When was the last time Apple released a new iPod touch? Can’t remember? That’s because it’s been almost three years since Apple released a new version of its iconic music player.

The fifth-generation iPod touch was released in September 2012 and shares similar features with the iPhone 5 and 5c, except for the processor. The following year, just a few months after the release, Apple quietly released a 16GB version of the device, which was more affordable but lacked many of the original’s features, such as the iSight camera.

iPod touch sales have significantly declined over the years, and in Q1 2014 Apple sold just over 6 million units, down from 12.7 million units sold in Q1 2013. The decline in iPod Touch sales is not that surprising as the company knew it would happen back in 2009, when it explained that iPhone sales will cannibalize sales of other iDevices.

At this point, why would you buy an MP3 player when your smartphone does the same thing and so much more?

The iPod is dead.

Or so we thought.

It seems Apple has yet to throw in the towel when it comes to portable music players, as reports suggest that a new iPod will be released this year.

So what can we expect from the new iPod touch?

Technical specs

Reports suggest that the next-generation iPod touch will come in two sizes, one with a 4.7-inch screen and another with a 5.5-inch screen. It will be available in 16, 32 and 64GB storage, but there’s also a possibility of a 128GB version. There’s a possibility that it will have an A9 processor and run iOS 9. The device is said to come in red, orange, yellow, pink, green, space gray, silver, white and gold.

Special features

The features mentioned above may not be enough to get consumers to purchase the newest iPod, so rumor has it that Apple will be introducing new functionalities to the devices, such as Siri integration; Force Touch technology; it will be waterproof so it can keep up with the more active or clumsy users; and it will be able to link with a user’s iPhone, allowing it to receive messages and notifications like the Apple Watch.

Release date and price

Earlier reports pegged the launch of the sixth-generation iPod touch this June during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, but the event came and went and no device was announced. The most likely scenario is that if there will be a new iPod touch, it will be launched the same day as the new iPhone, which will be sometime in September.

As for the price, reports suggest that the new iPod touch will start at $250.

Image credit: Apple