User level: Level 1 (4 points)I'm looking at buying an iPod touch just for playing music - a limited number of songs for my workshop (in fact, I'd probably remove a bunch of the apps). What generation is compatible with a MAC M3 computer? Do I have to get a 7th gen for compatibility, or can I save some money and get a 5th gen? What issues will I have in transferring music?
I want the ease and intuitive-ness of an Apple product at a reasonable (low) price.
Posted on Oct 31, 2026 7:46 PM
User level: Level 9 (55,707 points)Nov 4, 2026 3:56 PM in response to RowdyzMom
I'm not sure that now is a good time to buy any iPod touch (5th generation). That iPod touch has a 32-bit processor and cannot update past iOS 9.*.
The minimum requirement for even the most basic iCloud services is now iOS 12 or later. There have been multiple reports of people being unable to reactivate really old iPhones. Come the end of January 2027, a key certificate is set to expire – and as far as I know, no patch has been issued for any version of iOS older than iOS 12. Who knows what this portends for the iPod touch (1st through 5tth generations), but the signs do not seem to be very good.
The 6th generation iPod touch can update to iOS 12. The 7th generation iPod touch can update to iOS 15. I think it may even be possible to pay Apple to replace the batteries on those models. But even with the 7th generation one, you're talking about a device that Apple sold between May 2019 and May 2022 – four and a half to seven and a half years ago.
User level: Level 7 (24,188 points)Nov 3, 2026 2:19 AM in response to RowdyzMom
Since Apple no longer sell the iPod Touch (or any iPod), that means you would have to buy second-hand. But the battery in such a device may not have much life left in it, so you may not get much time out of it.
You could consider an iPad, even the iPad mini I suppose. Alternatively, consider a dedicated music player (an MP3 player), Apple is not the only option. Note though, that non-Apple mp3 players cannot use iTunes (the desktop programme) for adding music to the player. Usually, adding music to non-Apple players is either by drag-and-drop, or for Android devices, by using specialist applications such as Media Monkey (apologies to Apple).
You can however, add music purchased from the iTunes Store, as well as music bought from other sources.
User level: Level 7 (24,188 points)Nov 3, 2026 11:46 AM in response to the fiend
the fiend wrote:
Alternatively, consider a dedicated music player (an MP3 player), Apple is not the only option. Note though, that non-Apple mp3 players cannot use iTunes (the desktop programme) for adding music to the player. Usually, adding music to non-Apple players is either by drag-and-drop, or for Android devices, by using specialist applications such as Media Monkey (apologies to Apple).
My apologies; I got carried away and was writing about using Windows. As far as I know, there is no version of Media Monkey for macOS.
Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256386725