iPod · Retina & Beyond · 2012
iPod touch (5th generation)
Thin, light and colourful with the taller 4" screen and a wrist strap "loop," it was the most pocketable full-touch iPod, and a hit as a kid’s first iOS device.
First 4" iPod touch and first with Lightning; came in five colours.
iPod touch (7th generation) (2019)
iPod touch (5th generation): key facts
When was the iPod touch (5th generation) released?
The iPod touch (5th generation) arrived on October 11, 2012. Apple discontinued it in July 2015.
How much did the iPod touch (5th generation) cost?
The iPod touch (5th generation) launched at $299 in 2012, about $419 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Apple A5 at 1 GHz, 512 MB RAM, 32 GB storage, 4" Retina LCD, 1136×640 display.
Why does the iPod touch (5th generation) matter?
First 4" iPod touch and first with Lightning; came in five colours.
Full specifications
| CPU | Apple A5 · 1 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 512 MB |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Display | 4" Retina LCD, 1136×640 |
| GPU | PowerVR SGX543MP2 |
| Ports | Lightning |
| Weight | 88 g |
| Dimensions | 12.3×5.9×0.61 cm |
| Operating system | iOS 6 |
| Released | October 11, 2012 |
| Discontinued | July 2015 |
| Launch price | $299 |
How the iPod touch (5th generation) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 32× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 1 GHz, the clock is roughly 3.2× 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 8,190 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $299 in 2012, about $419 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?
It shipped with a little iPod-coloured wrist strap that clipped to the back.
Related iPod models
Open the iPod touch (5th generation) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11