Teardown of Apple's 4th-gen iPod touch finds 256MB of RAM
The new fourth-generation iPod touch from Apple has the exact same A4 processor as the iPad, meaning it has 256MB of RAM, or half than the 512MB found in the iPhone 4.
After Apple's latest iPod touch was released on Wednesday, iFixit it took it apart to reveal its new features contained within, including the 640x960 pixel Retina Display, dual cameras, three-axis gyro and A4 processor. The custom Apple-built chip carries a marking of K4X2G643GE, which is identical to the A4 found inside the iPad, released on April.
One major distinction between the A4 found in the iPad and the iPhone 4, released in June, is the onboard memory. The iPad and iPod touch CPU includes 256MB of random access memory, or RAM, while the iPhone 4 has twice that -- 512MB.
"And no, there's no RAM upgrade slot," the site quipped.
The disassembly also found a singular antenna within the device that allows for Wi-Fi connections. It is situated near the front glass panel, which eliminates the need for the plastic "window" found on previous generation hardware.
The solutions provider also found that while the iPod touch has a rear camera that shoots lower quality photos than the iPhone 4, both devices have identical forward facing cameras for FaceTime video chat.
iFixit also discovered that the new speaker inside the fourth-generation iPod touch emits audio through a grill, as well as through the iPod dock connector. The site also found a mysterious white plastic piece that it could find no use for other than to save space.
Other details from the teardown:
For the first time, the headphone jack in the iPod touch is not soldered to the logic board. This makes the device more repairable.
Apple added more space between the three solder points on the battery, which should also make replacing it easier.
There is no structural bracket holding the volume buttons to the rear panel. They are simply held in place by an adhesive bond that must be strong enough to stand repeated button presses.
The rear facing camera is almost identical in size to the front facing camera, and is "dramatically smaller" than the rear camera on the iPhone 4.
"For those of you wondering, there's no way the iPhone 4's rear camera can be installed in the Touch without some extreme hackery."
After Apple's latest iPod touch was released on Wednesday, iFixit it took it apart to reveal its new features contained within, including the 640x960 pixel Retina Display, dual cameras, three-axis gyro and A4 processor. The custom Apple-built chip carries a marking of K4X2G643GE, which is identical to the A4 found inside the iPad, released on April.
One major distinction between the A4 found in the iPad and the iPhone 4, released in June, is the onboard memory. The iPad and iPod touch CPU includes 256MB of random access memory, or RAM, while the iPhone 4 has twice that -- 512MB.
"And no, there's no RAM upgrade slot," the site quipped.
The disassembly also found a singular antenna within the device that allows for Wi-Fi connections. It is situated near the front glass panel, which eliminates the need for the plastic "window" found on previous generation hardware.
The solutions provider also found that while the iPod touch has a rear camera that shoots lower quality photos than the iPhone 4, both devices have identical forward facing cameras for FaceTime video chat.
iFixit also discovered that the new speaker inside the fourth-generation iPod touch emits audio through a grill, as well as through the iPod dock connector. The site also found a mysterious white plastic piece that it could find no use for other than to save space.
Other details from the teardown:
For the first time, the headphone jack in the iPod touch is not soldered to the logic board. This makes the device more repairable.
Apple added more space between the three solder points on the battery, which should also make replacing it easier.
There is no structural bracket holding the volume buttons to the rear panel. They are simply held in place by an adhesive bond that must be strong enough to stand repeated button presses.
The rear facing camera is almost identical in size to the front facing camera, and is "dramatically smaller" than the rear camera on the iPhone 4.
"For those of you wondering, there's no way the iPhone 4's rear camera can be installed in the Touch without some extreme hackery."
Comments
Wonder what the margins are on this version of the touch? Still wish they would have had a much better still camera option. The current res is less than most modern cell phones.
The lower RAM is probably the sacrificial lamb to keep the margin they want and keep the price pretty much the same. Higher RAM probably would've meant higher price for consumers or lower margin for Apple.
4g and if your wondering it's amazing.
Although I'm guessing the 512 RAM was left out because it wasn't perceived as necessary. I have a second-gen Touch running iOS 4, and so far I haven't experienced any of the slowness that iPhone 3G (the corresponding iPhone hardware for the 2G touch) owners have reported. It runs rather swimmingly
However, I still see fragmentation being a real issue for the iOS ecosystem. Two products from the same generation having differing internal specifications when it comes to RAM? That'll only slow the adoption of memory-intensive applications
Spreadsheet here
Items missing on the iPod Touch 4th gen compared to the iPhone 4 are: second microphone, phone receiver speaker, vibration motor, LED flash, cellular capabilities, SIM card, digital compass, GPS, proximity sensor, mute switch.
Full article here
UPDATE: Updated the spreadsheet based on this information that there is no vibration motor
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles...pod_touch.html
That's a darn shame
Although I'm guessing the 512 RAM was left out because it wasn't perceived as necessary. I have a second-gen Touch running iOS 4, and so far I haven't experienced any of the slowness that iPhone 3G (the corresponding iPhone hardware for the 2G touch) owners have reported. It runs rather swimmingly
However, I still see fragmentation being a real issue for the iOS ecosystem. Two products from the same generation having differing internal specifications when it comes to RAM? That'll only slow the adoption of memory-intensive applications
This was all discussed (nay, beaten to death) a little while back on this site when the 256 vrs 512 debate came up before. There are good reasons that 512 is not needed (primarily a different footprint for the OS - the camera is smaller, no phone, no GPS, etc...) although many bemoaned Apple not just "throwing" it in.
I would suggest a good look at the archives before this is rehashed yet once again.
FYI...for those wanting to see the differences between the iPod Touch 4th gen and the others.
Spreadsheet here
Items missing on the iPod Touch 4th gen compared to the iPhone 4 are: second microphone, phone receiver speaker, LED flash, cellular capabilities, SIM card, digital compass, GPS, proximity sensor, mute switch.
Full article here
I just want satellite GPS and that cool compass app that Apple has (along with the A4 and the retina display). The A4 chip and the retina display are compelling, I'm not sure I can hold out another year for GPS and the compass...
That's a darn shame
Although I'm guessing the 512 RAM was left out because it wasn't perceived as necessary. I have a second-gen Touch running iOS 4, and so far I haven't experienced any of the slowness that iPhone 3G (the corresponding iPhone hardware for the 2G touch) owners have reported. It runs rather swimmingly
However, I still see fragmentation being a real issue for the iOS ecosystem. Two products from the same generation having differing internal specifications when it comes to RAM? That'll only slow the adoption of memory-intensive applications
I don't understand the fragmentation comments. A 12 core mac pro runs the same os as the mac mini. People buy power according to their needs. Some have a Toyota, some have a Mercedes, they both run on petrol, but you know one is going yo outperform the other.
It's one of the reasons I can't understand people with the iPhone 3G complaining it's slow and buggy compared to th iPhone 4 - of course it is - what do you expect?
it seems with no IPS, half the RAM and worse camera that they were trying to cut some costs or encourage people to go with the iPhone. I'm sure it still works great tho seeing as how it's just an iPod
It's a less expensive device, why would anyone expect it to share the same spec?
No one compares an imac's specs to a 12 core mac pro and asks why the iMac doesn't have everything the pro model has...
Despite lacking some hardware to it's iPhone big brother you really can't complain all that much with the new iPod touch 4G. There is nothing comparable to it on the market today (not including smartphones).
why would anyone complain at all. A brilliant new feature set at the same price point. It's a stunning device.
This was all discussed (nay, beaten to death) a little while back on this site when the 256 vrs 512 debate came up before. There are good reasons that 512 is not needed (primarily a different footprint for the OS - the camera is smaller, no phone, no GPS, etc...) although many bemoaned Apple not just "throwing" it in.
I would suggest a good look at the archives before this is rehashed yet once again.
My apologies; I don't come around here very often
I don't understand the fragmentation comments. A 12 core mac pro runs the same os as the mac mini. People buy power according to their needs. Some have a Toyota, some have a Mercedes, they both run on petrol, but you know one is going yo outperform the other.
It's one of the reasons I can't understand people with the iPhone 3G complaining it's slow and buggy compared to th iPhone 4 - of course it is - what do you expect?
My bad for not explaining what I meant better previously. I was expecting Apple to standardize on 512 MB of RAM for its current generation of iOS devices?that provides a consistent level of system resources whether an app is run on an iPhone 4, a 4G Touch, or a hypothetical next-gen iPad with 512 of RAM (though iPad apps are usually a separate affair).
I'd argue that people generally don't think of their handheld portable electronics as computers, partly because of how easy and seamless the installation process is from the app store (and partially because of Apple's narrow range of products, unlike with "full" computers).
Though I'm not criticising Apple for their decision wrt the Touch. Their decision just pushes back the timeframe when 512 RAM becomes standard
I'd compare this to Google's experience with the Nexus One. Commercially, the N1 was a fat flop. However, basically all flagship Android models that followed the N1 had (at the very minium) a 1GHz processor, 512 MB of RAM, a 480x800 screen, etc.
Or I could just be full of crap
"And no, there's no RAM upgrade slot," the site quipped.
Quipping or not, I don't recall any handheld device having upgradable RAM. Maybe some do if you really stretch the general meaning of handheld.
so my thoughts are...what Gig model was iFixIt taking apart and maybe Apple still wants to give bonus to people that spend the extra money for the better (HD space) Touch???
just a thought
This is being sent from my itouch
4g and if your wondering it's amazing.
It would be more amazing if you turned on spell check. Congratulations on your purchase, dude.
it seems with no IPS, half the RAM and worse camera that they were trying to cut some costs or encourage people to go with the iPhone. I'm sure it still works great tho seeing as how it's just an iPod
I suspect much of it was the trade-off to be able to put the retina display in, which it probably a bit more expensive than the old display.
It would be more amazing if you turned on spell check. Congratulations on your purchase, dude.
Except spell check wouldn't have caught his typo.