iPod touch 4th Generation (2010): History and Specs
Retina display and A4 chip
On 1 September 2010 the fourth-generation iPod touch was presented in San Francisco, with sales starting the following week. Its 3.5-inch Retina display had 960 × 640 pixels at 326 ppi, four times the pixel count of the earlier screen. Inside were Apple's A4 chip, a three-axis gyroscope, an accelerometer and an ambient light sensor. Apple described it as the thinnest and lightest iPod touch yet; the specification lists 111.0 × 58.9 × 7.2 mm and 101 g. It cost US$229 with 8GB, US$299 with 32GB and US$399 with 64GB.
FaceTime and HD video
The model gained two cameras and a built-in microphone. The front camera, with VGA-quality photos and video, made FaceTime video calls over Wi-Fi to other new iPod touch models and to the iPhone 4. The rear camera recorded 720p HD video at up to 30 frames per second and took stills of 960 × 720 pixels; Apple sold an iMovie app for editing clips on the device at US$4.99. It shipped with iOS 4.1, which brought FaceTime, multitasking, folders and Game Center. Wireless connections were 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi, with 802.11n on 2.4 GHz only, and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. Battery life was rated at up to 40 hours of music or 7 hours of video.
Early reviews
In Macworld's review of 7 September 2010, Christopher Breen praised the sharp display and FaceTime and found the speaker clearly better than on earlier models. He judged the rear camera's results mediocre: its stills were under one megapixel, against five on the iPhone 4, and there was no flash. He also found the viewing angles weaker than the iPhone 4's.
Later versions and withdrawal
A white version joined the black model on 12 October 2011, when prices became US$199, US$299 and US$399 for 8GB, 32GB and 64GB and iOS 5 came preinstalled. After the fifth generation was announced on 12 September 2012, this model stayed on sale in black and white as a 16GB version at US$199 and a 32GB version at US$249. It was withdrawn on 30 May 2013, when a 16GB fifth-generation iPod touch took its place. Its last supported software was iOS 6.1.6.
Specifications
| Announced | 1 September 2010; sales started the following week |
|---|---|
| Launch price (US) | US$229 (8 GB), US$299 (32 GB), US$399 (64 GB) |
| Capacity | 8, 32 or 64 GB flash memory; 16 GB from 2012 |
| Display | 3.5-inch Retina display, 960 × 640 pixels at 326 ppi |
| Chip | Apple A4 |
| Cameras | Rear: 720p HD video, 960 × 720 stills; front: VGA for FaceTime |
| Battery | Up to 40 hours of music or 7 hours of video |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n (2.4 GHz), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR |
| Connectors | 30-pin dock connector, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Size | 111 × 58.9 × 7.2 mm (4.4 × 2.32 × 0.28 in) |
| Weight | 101 g (3.56 oz) |
| Colours | Black; white from 12 October 2011 |
| Works with | Mac OS X 10.5.8 or later; Windows 7, Vista or XP (SP3) |
| Model number | A1367 |
Figures from Apple's published technical specifications. Where Apple lists only inches and ounces, metric values are converted and rounded.
How to identify it
- Cameras on the front and the back and a sharp Retina screen.
- A thinner case than earlier iPod touch models (7.2 mm), with a black or white front.
- Model number A1367 for all versions from 2010 to 2012.
Where to find the model number and serial number: how to identify a used iPod.