Apple launches $199 16GB iPod touch with rear camera in 6 colors, slashes prices on 32GB & 64GB mode
Apple's entry-level 16-gigabyte iPod touch received an update on Thursday, dropping the price to $199 while adding a rear iSight camera and expanding its color options to six. Apple also slashed prices on the 32- and 64-gigabyte variants, now priced respectively at $249 and $299.
The update brings the 16-gigabyte iPod touch in line with its larger 32- and 64-gigabyte versions, which are all available in black, space grey, pink, yellow, blue, and (Product)RED. All three models are available from Apple's online store and are advertised to ship within 24 hours.
Previously, the 16-gigabyte iPod touch was priced at $229, it only came in a lighter silver color, and it lacked a rear camera. It also lacked support the iPod touch loop wrist strap. Customers will still have to buy the strap separately for $9 with the 16-gigabyte model, however.
Prior to Wednesday's refresh, the 32-gigabyte iPod touch was priced at $299, while the 64-gigabyte version reached $399.
Aside from the addition of the 5-megapixel rear camera to the 16-gigabyte variant, the specifications on the media players remains the same. All three include a 4-inch Retina display, a forward facing FaceTime HD camera, and are powered by Apple's A5 processor. They also run iOS 7 and ship with Apple's EarPods.
The iPod touch lineup last received an update in June of 2013 when the previous 16-gigabyte version lacking an iSight camera launched for $229 in one color. It took the place of the previous fourth-generation model, which had been priced at $199 but featured a slower A4 chip.
While the iPod once led Apple's comeback, its portable media players represent a shrinking portion of the company's massive business, now led by the iPhone and iPad. Still, as of the end of 2013, the iPod continued to lead an ever-shrinking market of portable media players, with the NPD Group pegging Apple's share at 72 percent.
In its quarterly earnings conference calls, Apple used to routinely note that the iPod touch accounted for more than half of all iPod sales, though it declined to break down specific share based on model. Last quarter, iPod sales dwindled to just 2.7 million units, a sum that didn't even garner a mention from the company as it discussed its financial results.
The iPod touch continues to be flanked by the display-less clip-on iPod shuffle, the multi-touch diminutive iPod nano, and the legacy hard-drive based iPod classic with iconic click wheel.
The update brings the 16-gigabyte iPod touch in line with its larger 32- and 64-gigabyte versions, which are all available in black, space grey, pink, yellow, blue, and (Product)RED. All three models are available from Apple's online store and are advertised to ship within 24 hours.
Previously, the 16-gigabyte iPod touch was priced at $229, it only came in a lighter silver color, and it lacked a rear camera. It also lacked support the iPod touch loop wrist strap. Customers will still have to buy the strap separately for $9 with the 16-gigabyte model, however.
Prior to Wednesday's refresh, the 32-gigabyte iPod touch was priced at $299, while the 64-gigabyte version reached $399.
Aside from the addition of the 5-megapixel rear camera to the 16-gigabyte variant, the specifications on the media players remains the same. All three include a 4-inch Retina display, a forward facing FaceTime HD camera, and are powered by Apple's A5 processor. They also run iOS 7 and ship with Apple's EarPods.
The iPod touch lineup last received an update in June of 2013 when the previous 16-gigabyte version lacking an iSight camera launched for $229 in one color. It took the place of the previous fourth-generation model, which had been priced at $199 but featured a slower A4 chip.
While the iPod once led Apple's comeback, its portable media players represent a shrinking portion of the company's massive business, now led by the iPhone and iPad. Still, as of the end of 2013, the iPod continued to lead an ever-shrinking market of portable media players, with the NPD Group pegging Apple's share at 72 percent.
In its quarterly earnings conference calls, Apple used to routinely note that the iPod touch accounted for more than half of all iPod sales, though it declined to break down specific share based on model. Last quarter, iPod sales dwindled to just 2.7 million units, a sum that didn't even garner a mention from the company as it discussed its financial results.
The iPod touch continues to be flanked by the display-less clip-on iPod shuffle, the multi-touch diminutive iPod nano, and the legacy hard-drive based iPod classic with iconic click wheel.
Comments
Have the iPods always been spaced with those price differences based on hard drive space? This could foreshadow the pricing scheme changes for the iPhone with 16 gig being $199, 32 gig being $249, and 64 gig being $299. That would make a lot of people happy that complain about the up charge for getting the higher hard drive variants.
I would love to see a pricing spread like that for storage capacities on the iPhone. The way it is right now is absolutely ridiculous -- $100 to go from 16GB to 32GB? What is this, 2009?
"Apple launches $199 16GB iPod touch with rear camera in 6 colors, slashes prices on 32GB & 64GB models"
Wow! A rear camera in 6 colors! I love it! I hope they have "Rose" so we can take, well, rosy pictures of the world around us!
Once can hope....
But this does likely mean that the iPod touch will not see a redesign this year. No 4.7 or 5.5 inch screen size upgrade.
The $199 model is a new model. It's 16GB with a camera, which wasn't the case with the old cheapest iPod Touch.
This looks like getting the iPod Touch sales out of the way while Apple focuses on other stuff this fall.
Clearing inventories....
More likely. Every kid I used to see had an iPod Touch now..... not so much.
They all have iPhones now.
My guess this is cleaning out some supply and we will see the iPods updated this year.
Since this has an A5 is it safe to say it won't be able to upgrade to ios8?
The iPhone 4s, iPad 2, and iPd mini all have the A5 as well, and they'll be upgradable to iOS 8 and so will the latest iPod touch models
Yeah, because now they all have iPhones. A friend just broke down and swapped out her 11 year old daughter's iPod Touch for an iPhone 5C. I think it's becoming more common in the developed world for younger and younger kids to be carrying their own phones, though I suspect there's going to be a cutoff around 10 or 11 years of age. Younger than that just seems a bit ridiculous.
I was worried it might only have half the RAM but it looks like it's at 512MiB,too.
I'd like the entire line to get a capacity doubling for the current price point but if the rumours of the 5.5" only getting the 128GB option then I'd hope that we'll see a price in the starting price and price per tier just as we've seen across most of the Mac line in the past year.
Now this is deserving of a notification!
More likely. Every kid I used to see had an iPod Touch now..... not so much.
They all have iPhones now.
My kids do and I wish their kids did as well but that is much less so than it used to be. I'm hoping the iPhone 6 will bring about a wave of upgrades from Mom's and Dad's like myself though and devices will be passed down.
Since this has an A5 is it safe to say it won't be able to upgrade to ios8?
These can get iOS8. iPhone 5 is getting iOS8.
The $199 model is a new model. It's 16GB with a camera, which wasn't the case with the old cheapest iPod Touch.
This looks like getting the iPod Touch sales out of the way while Apple focuses on other stuff this fall.
My guess this is cleaning out some supply and we will see the iPods updated this year.
Good guess given Apple's prior history with the iPod line. Hopefully the Nano gets a software update and a price drop too.
Apple should update the line before the school season. Clearly they will be using older components and should be able to get out the door before the big fall release of other products.