The iPod Touch, the touch-screen version of one of Apple’s most iconic brands in the modern age, has been brought back to the spotlight on Wednesday. While the new version of the iPod Touch may look mostly the same as previous models, a huge refresh of its internal components brings unprecedented processing power and improved performance.
The iPod Touch has not seen a refresh in almost three generations worth of A-class chips. This brand new version features Apple’s 64-bit A8 processor, bringing a staggering boost in graphic performance, and camera operations.
Speaking of camera, the new iPod Touch’s original 5MP rear-facing camera sensor, is now an 8MP sensor, greatly improving the resolution. The former 512MB LPDDR2 memory has been also upgraded to LPDDR3, and doubled, to 1GB. Wireless connectivity has been improved as well, from the original 802.11b/g/n, to the new 802.11/b/g/n/ac standard.
Price point
The revamped device’s pricing follows the identical trend as its predecessor, with the entry-level 16GB version, priced at $199, the 32GB iteration available for $249, and the 64GB model priced as $299. The company is also planning to offer a 128GB version, priced $399.
Relevance
Consumers have been looking forward to a revamp of the iPod Touch, due to its aging hardware specs’ restrictive performance. Now, owners of the new iPod Touch will be able to flawlessly run all of the latest iOS apps, games and media.
While it’s true that consumers have gotten used to use their iPhone devices to listen to music and watch media, it’s also true that the appeal of the iPod Touch is still alive, as a device that is all about the delivery of entertainment, without distraction. The iPhone is a great product, featuring amazing performance, however, when it comes to focusing on media playback, the iPod Touch is far more ideal, as playback does not get interrupted by incoming calls or text messages, which is one of the issues typically encountered while performing activities that require uninterrupted focus, for instance when exercising.
Lifespan
Judging by the new specs, Apple is making long-term plans for the iPod Touch, especially with the upcoming release of iOS 9, which is likely going to add a few years to the two-to-three year lifespan expected for a device of this kind, before a potential next version.