Apple refreshes iPod touch with A10 chip, 256GB storage

Updated version will offer up to 2x faster CPU performance and up to 3x faster graphics.

(Web Desk) – Apple on Tuesday has refreshed its long forgotten sixth generation iPod touch with A10 Fusion chip and with 256GB storage option.

Last released in July 2015, refreshed iPod touch has been bumped up with iPhone 7’s processor to give a smoother experience. Aside from those two changes, it appears that Apple is leaving the rest of the iPod touch alone: it has the same bezeled 4-inch display, home button, and cameras.

The A10 chip does provide enough firepower for a few new features, including Group FaceTime calls and Apple’s ARKit augmented reality apps, both of which were previously unavailable on the iPod touch.

The company says that, compared to the older model, the updated version will offer up to two times faster CPU performance and up to three times faster graphics.

Is it a true next-generation iPod touch that some may have hoped for with the hardware and design of the latest iPhones? No. But the spec bump means it’ll run the next few versions of iOS without too many issues, and the recycled design will keep the price low, making it a good entry-level option.

Rest of the product has been left untouched. This means you are still getting the same 4-inch, 1136x640 resolution LCD, basic 8MP camera on the back and 1.2MP camera on the front, single loudspeaker, no Face ID or even Touch ID, 3D Touch or haptic feedback. Fortunately, because it’s so old, it does have a headphone jack.

Apple earlier this year unveiled streaming video plans along with news and game subscription offerings as part of an effort to shift its focus to digital content and services to break free of its reliance on iPhone sales.

An Apple TV+ service, an on-demand, ad-free subscription service, will launch this year in 100 countries, the company said.

Apple News+ was launched in the US and Canada in English and French and will be available later this year in Britain and Australia, the company said.

Separately, the company said it was launching a new game subscription service called Apple Arcade later this year with at least 100 titles at launch.

"iOS is the world’s largest gaming platform, and with three times faster graphics, games on the new iPod touch run even smoother and look even more beautiful," Apple said in a release.

The first new iPod since the year 2015 comes as Apple shifts to emphasize digital content and other services to offset a pullback in the once-sizzling smartphone market, and with many news organizations struggling to monetize their online services.

The updated iPod touch starts at $199 for the 32GB model, $299 for 128GB of storage, and $399 for the new 256GB option.