Followup question: Can the iPad Touch 5th generation have it's battery replaced? I didn't know it could be opened let alone replace the battery. I am having trouble wading through all the info here so I just wanted to ask here. Can I replace my battery.
(other option is to buy a new iPod Touch and that is not sounding like a good option. So confused...)
Do-it-yourself battery replacement is very difficult without experience, because of the 1-piece design & very careful solder is needed;
Try taking it one of the small shops that repair/replace iPhones screens; there are lots around, it seems. No one can say what the problem is, until they look at it...
but, the batteries can be replaced, yes.
another option, if you are interested is the Apple online store, which sells returned/slightly scratched/dented devices, which Apple inspects, repairs & repackages, & they sell those at a discount.
(I'm in the same boat right now with my laptop, which has a dying graphics card, but I'm trading it in at Best Buy for a new one, which is going to be my birthday present.)