UPDATE: May. 10, 2022, 12:45 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with the announcement that Apple is discontinuing the iPod touch, which "will be available while supplies last." Our original article follows.
With the ubiquity of the iPhone, you might be wondering why the iPod isn't obsolete.
Why would you want a device that plays music when you could have a device that plays music and is also, you know, a phone? Even though iPhone technology has far surpassed the iPod (which was revolutionary for its time), Apple still has the iPod touch in its product lineup(opens in a new tab).
For keeping kids occupied or for people who cannot afford a mobile plan and use Wi-Fi only, the iPod has its advantages. Starting at $199(opens in a new tab), it is significantly less expensive than the cheapest iPhone ($429), has FaceTime and iMessage, can hold 256GB of storage, and has the Apple App Store and Apple Arcade. Plus, some people like it because it isn't a phone, which makes for distraction-free listening. Based on these features, there's definitely a cult following of iPod users for its continued existence.
That said, the version that Apple currently sells is the seventh generation of the iPod touch(opens in a new tab) while supplies last.
What is an obsolete Apple Product?
According to Apple, "products are considered obsolete when Apple stopped distributing them for sale more than seven years ago." In practical terms, this means that Apple no longer offers any service or repairs for these products. While most fall into the obsolete category, iPod models that haven't been sold for five years, but less than seven years are considered "vintage." You might be able to get service or parts for vintage models, but it depends on service and available inventory of parts.
Whether or not Apple releases a next generation of the iPod touch, relegating the current model into retirement, or discontinues production of the iPod touch altogether remains to be seen. But either way, the iPod touch Gen 7 will be one step closer to obsolescence.
If you're still an iPod user, take good care of it, because it won't be easy to fix. Here's the current list of iPod models that are vintage and obsolete.
iPod "vintage" models
iPod nano (7th generation, Late 2012)
iPod shuffle (4th generation, Late 2012)
iPod touch (4th generation)
iPod touch (5th generation)
iPod obsolete models
iPod (5th generation)
iPod (5th generation, Late 2006)
iPod (Click Wheel)
iPod (Dock Connector)
iPod (Scroll Wheel)
iPod (Touch Wheel)
iPod classic (80GB and 160GB, 2007)
iPod classic (120GB)
iPod classic (160GB)
iPod Hi-Fi
iPod with color display
iPod mini
iPod nano (2nd generation)
iPod nano (3rd generation)
iPod nano (4th generation)
iPod nano (6th generation)
iPod touch (4th generation)
iPod touch (5th generation, 16GB, Mid 2013)
iPod nano (5th generation) 8GB, 16GB
iPod photo
iPod photo (Early 2005)
iPod shuffle
iPod shuffle (2nd generation)
iPod shuffle (2nd generation, Late 2007)
iPod shuffle (2nd generation, Late 2008)
iPod shuffle (3rd generation)
iPod shuffle (4th generation)
iPod Special Edition U2
iPod touch
iPod touch (2nd generation, 2008)
iPod touch (2nd generation, 2009)
iPod touch (2nd generation) 8GB
iPod touch (3rd generation) 32GB, 64GB
