News

End of an Era: Apple Discontinues the iPod Touch

By Ben Stockton

Published May 10, 2022

Apple has officially ended production of the iPod Touch and, with it, brought the iPod product line to an end. Here’s what you need to know.

Apple has officially announced the end of production for the iPod Touch, and with it, the end of the iPod line.

This is an end of an era that started 20 years ago, back in 2001 with the original iPod. Apple’s discontinuing the iPod Touch in favor of its other lineup of devices, including the iPhone, Mac, HomePod, and more.

Here’s what we know so far.

Apple Stops iPod Touch Production

The current generation of the iPod Touch has been in place since 2019—it’s been on life support for some time. Today, that ends, with Apple announcing the end of the iPod Touch (and the iPod product line) in a statement.

In a statement, Greg Joswiak (Apple Senior VP for Worldwide Marketing) had this to say:

“Music has always been part of our core at Apple, and bringing it to hundreds of millions of users in the way iPod did impacted more than just the music industry — it also redefined how music is discovered, listened to, and shared. Today, the spirit of iPod lives on. We’ve integrated an incredible music experience across all of our products, from the iPhone to the Apple Watch to HomePod mini, and across Mac, iPad, and Apple TV. And Apple Music delivers industry-leading sound quality with support for spatial audio — there’s no better way to enjoy, discover, and experience music.

It’s no surprise to see Apple discontinue the iPod in 2022. The world has changed and it isn’t the must-have device it was in the early 2000s. If you’re listening to music, you’re probably listening to it through your phone, or by using a smart speaker like Apple’s own HomePod or HomePod mini.

Still, we’re sad to see the end of the iPod brand. The iPod revolutionized the music industry when it was released, for better or worse.

Can I Still Buy an iPod Touch?

With the news that Apple is discontinuing the iPod Touch, there’s still time to pick one up—if you’re quick.

Apple will continue to sell the device in stores, online, and from official retailers until the stock runs out. If you want a final piece of iPod nostalgia, now’s the time to pick one up.

Fancy something newer? You can always give Apple Music a go on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device instead.