Apple iPod touch (3rd Gen/8 GB) 8 GB Specs
Identifiers: 3rd Gen/Late 2009 - MC086LL/A* - iPod3,1 - A1288 - 2341
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The 8 GB configuration of the iPod touch 3rd Generation (Late 2009) models -- please note that this model does not have 3G networking support -- was marketed with an increased emphasis on gaming rather than the "iPhone without a phone" pitch provided by previous iPod touch models. Nevertheless, the line offers much of the same functionality of the iPhone 3GS, minus the "phone", mobile phone networking (3G/EDGE), A-GPS, digital compass, and integrated camera.
Although they originally were sold as a single lineup with 8 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB of storage, this 8 GB model effectively is the same as the 8 GB configuration of the iPod touch 2nd Generation and does not fully support iOS 4 nor does it support subsequent versions of the iOS at all.
Like the iPod touch 2nd Generation, the 8 GB configuration of the iPod touch 3rd Generation features the same "multi-touch" sensitive 3.5" display with 320x480 resolution, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and support for 802.11b/g (hardware-capable of 802.11n as well).
Features are largely unchanged as well. The 8 GB configuration of the 3rd Generation iPod touch shipped with standard earphones by default. It also supports a "Genius Mixes" feature that makes an effort to make mixes of songs that "go great together".
Battery life is an Apple-estimated 30 hours for music playback and 6 hours for video.
Also see:
- What are the differences between the iPod touch 3rd Generation (Late 2009) and the iPod touch 2nd Generation?
- What are the differences between the iPod touch 3rd Generation (Late 2009) and the iPhone 3GS?
Buy This iPod -- and all other new & used iPods -- at site sponsor PowerMax.
Accessorize This iPod with cases and more from site sponsor MegaMacs.
Upgrade This iPod with site sponsor Other World Computing. Batteries & more.
Fix This iPod -- free diagnosis and affordable 24-hour repair at site sponsor Mission Repair.
Click on the underlined category text for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important.
| Introduction Date: |
September 9, 2009 |
Discontinued Date: |
September 1, 2010 |
| Details: |
The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended.
Also see: All iPod models introduced in 2009. |
| Processors: |
1 |
Geekbench: |
186* |
| Details: |
*This number is an average of Geekbench 2 results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Individual user-submitted benchmarks can vary widely, but an average nevertheless can be useful to get a general idea of the relative performance of different devices. You also might be interested in combing through all Geekbench user-submissions for devices with the iPod3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.
To dynamically compare Geekbench results from different iPod touch, iPhone and iPad models side-by-side, please see EveryiPod.com's Ultimate iComparison.
|
| Processor Speed: |
533 MHz |
Processor Type: |
Samsung ARM* |
| Details: |
*Apple provides no information on the processor used in the iPod touch 3rd Gen models, but third-party "teardowns" indicate that the 32 GB and 64 GB configurations use an Apple branded Samsung ARM processor running at 800 MHz (the same processor used by the iPhone 3GS, but not downclocked to preserve battery life). The 8 GB model, on the other hand, uses the same 533 MHz Samsung ARM as the iPod touch 2nd Gen models (it essentially is a second generation model). |
| Onboard RAM: |
128 MB* |
Storage Capacity: |
8 GB |
| Details: |
*Apple provides no information regarding the RAM used in the iPod touch 3rd Gen, but the 8 GB configuration has been determined to have 128 MB of RAM, just like the iPod touch 2nd Gen. |
| Song Capacity: |
1750 |
Photo Capacity: |
10,000 |
| Details: |
Apple reports that the 8 GB third generation iPod touch model can hold "up to" 1750 songs. Likewise, it can hold as many as 10,000 photos. Additionally, Apple reports that the 8 GB model can hold "up to" 10 hours of video. |
| USB Support: |
Sync & Charge |
Firewire Support: |
None |
| Details: |
The iPod touch 3rd Gen models are capable of charging and syncing by USB via the dock connector, but cannot sync or charge via Firewire "400". |
| Connectivity: |
USB, Audio* |
Ports: |
Dock, Headphone* |
| Details: |
*Note that the iPod touch 3rd Gen models do not support video out via the headphone jack, they only provide video out via the dock connector. The 32 GB and 64 GB configurations shipped with the same "Earphones with Remote and Mic" as the iPhone 3GS, whereas this 8 GB model ships with a standard set of earphones. |
| Case Type: |
Handheld |
Form Factor: |
iPod touch 3rd Gen |
| Housing Color: |
Black |
Controller: |
Multi-touch |
| Details: |
The patented "multi-touch" interface allows one to control the functions of the system by dragging one or more fingers across the display.
Also see: How does the "multi-touch" interface introduced with the iPhone work? Who developed the "multi-touch" interface originally? |
| Built-in Display: |
3.5" Color |
Display Resolution: |
320x480 (163 ppi) |
| Details: |
The iPod touch 3rd Gen models have a 3.5" 320 by 480 at 163 ppi resolution display, identical to that provided by the iPod touch 2nd Gen models.
Also see: How does the touchscreen feel? Is the touchscreen really better than a keypad with tactile feedback?
Site sponsor Mission Repair offers free diagnosis of iPod hardware problems and a 24-hour repair service for this iPod. Display replacement, battery replacement, and more are provided. |
| Standard Wireless: |
802.11b/g* |
Standard Bluetooth: |
2.1+EDR |
| Details: |
*The iPod touch 3rd Gen models were advertised as having 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support. However, third-party teardowns discovered that the Broadcom BCM4329 chip that provides 802.11b/g is capable of 802.11n as well. 802.11n is not supported in software, however. |
| Cell Network: |
None |
Camera: |
None |
| Details: |
The iPod touch 3rd Gen does not have mobile phone capabilities or an integrated camera. |
| Battery Type: |
Lithium Ion |
Battery Life (Music): |
30 Hours |
| Details: |
The iPod touch 3rd Gen models officially provide an Apple-estimated 30 hours of battery life for music playback and 6 hours for video playback.
Site sponsor Other World Computing has replacement batteries that are higher capacity than the stock models as well as cases, headphones, speakers, and other accessories. |
| Battery Life (Voice): |
N/A |
Standby Time: |
N/A |
| Details: |
Apple does not provide estimated battery life for photo playback or web browsing, but does estimate "up to" 6 hours of video playback.
|
| Apple Order No: |
MC086LL/A* |
Apple Subfamily: |
3rd Gen/Late 2009 |
| Details: |
*MC086LL/A refers to the 8 GB configuration of the third generation iPod touch. |
| Apple Model No: |
A1288 (EMC 2341) |
Model ID: |
iPod3,1 |
| Details: |
Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.
Also see: All iPods with the A1288 Model Number, the 2341 EMC Number, and the iPod3,1 Model Identifier. |
| Pre-Installed OS: |
iPhone OS 3.1.1 (7C145) |
Maximum OS: |
iOS 4.2* |
| Details: |
*This model is capable of running iOS 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2 but some features, such as multitasking, are not supported. It is not capable of running iOS 4.3 or higher versions of the operating system. |
| Dimensions: |
4.3 x 2.4 x 0.33 |
Avg. Weight: |
4.05 oz. (115 g) |
| Details: |
In inches - height by width by depth (110 x 61.8 x 8.5 mm). |
| Mac Support: |
Mac OS X 10.4.11 |
Windows Support: |
Windows XP SP3/Vista |
| Details: |
Apple reports that the iPod touch 3rd Gen models are compatible with a "Macintosh computer with a USB 2.0 port, MacOS X 10.4.11 or later, and iTunes 9 or later."
It is compatible with a "PC with USB 2.0, Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later, and iTunes 9 or later." |
| Audio Support: |
Apple reports that the iPod touch 3rd Gen supports "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." |
| Photo Support: |
Apport reports that the iPod touch models sync iPod-viewable photos in "JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG formats". |
| Video Support: |
Apple reports that the iPod touch 3rd Gen supports "H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 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, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats." |
| Incl. Accessories: |
All iPod touch 3rd Gen models shipped with a USB 2.0 cable and a dock adapter. The 8 GB model has a standard set of earbuds. The polishing cloth provided by the iPod touch 2nd Gen also was no longer included. |
| Original Price: |
US$199 |
Est. Current Retail: |
US$125-US$150 |
| Details: |
The 8 GB iPod touch 3rd Gen was offered for US$199.
Photo Credit: Apple, Inc. |
Global original prices for the iPod touch (3rd Gen/8 GB) in 24 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region.
For global original prices for all iPod, iPhone, and iPad models in one particular country on a single page, please refer to Everyi.com's Global Original Prices section.
If you have additional original prices for this iPod, please share. Thank you.
Original Prices - North America
| Canada: |
C$219 |
United States: |
US$199 |
Original Prices - Europe
| Austria: |
€189 |
Belgium: |
€189 |
| Denmark: |
DKK 1,399 |
Finland: |
€199 |
| France: |
€199 |
Germany: |
€189 |
| Ireland: |
€189 |
Italy: |
€189 |
| Netherlands: |
€179 |
Norway: |
NOK 1.690 |
| Portugal: |
€189 |
Spain: |
€179 |
| Sweden: |
SEK 1.995 |
Switzerland: |
CHF 259 |
Original Prices - Asia
| China: |
RMB 1,598 |
Hong Kong: |
HK$1,568 |
| Japan: |
¥19,800 |
Singapore: |
N/A |
Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand
| Australia: |
A$268 |
New Zealand: |
NZ$349 |
Ten of the most popular Q&As about the iPod line follow.
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