iPod touch 3rd Generation (2009): History and Specs
Same shape, faster inside
Apple introduced the third-generation iPod touch on 9 September 2009 and made it available immediately. It came only in 32GB and 64GB versions, priced at US$299 and US$399; the US$199 8GB iPod touch sold alongside it used second-generation hardware. The new model looked almost identical to its predecessor, with the same 3.5-inch, 480 × 320 Multi-Touch display, a 110 × 61.8 × 8.5 mm enclosure and a weight of 115 g, so the model number A1318 engraved on the back is the reliable way to identify it.
What changed
The main changes were internal. Apple claimed up to 50 per cent faster performance and added support for OpenGL ES 2.0 graphics, and memory doubled from 128 MB to 256 MB. Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR and 802.11b/g Wi-Fi were included, along with a speaker, an accelerometer and built-in Nike + iPod support. Unlike earlier models, it came with Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic, and the microphone enabled Voice Control. Battery life was rated at up to 30 hours of audio or 6 hours of video.
Software and games
The device shipped with iPhone OS 3.1, which included cut, copy and paste, Spotlight search, a landscape keyboard in Mail, Notes and Safari, and Genius Mixes. Apple cited more than 75,000 App Store applications, over 20,000 of them games and entertainment titles, and highlighted peer-to-peer connections for multiplayer games with nearby or distant players. At the launch event Phil Schiller compared the iPod touch with the Nintendo DS and Sony PSP as a gaming device and said Apple had sold 20 million iPod touch units. The last software version this generation supported was iOS 5.1.1.
Reception and successor
Reviewers generally praised its technical features, although some felt it differed little from the second generation. Apple replaced it on 1 September 2010 with the fourth-generation iPod touch, which added a Retina display and cameras for FaceTime video calls.
Specifications
| Announced | 9 September 2009, available the same day |
|---|---|
| Launch price (US) | US$299 (32 GB), US$399 (64 GB) |
| Capacity | 32 GB or 64 GB flash memory |
| Display | 3.5-inch Multi-Touch display, 480 × 320 pixels at 163 ppi |
| Battery | Up to 30 hours of music or 6 hours of video |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR; Nike + iPod support built in |
| Connectors | Dock connector, 3.5 mm headphone jack |
| Size | 110 × 61.8 × 8.5 mm (4.3 × 2.4 × 0.33 in) |
| Weight | 115 g (4.05 oz) |
| Works with | Mac OS X 10.4.11 or later; Windows Vista or XP (SP3) |
| Model number | A1318 |
Figures from Apple's published technical specifications. Where Apple lists only inches and ounces, metric values are converted and rounded.
How to identify it
- Looks the same as the second generation: check the model number in the text on the back.
- Model number A1318 and a capacity of 32 GB or 64 GB.
- The 8 GB iPod touch sold in 2009 used second-generation hardware (A1288).
Where to find the model number and serial number: how to identify a used iPod.