iPod buying guide and new iPods release date : Should I buy an iPod Touch, iPod Nano, or iPod Shuffle
The big question right now is should you buy an new iPod, or wait for the line up to be refreshed - the iPods were last updated in September 2013!
Well it looks like new iPods might be arriving soon - at the beginning of July the launch of iTunes 12.2 revealed that new iPods may be shipping in a new range of colours - more below.
Read all our iPod reviews including:
iPod classic reviewiPod touch 16GB review - Apple's cheapest iPod touchiPod touch 5th generation reviewiPod nano review
New iPod release date
The revelation that new iPods may be on the way came with the iTunes 12.2 update at the beginning of July. The iPods appear to be showing the date 14 July, which has lead to speculation that they may launch on that day.
If you are thinking of buying an iPod we suggest you wait for a few weeks.
New iPod colours
Buried inside iTunes 12.2 is an image that suggests the iPod touch, iPod nano and the iPod shuffle are about to get a new look, notes MacRumors.
The image depicts iPods available in new colour options of bright pink, dark blue and gold. The silver, space grey, and red iPod colours remain.
Gold has already proven a popular choice for the iPhone and iPad, and there are rumours that a rose gold edition of the iPhone, to match the rose gold Watch, may be in the works.
The only other change to the design appears to be the fact that the wrist loop of the iPod touch, which was supposed to emphasise it's use as a camera, but is rather redundant really.
This is the first time the iPods have been refreshed since September 2013.
iPod buying guide: Which iPod is right for you
The first question you should always ask yourself when considering a technology purchase is this - what do I want from the device It's all well and good buying the latest and greatest gadget, but this will be a waste of money if you only intend to use a fraction of its capabilities. If all you want is some musical accompaniment while you work out at the gym, the iPod Touch is probably overkill. Conversely the Shuffle will become a very frustrating device if you were intending to use it for Facebook. To lay out some of the more basic capabilities of the various iPods available we'll start with the storage capacities of each model.
iPod buying guide: Part 1 - Storage
With the iPod Classic now a distant memory those wanting a large amount of storage on their iPod will find the options rather limiting. Currently, the iPod Shuffle is available with a rather humble 2GB of storage, while the iPod Nano boasts a more spacious 16GB. It's worth bearing in mind that this means the Shuffle can hold around 450 songs encoded at 128kbps, with the Nano's 16GB topping out at around the 4,000 mark. The only model to go higher than 16GB is the iPod Touch which is available in 16, 32, and 64GB variants. While it's nowhere near the mammoth 160GB capacity of the iPod Classic, it should still offer enough room for the vast majority of users. Of course if you really need that extra space then it's worth seeking out the second hand market for the Classic, or checking whether high street retailers still have any stocks left.
iPod buying guide: Part 2 - Features
iPods have come a long way since the initial music-only device that magically appeared from Steve Jobs' jeans pocket in October 2001. Now you can buy models that have full access to the internet, play movies, and even make video calls using Apple's Facetime technology. All iPods are not created equal though, so here we round up the various features of each model.
iPod Shuffle: In many ways the Shuffle is probably the most true to that original iPod, as it focusses solely on playing audio. The lack of a screen has meant that in the past you had to remember what was on the device, and switching between tracks was something of a lottery. Now, with the impressive Voice Over feature, the iPod Shuffle will read the name of the track, podcast, audiobook, or playlist to you and allow you to choose the one you want to listen to with nary a touchscreen in sight. This means that you can have multiple playlists on the device without having to return to your iTunes library. It's a simple addition, but it really does make the Shuffle a far more capable device that past iterations.
iPod Nano: The most obvious feature that differentiates the iPod Nano and the iPod Shuffle is the 2.5" multi-touch display. This enable the iPod Nano to have a range of included apps that broaden its appeal. Music is, of course, still the primary function, with the cool ability to create Genius mixes on the fly by tapping a button while a song is playing; the device will then automatically generate a playlist from your library based around that track. A screen also means video, with the iPod Nano happily playing any media synced to it from your iTunes account. It's admittedly not the biggest display for Hollywood blockbusters, but for quick fixes on the go, or to entertain the little ones, it does the job. You can also store photos on the iPod Nano, and a built-in FM radio app makes it easy to keep up with the latest music, news or sporting events. If you are a Nike Fitness user then you'll find the bespoke app on the iPod Nano a handy addition, as the device doubles as a fitness tracker that can sync up to your NikePlus account with details of your workouts. Bluetooth is also a useful feature, as you can listen to your tunes wirelessly on bluetooth headphones, or connect to a number of home and car speakers.
iPod Touch: In the battle of the features, the iPod Touch is in a different category to its smaller siblings. As the only iPod to run a full version of iOS, the iPod Touch has access to the full App Store, with all the games, productivity tools, social media, and camera apps that you'd expect to find on an iPhone. The iPod Touch is also a fully functional internet device, so browsing, chatting, and shopping are all available via its 4" Retina screen. The built in camera, while not quite up to the iPhone quality, still offers great shots that will go well on Instagram or Facebook - both of which are also available. It's easily the most advanced iPod there's ever been, and with the category declining due to the proliferation of smartphones, it may also be one of the last.
iPod buying guide: Part 3: Battery Life
iPods may not have the same always-on nature of smartphones, but battery life is still an important factor for any electronic device. You might think that the iPod Shuffle would win this category due to the lack of a power-sapping screen, its diminutive size though means that it lasts for only 15 hours. This loses out to the Nano which goes for around 30 hours, and the iPod Touch - which houses the largest battery in the range -holding out for a massive 40 hours of listening time. If you watch video though, things immediately change, with the Nano affording 3.5 hours and the Touch reducing to 8 hours.
iPod buying guide: Part 4 - Price
An important part of any buying decision is knowing your budget. While most of us would love a shiny new Retina iMac, the sad reality is that the price tag means we'll have to wait a while if we want our families to have necessary food and clothing. iPods are somewhat more affordable, but the same principle should be applied when perusing the Apple store.
If you really aren't looking to spend a lot on a device, and don't mind a limited set of functions, then the Shuffle is a very tempting option at £40. Moving up to a Nano will give you a few more advanced features and eight times the storage, but the price jumps up to £129. For iPod royalty, you'll find the three models of iPod Touch priced at £159 (16GB), £199 (32GB), £249 (64GB) respectively.
iPod buying guide: Part 5 - When will they be updated
One of the most frustrating buying experiences is to get home with your new purchase only to find it has been replaced by a newer, shinier model in the time it took you to travel back from the shops. So to set your mind at ease we've looked at the last times the current iPods were updated.
iPod Shuffle: After an initial six month update cycle that started back in 2007, the iPod Shuffle has become a somewhat forgotten model. The current device was introduced in 2013, replacing the previous version which had been on the shelves since 2010, but the only update was to the colours available. The last three updates have all occurred in September, so it would logically still be a long time before we see the current model superseded.
iPod Nano: Last updated in September 2013, the Nano is another iPod whose future is unsure. Apple has said that iPods are a declining market, and with the current model being a perfectly good iPod for most uses we can't see how much Apple would change it in the coming months. Up until 2013 the Nano was updated once a year, but 2014 saw no new model announced, suggesting this cycle might be slowing down.
iPod Touch: Of all the current range the iPod Touch is the one that still seems to be on Apple's radar. Updated in June 2014, with a price drop into the bargain, we'd expect to see this iOS enabled device continue to be a regular on the shelves of the Apple store and this summer/autumn looks a likely time for an upgrade.
iPod buying guide: Summary
Having explored the various advantages and compromises that each model offers, hopefully we've shed a little more light on the subject. Inevitably there will be some crossover between devices, but we feel that each is distinct enough to occupy its own place on the menu. With that in mind here are a few final conclusions regarding who might benefit most from the various iPods available.
iPod Shuffle - We think that this one is the best for sports enthusiasts, due to the fact it's cheap, hardy, and can clip onto anything. Those with smaller music libraries will also see the value of an inexpensive device that is still powerful thanks to the Voice Over feature, and of course people who don't want to spend a lot on a music player.
iPod Nano - Due to its size and sandboxed nature the iPod Nano would make an excellent iPod for younger children. Those who generally want a svelte device with more capacity than a Shuffle will also find the little iPod a very attractive option, and if you do already use the NikePlus fitness service, then the integrated app might well prove a tipping point.
iPod Touch - The Touch is a very impressive device, but it has a price tag to match. In many ways it strays a bit too close to the smartphone world to make it an actually compelling device for those who already own an iPhone. If you do want an internet capable, iOS device but find iPads a bit on the large size, then the iPod Touch will give you a good percentage of that experience, including a Retina screen, for about £100 less than the iPad Mini 2. One area where it really shines though is as an entry point to the Apple world for teenagers that want to communicate with friends, watch the latest Youtube videos, listen to their music, and not have ongoing bills for their parents to pay.
Read: How to get music off an old iPod