Apple now considers final iPod nano model 'vintage'

Apple on Thursday added the seventh-generation iPod nano to its list of Vintage and Obsolete products, officially limiting active support for the venerable pint-sized music player.

Introduced on Sept. 7, 2005, the iPod nano was touted as the smallest iPod with a screen. Over the course of its nearly 12-year run, the stalwart music player took on a variety of shapes, sizes and formats.

The first generation was a tall, slim take on the traditional iPod design language. Featuring a Click Wheel and a 1.5-inch color screen, the device could be had in 2GB and 4GB configurations priced between the iPod Shuffle and iPod Classic.

Over the years, the nano went from tall and slender to short and squat, back to tall, down to an all-screen square shape, and finally something resembling a miniature iPhone with a home button. Each successive generation included a color screen, on-device controls (on-screen controls in later models), and a bevy of colorways. Apple also used the platform to experiment with new technologies like onboard cameras, unique chassis materials and custom finishes.

The final seventh-generation nano debuted in 2012 with a 2.5-inch, vertically oriented screen and home button. Apple later issued a minor refresh for the device in July 2015 by adding three new color options.

After years of service, and iPod touch taking over a lion's share of iPod sales, Apple axed the nano line in 2017.

Today's addition to the "vintage" list means seventh-generation iPod nano devices are eligible for repairs and service at Genius Bars and Apple Authorized Service Providers, but only when required parts are available. In two years the last nano is expected to become "obsolete" and will no longer be eligible for repair.

12 Comments

M68000 7 Years · 887 comments

About 4 years ago

These were great. I have it in green. And one of the best features is non digital - an FM radio tuner ! Although maybe HD radio these days might be digital? Would be great to see an FM tuner app and ability in future iPhones? How many could be sitting around in bedroom dresser drawers?

OutdoorAppDeveloper 15 Years · 1292 comments

It would be so easy for Apple to include a full set of radio features to the iPhone complete with SDK ... but how would they charge radio stations a fee for you to listen to their music and ads?

80s_Apple_Guy 8 Years · 291 comments

Seeing as they sold this until only 3 or so years ago this is really crappy on Apple’s part.

GG1 7 Years · 483 comments

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

It would be so easy for Apple to include a full set of radio features to the iPhone complete with SDK ... but how would they charge radio stations a fee for you to listen to their music and ads?

It may not be technically feasible to provide decent, clear FM in a phone that doesn't offer ONLY a 3.5mm jack for earphones, as the wire for the earphones is often used as the FM antenna. These iPods required ONLY wired earphones, so the FM antenna was always present. I'm not saying it's not possible, but that the audio quality would suffer without wired earphones.

razorpit 17 Years · 1793 comments

GG1 said:

OutdoorAppDeveloper said:

It would be so easy for Apple to include a full set of radio features to the iPhone complete with SDK ... but how would they charge radio stations a fee for you to listen to their music and ads?

It may not be technically feasible to provide decent, clear FM in a phone that doesn't offer ONLY a 3.5mm jack for earphones, as the wire for the earphones is often used as the FM antenna. These iPods required ONLY wired earphones, so the FM antenna was always present. I'm not saying it's not possible, but that the audio quality would suffer without wired earphones.

Good point. I would love to have an FM tuner, but I'm not giving up my AirPod Pros to have one.