iPod · The Digital Hub · 2007
iPod classic
The hard-drive iPod’s final form: a metal "classic" holding 40,000 songs. Apple quietly sold it, unchanged, until 2014, long after the iPhone made it redundant.
Anodised metal body, Cover Flow browsing, and up to 160 GB of music.
iPod classic: key facts
When was the iPod classic released?
The iPod classic arrived on September 5, 2007. Apple discontinued it in September 2014.
How much did the iPod classic cost?
The iPod classic launched at $249 in 2007, about $383 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: ARM at 80 MHz, 64 MB RAM, 160 GB storage, 2.5" colour LCD, 320×240 display.
Why does the iPod classic matter?
Anodised metal body, Cover Flow browsing, and up to 160 GB of music.
Full specifications
| CPU | ARM · 80 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 64 MB |
| Storage | 160 GB |
| Display | 2.5" colour LCD, 320×240 |
| GPU | Integrated |
| Ports | 30-pin dock connector |
| Weight | 140 g |
| Dimensions | 10.4×6.1×1.0 cm |
| Operating system | iPod software |
| Released | September 5, 2007 |
| Discontinued | September 2014 |
| Launch price | $249 |
How the iPod classic compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 256× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 80 MHz, the clock is roughly 40× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 41,000 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $249 in 2007, about $383 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
When discontinued, prices spiked. Nothing else held an entire library offline.
Related iPod models
Open the iPod classic in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11