iPods became the coolest gadget when they launched, hitting markets and setting records. They even play a major part in the iPhone success story. The first iPhone was after all, an iPod Touch with calling. The iPod Touch launched months after the first iPhone. As technology evolved, iPods too evolved to match the features of the iPhone. It stirred up the entire line of iPods. The 6th generation iPod Touch launched in 2015, after which the line of products was discontinued in 2017.
It’s been nearly four years since the last iPod Touch. In May 2019, Apple unveiled a new iPod Touch (7th gen), priced at Rs. 18,900*. Though the new iPod Touch has a similar design and colour, the improved hardware and features make it an interesting proposition where smartphones dominate. So does it make sense considering an iPod Touch in 2019?
At first sight, the 7th generation iPod Touch look just like the older ones. The frame is made of anodized aluminium, it has the same size and shape. That’s not all, it even comes in the same six colours – Space Grey, Gold, Silver, Pink, Blue, Product (RED). Hardware is the only thing that sets them apart.
iPod Touch (7th generation) |
Tech specification |
|
Capacity |
32GB / 128GB / 256GB |
|
Size, Display and Weight |
4-inch Retina display; Weight: 88 g |
|
Processor |
A10 Fusion chip |
|
Camera |
8MP rear camera 1.2MP front camera |
|
Connectivity |
Wi-Fi 802.11ac Bluetooth 4.1 |
The new iPod Touch has a set of excellent hardware which makes it powerful and advanced. This ultra-thin design of the iPod Touch has always been ideal for carrying and listening to music on the go. It utilizes Apple’s powerful A10 processor, that also powers the iPhone 7 and the 7 Plus. It does a good job at offering a smooth performance.
For the first time on the iPod, comes the augmented reality (AR) experience. It provides a fun and engaging experience. It is fun on the new iPod Touch, since it brings life to toys and objects. This is also the kind of product you can hand over to children. The 7th generation iPod Touch is equipped with a Retina display, and is as small as the iPhone SE. It easily fits in your pocket or even in a small pouch. The screen is not large, but wide enough to use its multi-touch support. It is ideal for browsing internet, watching videos, playing games, viewing photos but most importantly as a no-nonsense music player.
The new iPod Touch is more than a music player. Like smartphones, it has plenty of space to store songs for offline listening. You can even subscribe to Apple Music to stream over 60 million songs and download favourites. You can even opt for the subscription plan and access thousands of playlists and daily selections. According to Apple, the new iPod Touch has a good battery life. It provides up to 40 hours of music playback time and 8 hours of video playback. It has Wi-Fi so you could install a bunch of other media streaming apps too.
While we’re spoiled by listening to our smartphones, iPods truly can change the way we listen to music because of its audio quality. In fact, it is the number one factor in buying an iPod. Today’s smartphones are designed to be thin and sleek, packing in all the features possible in a compact space. In iPods, there are two components responsible for producing great sound, the audio chip and the digital-to-analog converter (DAC). There are lots of other components that make the iPod Touch an extremely good audio device. The other reason to consider the 7th generation iPod Touch it its headphone jack, a feature rarely found on today’s smartphones. You can use the Apple EarPods that are bundled with the iPod for listening to music or when you’re watching movies.
The iPod Touch runs iOS 13, so it has all the latest iOS apps and you can download more from the App Store. For gaming, you can choose to use Apple Arcade, a game subscription service with over hundreds of new and exclusive games. The major difference between an iPhone and the iPod Touch is that the iPod doesn’t support cellular network connectivity, but you can stay connected with your friends and family using iMessage and Group FaceTime over Wi-Fi (802.11ac). This device also supports Bluetooth 4.1 for connecting it to portable speakers and soundbars.
The new iPod Touch has a pair of cameras, in fact an improved rear camera. The two can be used to click pictures and shoot videos too. The front camera on the iPod Touch can be used for video calls over FaceTime or any other app of your choice. Like smartphones, the iPod Touch has different camera modes such as auto-focus, panorama and HDR. The rear camera can also record full HD, slow-motion and time-lapse videos too.
The iPod Touch is the perfect digital music player that can also run almost all Apple services like Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, FaceTime and many other apps. It is portable and lightweight, hence easy to carry. In 2019, the Apple iPod Touch will unlikely be your primary device, but it is great for someone who is a non-iPhone user. It’s an option for someone who prefers a basic non-smartphone for calling, and a second device for streaming content, using apps and games. It is also great for parents who want to give an iOS device for their kids that doesn’t add to the ongoing expense of a monthly smartphone plan. Adding to the benefits, the latest iOS 13 has parental control settings for limiting content. So, you can let your kids play and watch content on the iPod Touch.
Though, a lot of people use their phones for listening to music, an audiophile knows the cons of it and thus, the iPod Touch is an ideal purchase. To know what we mean, head to your nearest Reliance Digital store. The 32GB iPod Touch is priced at Rs. 18,900*, whereas the 128GB and 256GB variants are available at Rs. 28,900* and Rs. 38,900* respectively.
Note: Prices are subject to change. Refer to the product catalogue for latest prices and availability.
