What are the differences between the iPod touch 3G (Late 2009) and the iPod touch 2G?

Externally, there essentially is no difference between the iPod touch 3G and the iPod touch 2G models that the 3G line replaced. Please note that "3G" stands for "third generation" and, rather confusingly, the iPod touch 3G models do not support 3G mobile networking. In recognition of potential confusion, Apple quietly refers to these models as the "Late 2009" line rather than use the company's traditional "generational" nomenclature.

Both the iPod touch 2G and 3G feature a "multi-touch" sensitive 3.5" display with 320x480 resolution (163 ppi), an accelerometer, an ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness, built-in support for Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), "shake to shuffle" support, integrated support for Nike + iPod, and flash memory storage (of differing capacity -- 8, 16, or 32 GB for the 2G and 8, 32, or 64 GB for the 3G).

For all practical purposes, in fact, the 8 GB configuration of the iPod touch "3G" series is a re-issue of the 8 GB configuration of the iPod touch 2G that came before it, just sold for US$199 instead of US$229.

Although they are sold as a single line with 8 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB of storage -- and marketed with greater emphasis on gaming than previous models touted more as an "iPhone without the phone" -- the 32 GB and 64 GB models are significantly different internally from the 8 GB one.

Internally, the 32 GB of 64 GB models have more in common with the iPhone 3GS with advertised "50% faster performance" -- courtesy of the same 800 MHz Samsung ARM processor that powers the iPhone 3GS -- and OpenGL ES 2.0 support for superior graphics performance as well as 256 MB of RAM. The 8 GB model, on the other hand, uses the same 533 MHz Samsung ARM as the iPod touch 2G models and 128 MB of RAM. The 32 GB and 64 GB models also add "Voice Control" navigation capability and a "VoiceOver" screen reader -- the "world’s first gesture-based screen reader" -- but the 8 GB model is not powerful enough to support either feature.

Third-party teardowns also have discovered that the Broadcom BCM4329 chip that provides 802.11b/g in the 32 GB and 64 GB iPod touch 3G configurations is capable of 802.11n as well, but this is not an advertised capability, nor is it currently supported in software.

Battery life officially has been reduced by the iPod touch 3G models for music playback -- 30 hours down from 36 hours -- but the iPod touch 2G and 3G models all formally provide 6 hours of video playback.

As a more minor point of product differentiation, the 32 GB and 64 GB iPod touch 3G models ship with a pair of "Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic", whereas the 8 GB model simply has a standard set of earbuds. For those really interested in minutiae, the polishing cloth provided by the iPod touch 2G is no longer included with the 3G line.

For your convenience, the primary differences between the iPod touch 2G and the iPod touch 3G are summarized below:

* The 32 GB and 64 GB configurations of the iPod touch 3G have an 800 MHz processor, a graphics processor capable of supporting OpenGL ES 2.0, and 256 MB of RAM. The 8 GB model has a 533 MHz processor, a graphics processor capable of supporting OpenGL ES 1.1, and 128 MB of RAM.

** The iPod touch 2G has a built-in Broadcom BCM4325 "Bluetooth" chip that provides the Nike + iPod Sport Kit support. It does not otherwise support Bluetooth connectivity.

† The iPod touch 2G and 3G models support an external microphone via the Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic (and some third-party products as well). Note that the 8 GB iPod touch 3G configuration ships with standard earbuds rather than the Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic.

†† The 32 GB and 64 GB configurations of the iPod touch 3G support Voice Control navigation and the VoiceOver screen reader, the 8 GB model does not.

§ The 8 GB iPod touch 2G was sold for US$229, the 16 GB for US$299, and the 32 GB for US$399. The iPod touch 3G models -- with 8 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB of storage -- sell for US$199, US$299, and US$399, respectively.

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Photo courtesy of Apple, Inc.