We were a bit conflicted in our review of the fifth-generation iPod touch when it was announced last year. On one hand, it was so much faster, its camera was so much better, and its screen was so much nicer than the (then-still-available) fourth-generation version that it didn't make sense to buy anything else if you were in the market for an iPod. On the other hand, its $299 starting price was a pretty steep price to pay, even given those advancements.
Today, Apple has (partially) addressed both of those things: the company has discontinued the fourth-generation iPod touch, which had still been available in 16GB and 32GB capacities for $199 and $249. In its place is a new $229 fifth-generation iPod touch, but you'll make some sacrifices to save $70. The first is obviously local storage, which has been cut from 32GB to 16GB. The second, more serious omission is the rear-facing 5MP camera (and the camera strap loop), which allows the higher-end fifth-generation touches to serve as serviceable point-and-shoot camera (the front-facing FaceTime camera is still available).
Otherwise, the $229 touch has the same specifications as the more expensive models: a dual-core A5 processor (and its accompanying PowerVR SGX535 GPU), 512MB of RAM, dual-band 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.0, and a 4-inch 1136×640 display. It's also just a tiny bit lighter than the camera-equipped model, weighing in at 3.04 ounces instead of 3.10. You get only one color option, a black face with a silver back. The 32GB and 64GB touches come in one of five different colors.
The timing of this announcement, if you can even consider this sort of stealth introduction an "announcement," is not likely to be a coincidence. The old fourth-gen iPod touch was by far the lowest-specced model in Apple's iOS lineup, with its single-core A4 processor and paltry 256MB of RAM (the iPhone 4, the next lowest-specced, still has the A4 but comes with 512MB of RAM). Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference is right around the corner, and the company is widely expected to introduce iOS 7 there. Historically, Apple has tried to support all of its currently available products with new iOS updates. Between its low specs and the fact that it's no longer "current," iOS 7 support for the fourth-generation iPod touch just became that much less likely.
The new iPod touch is available in the online Apple store starting today and will be available in brick-and-mortar stores beginning on May 31. The camera-equipped 32GB and 64GB fifth-generation iPod touches will continue to be available for $299 and $399, respectively.
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