Apple has quietly released a new version of the iPod Touch.  Known as the iPod Touch 16GB, Apple’s latest device is priced at $229 but surprisingly there’s nothing really new in it, so it’s more a question of : what’s it lacking?

Let’s compare Apple’s 5th generation iPod Touch and this newly released version to see if the price is worth what you’re getting.

What’s in the box:

 

iPod Touch 16GB: the device itself, EarPods, Lightning USB cable, Quick Start guide

5th gen iPod Touch: the device itself, loop – the strap you connect on your device, EarPods, Lightning USB cable, Quick Start Guide

Size and Weight:

 

16GB: Height 123.4mm x Width 58.6mm x Depth 6.1mm, Weight 86 grams

5th Gen: 123.4mm x 58.6mm x 6.1 mm, 88 grams

Capacity:

 

16GB: 16GB

5th Gen: 32 and 64GB

Wireless:

 

16GB: 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.0, Maps: Location-based service, built-in Nike+ support

5th Gen: 802.11a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz and 5GHz), Bluetooth 4.0, Maps: Location-based service, built-in Nike+ support

Display:

 

16GB: 4-inch (diagonal) widescreen display with Multi-Touch IPS technology, Retina display, 1136-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 pixels per inch, 800:1 contrast ratio (typical), 500 cd/m2 max brightness (typical), Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

5th Gen: 4-inch (diagonal) widescreen display with Multi-Touch IPS technology, Retina display, 1136-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 pixels per inch, 800:1 contrast ratio (typical), 500 cd/m2 max brightness (typical), Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating

Camera, Photos and Videos:

 

16GB: FaceTime HD camera with 1.2MP photos and HD video (720p) up to 30 frames per second, Face detection, Tap to control exposure for video or stills, Photo and video geotagging over Wi-Fi

5th Gen: 5-megapixel iSight camera, Autofocus, Tap to focus video or still images, Backside illumination, Hybrid IR filter, Five-element lens, LED flash, ƒ/2.4 aperture, Face detection, Panorama, HDR, HD video recording (1080p) up to 30 frames per second with audio, FaceTime HD camera with 1.2MP photos and HD video (720p) up to 30 frames per second, Video stabilization, Tap to control exposure for video or stills, Photo and video geotagging over Wi-Fi

Input and Output:

 

16GB:Lightning connector, 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack, Built-in speaker, Microphone

5th Gen: Lightning connector, 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack, Built-in speaker, Microphone

External Buttons and Connectors:

 

16GB: Physical button for the sleep/wake/on/off button appears at the top right of the device, volume buttons on the left side, and the Home button is below the screen on the center.  The FaceTime camera is above the screen in the middle, the mic is on top, near the power button, and the Lightning connector, 3.5mm jack and the speaker are all at the bottom.

5th Gen: Physical button for the sleep/wake/on/off button appears at the top right of the device, volume buttons on the left side, and the Home button is below the screen on the center.  The FaceTime camera is above the screen in the middle, the mic is on top, near the power button, and the Lightning connector, 3.5mm jack and the speaker are all at the bottom.  It basically looks the same except it has an iSight camera at the back and the button where you put the loop.

Power and Battery:

 

16GB: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, Music playback time: Up to 40 hours when fully charged, Video playback time: Up to 8 hours when fully charged, Charging times: Fast charge in about 2 hours (80% capacity), full charge in about 4 hours

5th Gen: Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, Music playback time: Up to 40 hours when fully charged, Video playback time: Up to 8 hours when fully charged, Charging times: Fast charge in about 2 hours (80% capacity), full charge in about 4 hours

Audio Playback:

 

16GB: Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz, Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV, User-configurable maximum volume limit

5th Gen: Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz, Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV, User-configurable maximum volume limit

TV and Video:

 

16GB: AirPlay mirroring and video out to Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation), Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 1080p through Lightning Digital AV Adapter and Lightning to VGA Adapter (adapters sold separately), H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 4.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats, MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats, Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

5th Gen: AirPlay mirroring and video out to Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation), Video mirroring and video out support: Up to 1080p through Lightning Digital AV Adapter and Lightning to VGA Adapter (adapters sold separately), H.264 video up to 1080p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 4.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats, MPEG-4 video up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats, Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format

Sensors:

 

16GB: Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer

5th Gen: Three-axis gyro, Accelerometer

Price:

 

16GB: $229

5th Gen: $299 for the 32GB version and $399 for the 64GB

The Verdict:

 

The new iPod Touch basically looks the same as the 5th generation iPod Touch, however it lacks the all-important rear camera and because of this, a lot of the video and camera functions of the 5th gen iPod are missing.  Also, Apple removed the loop button – this may not be a big deal for some, but for others the loop has saved their devices a number of times.

One of the problems with the rear camera being removed is that if you love taking selfies, you’ll have to be content with using the FaceTime camera. For this reason, if you really love taking photos with your iPod, the 16GB version probably won’t be a great experience.

All in all, it still looks like the 5th generation of iPod Touch, but if you like color on your device, you will not be happy with the 16GB version as it only comes in black and silver, while the older version is available in lots of different colors.

For $229, you get almost the same features as the 5th Gen but if you think about it, by adding $70, you’ll get a device that has a bigger storage capacity, comes in a variety of colors, and has the rear camera.  Still, a $70 saving is pretty big when you’re a teen.  So if you don’t mind having only a front facing camera, the 16GB iPod Touch is pretty good option.