iPod® Generations Chart

Heads up!

Welcome to this article from the Crutchfield archives. Have fun reading it, but be aware that the information may be outdated and links may be broken.

Apple first introduced the iPod back in 2001. The original iPod was the "first generation" model. Subsequent versions have been referred to as "second generation" (2G), "third generation" (3G), and so on.

Once memory capacity started being measured in gigabytes — abbreviated "GB" — determining which iPod you had could be confusing. For example, you might have a 4G 20GB iPod, or a 2G 4GB iPod shuffle.

So we created this handy chart to help you identify exactly which iPod you have. Note that not every iteration was considered a new generation. The fourth generation iPod, for example, initially had a black and white screen, then was re-released with a color screen. Both versions are considered 4G iPods. We've also noted some of the major changes for each model in the chart to further help you with identification.

iPod®/iPod classic®
iPod mini®
iPod nano®
iPod shuffle®
iPod touch®

Generation	Designation	Key Features	Memory Capacity	When available on the market
First	iPod	n/a	5GB 10GB	October 2001 - March, 2003
Second	2G iPod	Touch-sensitive Navigation wheel, Expanded memory	10GB 20GB	June, 2002 - March, 2003
Third	Docking iPod	30-pin dock connector, Navigation buttons Expanded memory	10GB 15GB 20GB 30GB 40GB	June, 2002 - March, 2003
Third	3G iPod	Click wheel navigation	20GB 40GB	April, 2003 - June, 2004
Fourth	iPod photo	Image display, Expanded memory	30GB 40GB 60GB	October, 2004 - June, 2005
Fourth	iPod photo	Color screen, Displays photos	20GB 60GB	June, 2005 - September, 2005
Fifth	5G iPod	Plays videos, Larger screen, Expanded memory, Available in black or white	30GB 60GB 80GB	October, 2005 - September, 2007
Sixth	iPod classic	Expanded memory, aluminum casing, Available in black or silver	80GB 120GB 160GB	September 2007 - present

iPod mini	Generation	Designation	Key Features	Memory Capacity	When Available on the Market
	First	iPod mini	Available in silver, gold, green, blue, pink	4GB	January, 2004 - February, 2005
	Second	2G iPod mini	Expanded memory Available in silver, gold, pink, green, blue	4GB 8GB	February, 2005 - August, 2006

Generation	Designation	Key Features	Memory Capacity	When Available on the Market
First	iPod nano	iAvailable in black or white	1GB 2GB 4GB	September 2005 - September 2006
Second	2G iPod nano	Aluminum finish, Available in blue, pink, silver, green, black	2GB 4GB 8GB	September 2006 - September 2007
Third	3G iPod nano	Plays videos, 4GB available in silver, 8GB available in silver, black, light blue, light green	4GB 8GB	September 2007 - September 2008
Fourth	4G iPod nano	Curved screen, FM tuner, Available in silver, black, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, pink	8GB 16GB	September 2008 - September 2009
Fifth	5G iPod nano	Expanded screensize, FM radio, with Live Pause Camera, Available in silver, black, purple, blue, green, orange, pink	8GB 16GB	September 2009 - September 2010
Sixth	6G iPod nano	Smaller form, No video playback, No speakers, No camera, Voice command	8GB 16GB	September 2010 - September 2012
Seventh	7G iPod nano	Larger screen, Video playback, Bluetooth, FM Radio, redesigned EarPod heaphones, redesigned Lightning connector	16GB	September 2012 - present

Generation	Designation	Key Features	Memory Capacity	When Available on the Market
First	iPod shuffle	Flash memory	512MB 1GB	January 2005 - September 2006
Second	2G iPod shuffle	Smaller form, Expanded memory, Aluminum casing, Available in silver, green, pink, orange, blue	1GB 2GB	January 2006 - March, 2009
Third	3G iPod shuffle	Taller form, No navigation wheel, Available in sliver, black, blue, green, pink	2GB 4GB	March 2009 - September 2010
Fourth	4G iPod shuffle	Smaller form, Navigation wheel, VoiceOver command, Available in black, silver, purple, red, yellow, green, blue	2GB	September 2010 - present

Generation	Designation	Key Features	Memory Capacity	When Available on the Market
First	iPod touch	Multi-touch screen, Wi-Fi capability	8GB 16GB 32GB	September 2007 - September 2008
Second	2G iPod touch	Chrome back, Built-in speaker	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB	September 2008 - September 2009
Third	3G iPod touch	Voice Control, in-line remote earbuds	32GB 64GB	September 2009 - September 2010
Fourth	4G iPod touch	Front and back cameras, FaceTime, Retina display screen, Available in black or white	8GB 16GB 32GB 64GB	September 2010 - September 2012
Fifth	5G iPod touch	Expanded screen, Siri voice command, 3 speakers (front, right, and bottom), Aluminum and glass casing, redesigned EarPod headphones, redesigned Lightning connector Available in black, white, blue, pink, yellow	16GB 32GB 64GB	September 2012 - present