod touch to see if it still has a place in Apple's lineup in 2019 and who might want to purchase one.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.​

The new 7th-generation iPod touch is now Apple's smallest device and the sole device that has a 4-inch display. The smallest iPhones (7 and 8) have 4.7-inch displays, so the new iPod touch is a good bit smaller and comparable to an iPhone 5s or SE.

Coming to a 4-inch iPod touch from a larger iPhone is quite an adjustment because most of us are no longer used to using a device with such a small display. It's tiny and it's made from a lightweight aluminum, which is nice if you need something you can just tuck in a pocket.

We have the iPod touch in blue, but it's also available in five additional colors: pink, (PRODUCT)RED, silver, gold, and space gray. As with the previous-generation iPod touch, there are thick bezels at the top and bottom of the device.

The bottom bezel houses a Home button, but unlike the iPhone, there's no Touch ID built in. There's also no Face ID, because the iPod touch has no biometric authentication system at all. You need to use a passcode for unlocking the device.

Camera tech hasn't been updated, so the new iPod touch is still using an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 1.2 megapixel front-facing camera, both of which are pretty far behind current camera technology in more modern Apple devices. For those who prefer wired headphones, there is a headphone jack.

The sole major update to the 7th-generation iPod touch is its new processor, which is an A10 Fusion chip that Apple first used in the 2016 iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. The A10 Fusion chip is a good bit faster than the A8 chip that was in the 6th-generation iPod touch, but it's worth noting that it's underclocked in this new model compared to other A10 devices.

The A10 chip in the iPod touch is running at 1.6GHz compared to 2.3GHz in the 6th-generation iPad and iPhone 7, both of which use the A10 chip. Apple is undoubtedly underclocking the processor to save battery life. Since this is a 4-inch phone, it has a small battery.

The iPod touch earned a single-core Geekbench score of 2722 in our testing, and a multi-core score of 4695. That's a good bit slower than the 6th-generation iPad, which earned a single-core score of 3520 and a multi-core score of 6079.

It's faster than the 6th-generation iPod, though, which has a single-core Geekbench score of 1330 and a multi-core score of 2250. Apple also underclocked the A8 chip in the 6th-generation iPod touch, so having a chip that runs a bit slower in an iPod touch isn't new.

You can get the iPod touch with 32GB of storage for $199, while 128GB of storage will cost $299 and 256GB of storage (a new storage tier) will cost $399.

As for the question of who the iPod touch is for, it's not entirely clear. This is probably a good starter device for a younger child that needs access to games, FaceTime, iMessage, and other features, but there are also potential business applications, as this is an affordable device for something like mobile checkout. It could also be useful for schools looking for inexpensive Apple devices.

For the average person that has other Apple devices like an iPhone or iPad, you're probably not going to want to pick up an iPod touch unless you have a specific use case for it, such as listening to music with wired headphones while at the gym or something. Most people aren't going to have a use for an iPod touch over an iPhone, which is likely why it received only a modest processor update.

What do you think of the new iPod touch? Let us know in the comments.

Article Link: Hands-On With Apple's New 7th-Generation iPod Touch

[doublepost=1559311637][/doublepost]It's just a large Classic update for those of us with an old Classic past it's sell by date, dummies!
Sorely deficient without the click wheel, but it has some longevity.
[doublepost=1559311889][/doublepost]It's just a large Classic update for those of us with an old Classic past it's sell by date, dummies!
Sorely deficient without the click wheel, but it has some longevity.

 

[loon3y]

For those managing hundreds (if not thousands) of existing iPod Touches (and their accompanying form-dependent scanner sleds, card readers and hard-shell cases) in corporate settings, the new iPod Touch is a gift from above. Clients no longer have to hoard their old iPod 5th- and 6th-gen devices while wondering what comes next, and the upgrade path is now as simple as possible.

These things aren't just for kids' games -- they're the brains inside a huge number of point-of-sale devices and inventory trackers today. By keeping the dimensions the same, Apple has let a huge portion of its corporate customer base breathe a huge sigh of relief.

My god this, When people were complaining that they should discontinue this.

I was like how the hell is apple going to promote their B2B Business apps and App Store? How are they going to kill off all the consumers, manufacturers, warehouses, retailers that bought iPod touch sleds that cost an arm and a leg?


So glad
[doublepost=1559313796][/doublepost]

My god this, When people were complaining that they should discontinue this.

I was like how the hell is apple going to promote their B2B Business apps and App Store? How are they going to kill off all the consumers, manufacturers, warehouses, retailers that bought iPod touch sleds that cost an arm and a leg?


So glad

new clients are fine. I just suggest them to get used iPhones. But current clients with existing sled with aging iPods this is a relief.

with it still ranking below in iPhone 7 in bench marks but higher than the iPhone 6/6S I may recommend iPod Touches again.


I mainly use Linea Pro Sleds. Can anyone recommend anyone else? They were the original but im sure there are tons now.

 

[logicstudiouser]

They really should have added Touch ID here, imo. But I suspect they wanted to do the smallest changes possible without any redesign. This will probably be the last gen iPod touch.

 

[Zelda Chestnut]

So, if the A10 is underclocked so much, is this just so there could be a supported iPod touch when iOS 13 rolls out? Do you think this means the A8 won't be supported by iOS 13? Also, do we know how much RAM it has?

 

[Mac 128]

For those managing hundreds (if not thousands) of existing iPod Touches (and their accompanying form-dependent scanner sleds, card readers and hard-shell cases) in corporate settings, the new iPod Touch is a gift from above. Clients no longer have to hoard their old iPod 5th- and 6th-gen devices while wondering what comes next, and the upgrade path is now as simple as possible.

These things aren't just for kids' games -- they're the brains inside a huge number of point-of-sale devices and inventory trackers today. By keeping the dimensions the same, Apple has let a huge portion of its corporate customer base breathe a huge sigh of relief.

Right, this also explains keeping the headphone jack which works with many third party card readers, et al.

But by continuing the compatibility now, they just make the problem worse as the sled companies continue to sell compatible devices increasing the number in the field which will have to eventually be replaced ... Unless Apple intends to support this iPod Touch model forever? I mean it’s not like Apple hasn’t shut out Enterprise customers without warning before. So this move seems to be a departure from Apple’s usual philosophy, and clearly focused on Enterprise. The idea they did this because they’re going to sell millions of these to families and kids as being discussed primarily on this forums is kind of unlikely.

I know, I mean this only gets rid of one of the possible "reasons" that the SE might not be supported. There are plenty more that Apple could use as an excuse. Though since the SE was still for sale not long ago, it would be a very short useful life... Still, I'd rather they not make iOS 13 compatible with the SE if it meant the SE would run slower.

The easy solution is simply not to upgrade to iOS 13 if it runs slower. The good news if supported is that you have the option to upgrade at any point if needed for some reason. Rather have it than not.

That said, given that the 4” is display is clearly going to be supported, then it calls into question the A9 chip, which would also eliminate a number of other products, which seems unlikely. Then there’s RAM which appears to be a 2MB limit. All things considered, the SE should be supported.

 

[ChrisChaval]

So, if the A10 is underclocked so much, is this just so there could be a supported iPod touch when iOS 13 rolls out? Do you think this means the A8 won't be supported by iOS 13? Also, do we know how much RAM it has?

This is exactly what I think

The A10 is underclocked because of heat dissipation and battery size

I guess it has 2 gb of ram, but let’s see what Ifixit will say about this

 

[loon3y]

Right, this also explains keeping the headphone jack which works with many third party card readers, et al.

But by continuing the compatibility now, they just make the problem worse as the sled companies continue to sell compatible devices increasing the number in the field which will have to eventually be replaced ... Unless Apple intends to support this iPod Touch model forever? I mean it’s not like Apple hasn’t shut out Enterprise customers without warning before. So this move seems to be a departure from Apple’s usual philosophy, and clearly focused on Enterprise. The idea they did this because they’re going to sell millions of these to families and kids as being discussed primarily on this forums is kind of unlikely.



The easy solution is simply not to upgrade to iOS 13 if it runs slower. The good news if supported is that you have the option to upgrade at any point if needed for some reason. Rather have it than not.

That said, given that the 4” is display is clearly going to be supported, then it calls into question the A9 chip, which would also eliminate a number of other products, which seems unlikely. Then there’s RAM which appears to be a 2MB limit. All things considered, the SE should be supported.

They're most likely goal is not to shut out enterprise or small business owners. Unless they want the whole tech business industry to go towards Android (which probably won't happen).


Apple is certainly difficult to deal with in regards to their B2B setup and development/app regulations. But so far I've had no problems.

Only the iPod touch 3rd Gen (old small iPhone 3/4 sized iPods) have been discontinued for us with our apps and sleds. Which isn't bad at all with all things considered.


These sleds cost more then the phones/ipods these days.

 

[Villarrealadrian]

Well I think this ipod touch is also used un restaurants where the waiters can take the orders really fast and also i’ve seen then at the clubs where the people taking orders can speed up the process

 

[UCLA-Bruin]

Hey MacRumors - I have 5 kids and on a budget. My kids will have phones when they are 16 or 17. This iPod touch device is for them. That or buy an old iPad mini 2 or 3. Same goes for most of our friends. Kids don’t get phones...I upgrade phone every 2-3 years and sell the old phone.

 

[doctor-don]

A killer device would be a 4.7" edge-to-edge touch at 88 grams and updated electronics (bluetooth 5). It'd be a bigger, lighter SE(X) without the phone. I'd love this.

88 grams? WUWT?

From a developer's perspective, it's idiotic to still offer a 4" screen.

So much for standards.

The size is just right for connecting with the docks of many of the existing clock-radios.
––––––––––
My iPod Touch (bought in 2014) has 64GB storage. The battery does not last long, so I think it would not be practical to have this size as a phone.
Oh, yes. It also does mail, FaceTime, etc. Just no phone.