What are all the differences between the 2010 and 2011 iPod touch 4th Generation and the iPod touch 3rd Generation?

The 2010 and 2011 iPod touch 4th Generation models are identical except that the 2011 iPod touch is available in white as well as black and is unveiled with a lower introductory price of US$199.

Although these models share identifiers -- the black configurations even share order numbers with the previously released iPod touch 4th Generation line -- Everyi.com has noted the 2011 models as the 4.5/5th Gen to make differentiation possible. For the purpose of this Q&A, however, both lines will subsequently be referenced simply as the 4th Generation.

One glancing casually at an iPod touch 4th Generation model might mistake it for an iPod touch 3rd Generation model, but upon closer inspection there are many quickly apparent differences.

Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. (iPod touch 3rd Gen - Left, 4th Gen - Right)

External Differences

The first most noticeable difference is that both models have a multi-touch capable 3.5" display, but the iPod touch 4th Gen model has a much higher-resolution 960x640 (326 ppi) "Retina" display compared to a 320x480 (163 ppi) display in the model replaced.

Second, one likely would notice that the iPod touch 4th Gen has two cameras -- a front-mounted camera designed to be used for video conferencing in conjunction with Apple's provided "FaceTime" software over a Wi-Fi network (it takes VGA quality photos and video up to 30 FPS) and a rear-mounted camera which supports HD video recording (720p up to 30 FPS with audio), and can take 960x720 still photos (roughly 0.7 megapixels). The iPod touch 3rd Gen, by contrast, has no cameras at all.

Identification Differences

One simple way to identify the iPod touch 4th Gen and 3rd Gen models, as well as all other iPod models, is by the model number printed in small type on the back of the device.

The iPod touch 4th Gen has model number A1367 on the back and the iPod touch 3rd Gen has model number A1318.

Everyi.com's Ultimate iLookup feature also can identify these iPod models by EMC number, order number (referred to as "model" in software), and the last three or four characters of their serial numbers as well (the last three characters for models with eleven character serial numbers and the last four characters for models with twelve character serial numbers).

Battery Life Differences

Maximum battery life for the iPod touch 3rd Gen models officially is 30 hours for music playback whereas it is 40 hours for the iPod touch 4th Gen models. For video playback, the 3rd Gen models officially provide six hours of runtime and the 4th Gen provide seven.

Technical & Feature Differences

Both lines have 8 GB, 32 GB or 64 GB of storage, an accelerometer, an ambient light sensor to adjust screen brightness, built-in support for Wi-Fi (albeit 802.11b/g for the 3rd Gen and 802.11b/g and the 2.4 GHz frequency of 802.11n for the 4th Gen), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, "shake to shuffle" support, and integrated Nike support. The 32 GB and 64 GB configurations of the iPod touch 3rd Gen and all iPod touch 4th Gen models also have "Voice Control" navigation capability and a "VoiceOver" screen reader.

However, the 4th Gen model adds the aforementioned FaceTime video conferencing capability and likewise has an integrated speaker and microphone which also makes Skype/VOIP calls without a headset a viable option (at least in a quiet room, as first detailed by the always excellent AnandTech). The iPod touch 4th Gen has a 3-axis gyroscope for additional gaming options, too.

The 8 GB configuration of the iPod touch 3rd Gen has a 533 MHz Samsung ARM and 128 MB of RAM, the 32 GB and 64 GB configurations of the iPod touch 3rd Gen have an 800 MHz Samsung ARM processor and 256 MB of RAM, and the iPod touch 4th Gen models, regardless of capacity, have a variable clockspeed Apple A4 processor running in the 700 MHz to 800 MHz range and 256 MB of RAM.

As a more minor point of differentiation, the 32 GB and 64 GB configurations of the iPod touch 3rd Gen shipped with a pair of "Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic" and the iPod touch 4th Gen models only ship with standard earbuds (but support both).

Comparison Chart

For your convenience, the primary differences between the iPod touch 3rd Gen and the iPod touch 4th Gen are summarized below:

	iPod touch 3rd Gen	iPod touch 4th Gen
Display:	320x480 (163 ppi)	960x640 (326 ppi)
Cameras:	None	VGA (30 FPS) 720p (30 FPS, 0.7 MP)
Processor Speed:	800 MHz*	700-800 MHz
Processor Type:	Samsung ARM	Apple A4
RAM:	256 MB*	256 MB
Storage Size:	8, 32, 64 GB	8, 32, 64 GB
Wi-Fi:	802.11b/g	802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth:	2.1+EDR	2.1+EDR
Song Capacity:	1750, 7000, 14,000	1750, 7000, 14,000**
Photo Capacity:	10,000, 40,000, 90,000	10,000, 40,000, 90,000**
Video Capacity:	10, 40, 80 Hours	10, 40, 80 Hours**
Battery Life (Music):	30 Hours	40 Hours
Battery Life (Video):	6 Hours	7 Hours
External Speaker:	Yes	Yes
Microphone:	Yes†	Yes
FaceTime:	No	Yes
iMovie Support:	No	Yes
Shake to Shuffle:	Yes	Yes
Genius Support:	Yes	Yes
Nike + iPod Support:	Yes	Yes
Voice Control:	Yes††	Yes
VoiceOver:	Yes††	Yes
Gyroscope:	No	Yes
Dimensions (Inches):	4.3 x 2.4 x 0.33	4.4 x 2.3 x 0.28
Weight (Ounces):	4.05 oz. (115 g)	3.56 oz. (101 g)
Model Number:	A1318	A1367
Price (As Introduced):	US$199, US$299, US$399§	US$229, US$299, US$399§

* The 32 GB and 64 GB configurations of the iPod touch 3rd Gen have an 800 MHz processor and 256 MB of RAM. The 8 GB model has a 533 MHz processor and 128 MB of RAM.

** Apple no longer provides an official estimate of song, photo and video capacity, but as the iPod touch 4th Generation models have the same amount of storage as their predecessors the theoretical maximum capacities should be quite similar.

† The iPod touch 3rd Gen 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 3rd Gen configuration shipped with standard earbuds rather than the Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic.

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

§ The 8 GB iPod touch 3rd Gen was sold for US$199, the 32 GB for US$299, and the 64 GB for US$399. The iPod touch 4th Gen models -- with 8 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB of storage -- originally sold for US$229, US$299, and US$399, respectively, and now sell for US$199, US$299, and US$399.

Ultimately, with the better display and additional functionality provided by the iPod touch 4th Gen, only those on tight budgets may wish to instead consider a 3rd Generation model on the used market at a discounted price. For most users, the iPod touch 4th Gen is the better choice.

Site sponsor PowerMax has new and used iPods available for sale free of sales tax.

To dynamically compare any iPod touch model to all other iPod, iPhone, and iPad models -- new and old -- please see Everyi.com's Ultimate iComparison feature.