The release of the new iPod Touch made a lot of noise, and this is not surprising: almost no one believed in the further development of this product line, and then the company from Cupertino, without any announcement, began selling the iPod Touch 6G. Of course, good news, but let's figure it out: what has changed in the new gadget, compared to the previous generation? Let's go through all the main characteristics!
Below, iPod Touch 6G and iPod Touch 5G will be compared in terms of hardware power, storage capacity, software, and design.
Design
They are greeted by clothes, right? Externally, the iPod Touch from the fifth to the sixth generation practically did not change: as they say, "do not fix what does not break." The design of the device is absolutely up-to-date, it's not for nothing that the iPhone 6 borrowed some of its ideas! The body is still metal. Let's note only the fresh color solutions of the sixth generation: blue, pink (fuchsia), golden, silver colors, as well as the corporate “gray space”. iPod Touch 5G is offered in a slightly different range: white, black, blue, pink, yellow.
Also, both media players are available when ordered from the Apple Online Store in a special red color associated with the (Product) RED range, part of the AIDS campaign.
Software
Let's start the "technical" part from this point for one simple reason: nothing has changed in this parameter. Both the fifth and sixth generation are currently running the current version of iOS 8, and will be supported by iOS 9, which will be released in the fall.
There is only one difference: due to the updated hardware, the iPod Touch 6G works, of course, much faster, which is clearly proved by both comparative tests and benchmarks. But that is the topic of the next point.
Performance
The iPod Touch 5G appeared in 2012, and now it is, of course, technically quite an outdated device. On board is an Apple A5 processor (similar to that found in the iPhone 4S), as well as only 512 megabytes of RAM. But the iPod Touch 6G is equipped like any modern premium smartphone! It uses an Apple A8 processor - the same as the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus - and also has twice the RAM as its predecessor.
True, the results of the "autopsy" carried out by iFixit specialists showed that this processor operates at a clock speed slightly lower than that of the iPhone 6 (a little over one gigahertz, versus 1.4 GHz for a smartphone). This is probably due to the fact that the battery capacity has not changed, and Apple has sought to maintain the same battery life. The company succeeded in this.
Various tests show a performance gain of 3.5 times or more! For example, in the Geekbench benchmark, the sixth generation has an almost sixfold advantage! You can find out a little more details at the very end of the article ...
Camera
The gadgets also differ with the main camera. In the fifth generation, its resolution is 5 megapixels. The fresh iPod Touch 6G has the same iSight camera as the current generation iPhone! Its resolution is 8 megapixels, FullHD video recording is supported.
Display
The screen has not changed, nor has the software. Both models have a four-inch display with a resolution of 1136 × 640 pixels, 326 dpi. A completely modern screen that meets any reasonable requirement.
Memory capacity
And here the iPod Touch 6G has taken a step forward. The fifth model is offered in versions with 16, 32 and 64 gigabytes of flash memory (of course, it cannot be expanded). Quite decent specs, but the sixth generation iPod Touch has gone even further: it has a fourth bundle with a 128GB drive! Once something similar was offered only by the iPod Classic equipped with a hard drive ...
Communication interfaces
An important advantage of the iPod Touch 6G over the fifth generation is its support for two new communication interfaces. Firstly, this is Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11ac, and secondly, Bluetooth 4.1 (and it is the iPod Touch 6G that is the first "Apple" gadget to have this feature). The previous model only supports Bluetooth 4 and Wi-Fi (a / b / g / n).
Thus, let's say with confidence: the sixth generation, in almost all characteristics, has made a big step forward. Only the screen has not changed, and this can hardly be called a drawback. Finally - two videos in which the models are compared in detail by specialists!
The new iPod touch, which Apple began shipping this week, has received a significant update from its predecessor, which was released back in 2012. Let's compare the 6th generation to the 5th iPod to see what innovation can be added to a device in three years?
1 - size
Let's start with the size. And here the first disappointment overtakes potential buyers. The iPod has not gained (or lost) a single millimeter in size. It is still the same rectangle with dimensions 123; 59; 6.1 mm.
2 - weight
The second disappointment is that the weight remains the same. No extra gram, no weight loss. All the same strict 88 grams (or 3.1 ounces).
3 - building
The third disappointment - Apple did not even think about replacing its usual aluminum with something else. The body, as before, is made of it.
4 - Loop
The first "innovation" is that the company removed the small Loop notch on the new model at the bottom of the case, and now you can't attach a cord to the new iPod. What for? People needed it to carry the player on their arms or neck.
5 - colors
As you can see from the color scheme, Apple hasn't even considered updating the color options. These are all the same blue, dark gray, silver, gold, pink and red colors. Design innovation? No, you haven't.
7 - display
Has the display size changed in any way on the device? No. The same size means the same screen size. The usual 4 inches. Has the screen resolution and pixel density changed in any way? Not at all. Standard 1136 by 660 pixels at 326 ppi. Has the display contrast changed? Remained the same 800: 1. Maybe the display type has changed? Again, no - the same IPS.
8 - fingerprint sensor
Maybe Apple has introduced some new technology like a fingerprint sensor? No.
9 - processor
Only at the ninth point we see the first innovative update. Apple has replaced the old A5 dual-core processor with 32-bit architecture at 800 MHz for a dual-core A8 processor with 64-bit architecture and 1.1 GHz. That is, the processor manufactured in 2011 was changed to a processor manufactured in 2014.
10 - RAM
The second innovation is the addition of RAM. The same amount was added to 512 megabytes, and the new iPod touch received 1 GB of RAM.
11 - battery
The new processor and RAM use more power. Did this change the battery? No. The same 1042 mAh battery.
12 - cameras
The innovation also affected the main camera. From 5 megapixels, its capacity has increased to 8 megapixels. The front camera remains the same - 1.2 megapixels. Focal lenses remain the same - 2.4.
13 - Apple pay
Has a mobile payment system from the company been added? No.
14 - internal memory
The device is still offered for sale in 16, 32 and 64 GB versions. Plus a variant with 128 GB of internal space was added.
15 - software
Both iPods receive periodic updates, so both are running on the latest available version of Apple's operating system, iOS 8.
16 - release, starting price and withdrawal
Apple released the 5th generation iPod touch in September 2012. The 6th generation iPod touch came out the other day (July 2015). Both devices are offered for an average price of $ 200. What has changed in this new generation? Processor, RAM and main camera. At this point, Apple's creativity dried up. Perhaps the Cupertino developers did not want to raise the price of the device. Although there was an opinion that the time of iPods was gone and they should not be produced anymore. So, most likely, the device was launched on the market at the very last moment. And why change something that is already "branded"?
The parade of iPhone 6 leaks continues. We barely had time to look at the gadget in three trendy colors like new photos of the device appeared on the Web, but now next to the iPod touch 5, from which the smartphone took over many design features. These are rounded, streamlined shapes, the location of buttons (except for the power button), connectors and speaker grill. At the same time, the iPhone 6 has more impressive dimensions, including the thickness - 7 mm versus 6.1 mm. Recall that most of the existing iPhone 6 examples are made on their own based on drawings leaked from the Foxconn factory and have a 4.7 "display. According to rumors, the company plans to have another version with a 5.5 ”screen, made in the same style as the younger brother.
And here is a "live" comparison of Apple's gadgets from all sides in a short video:
The iPhone 6 is expected to be unveiled in August or September. Information about its technical specifications is reliably kept secret. Mentioned only of the new A8 processor, an improved camera with optical image stabilization and iOS 8, sharpened for various sensors and user life monitoring systems.
- © Arthur Luchkin.
