Apple confirms iPod nano and iPod shuffle have been discontinued

The last of the traditional iPods that lacked internet connectivity are gone. Apple has quietly taken down the websites for both the iPod nano and iPod shuffle today. As of now, searching for the products still results in “learn more” and “buy” links, but they lead to URLs that are no longer available. An Apple spokesperson confirmed to The Verge that both products have met their end and are now officially discontinued. Apple has long maintained that the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch would ultimately cannibalize its traditional music player hardware. The iconic iPod classic was discontinued in 2014.

"Today, we are simplifying our iPod lineup with two models of iPod touch now with double the capacity starting at just $199 and we are discontinuing the iPod shuffle and iPod nano,” the spokesperson said by email. The iPod touch now comes in 32GB and 128GB storage options, with the latter priced at $299. The previous 16GB and 64GB capacities are no longer available.

You should still be able to find some remaining iPod shuffle and nano units from Best Buy and other authorized retailers until stock runs out.

The iPod nano hasn’t been significantly updated since 2012, when the company redesigned it with Bluetooth support for wireless headphones and speakers. Apple released a new batch of colors for that seventh-generation model in 2015. The clip-on iPod shuffle last saw a redesign with the fourth-gen model in 2010, which made a quick return to physical controls after the poorly received third-generation model of 2009. Since then, Apple has updated the color options from time to time — just like the nano.

Personally, I think my favorite iPod nano always stayed the second-generation model, though the fourth-gen was pretty nice too.

The fat and short third-generation iPod nano definitely remains one of the most oddball iPods that Apple ever released. That aside, I don’t really know anyone who has purchased a nano in recent years.

But right up until the end, the shuffle remained a fairly decent, stress-free option for active people; it was hard to beat a tiny $50 music player that you could lose or break without the same gut-wrenching guilt that comes with cracking your phone’s screen.

Source: The Verge