iPod Touch 4g or 5g

[vettechick99]

I know this topic has been discussed a lot, but I'm still unsure. Please help.

We are an apple family, so I'm set on an apple product. We thought of getting our girls (6 & 3) a couple iPod touches for christmas because they borrow my phone to play with daily. So I see apple has the 4G certified refurb starting at $129, 8G. But several posts have talked about how 4G isn't compatible with all apps. So 2 questions:

1. Will I have a good selection of apps with a 4G (I have a 4S iPhone so if it works on my phone, it should work on a 4G iPod right?)?

2. Will 8G work if we have iCloud installed to hold apps we aren't currently using but want to keep?

Thanks!

 

[Fire14]

I have an Ipod 4 with 16gb of memory. I barely touch beginnings of memory. I use mine for music and a few apps. I'd say you would be safe with 4 and 8gb of memory but I know in my case it was 10.00 more for 8 more gb of memory.

 

[wiigirl]

I have a 32GB iPod 4 and I am about 80% full of music/pics/videos.

 

[Marionnette]

I know this topic has been discussed a lot, but I'm still unsure. Please help.

We are an apple family, so I'm set on an apple product. We thought of getting our girls (6 & 3) a couple iPod touches for christmas because they borrow my phone to play with daily. So I see apple has the 4G certified refurb starting at $129, 8G. But several posts have talked about how 4G isn't compatible with all apps. So 2 questions:

1. Will I have a good selection of apps with a 4G (I have a 4S iPhone so if it works on my phone, it should work on a 4G iPod right?)?

2. Will 8G work if we have iCloud installed to hold apps we aren't currently using but want to keep?

Thanks!

I think that you are confusing terms. I am assuming that by 4G and 5G, you are referring to 4th generation vs. 5 generation, because there is no iPod with that level of storage. Storage is in multiples of 8.

My personal feeling is that the 4th generation iPod Touch is going to become an orphan very soon. In other words, Apple will not support it past the warranty date, will not update the software for it and eventually you will run into a problem with newer apps not being available to it. You will also run into a problem with apps not being able to update because you lack the latest generation of the software.

This isn't going to happen right away, but if I were investing a couple of $XXX in a piece of technology, I would want it to serve me for more than a couple of years before it is obsolete.

As to the question about 8G of cloud storage being enough, well that's dependent on how you will use the iPods. You do not need to store apps in the iCloud. Once you purchase them, you can easily remove and add them back to your iPod at will. The iCloud storage is more for storing your contacts, messages, notes, calendar, texts, etc.

 

[nugov2]

My dd 9 has the Ipod 4 with 8gb and is fine with the storage. Apps come and go in popularity at that age so you can move them to the cloud if they no longer use them. She has a lot of music and pictures/videos. Never gotten a message it is full. As far as it being obsolete in a couple of years, I'd take the chance. Most likely in a couple of years you will be upgrading the device anyways. She has had hers for a couple of years and she is getting a IPad this year because her needs have changed. I would go with the cheaper one since it is for a child and their interests will change.


ETA that I have yet to come across an app my dd wants that is not compatible.

 

[dhardawa]

Just wanted to add, Apple has already orphaned the 4th generation. It is not compatible with the most current operating system. Very quickly, you'll start dinging that new apps won't download and current ones won't update. We had this issue a year ago with my son's iPod Touch.

 

[Egdisney]

We are still using a third generation iPod touch and my daughter rarely comes across an app she can't download(she is 6). Most of the apps that don't work for her are bc there is no camera, not bc it isn't compatible with the iOS. She downloads a new one almost every day. 8g is plenty. I see all these people buying 32 and I am thinking why? Not worth the extra money at all. I also highly recommend the fisher price apptivity cases. You can chose to block the home button or not. It is great to be able to lock it for my 3 year old!

 

[littleelf]

At that age I would think the 4th gen would be fine. If you get a warranty that covers screen damage, then when they inevitably break them you can get a check for the original amount and buy newer ones. I have a 12 year-old with a 4th gen who complains it's too slow but I think it's because her 9-year-old sister got a 5th gen. The only problem with the 5th gen is the 16 GB (cheaper one) as a front-facing camera only and that causes a huge amount of anguish. The 4th gen has front and rear.

 

[luvmy3]

We are still using a third generation iPod touch and my daughter rarely comes across an app she can't download(she is 6). Most of the apps that don't work for her are bc there is no camera, not bc it isn't compatible with the iOS. She downloads a new one almost every day. 8g is plenty. I see all these people buying 32 and I am thinking why? Not worth the extra money at all. I also highly recommend the fisher price apptivity cases. You can chose to block the home button or not. It is great to be able to lock it for my 3 year old!

It is in our house. When my dd got her first ipod touch I got her the 8GB and she filled it fairly quick and didn't even have all of her music on it so she was using her old nano for that. We upgraded her to a 32GB and its perfect.

My dses OTOH have 8GB that aren't filled, but again their music is on their nanos. I'm getting my older ds a 32GB 5th gen because of the app issue and the cost difference between the 2 was minimal because I bought a refurbished directly from Apple.

OP, for your kids I think a 4th gen 8GB would be fine.