Apple’s iPod nano​ was the perfect intermediate MP3 player, sitting right in the​ middle of the iPod line and offering a combination of great performance and features with a low price.

The iPod nano doesn’t offer a big screen or big storage capacity like the iPod touch, but it’s got more features than the Shuffle (and, unlike the Shuffle, it’s got a screen!). The nano started out as a lightweight, portable MP3 player, and over the years added features include video playback, video recording, and an FM radio. This has made the iPod nano much more like its competitors, but it’s still one of the best portable music devices of its kind.

Read on to learn all about the iPod nano, its history, features, and how to buy and use it.

Information About Every iPod nano Model

The original iPod nano debuted in Fall 2005 and was updated roughly every year (But not anymore. Check out the end of the article for information on the end of the nano). The models are:

Apple discontinued the entire iPod nano line on July 27, 2017. While there are no new iPod nanos coming, there are lots still in use. This article can help iPod nano owners continue to enjoy the devices.

  • 1st Generation iPod nano: The original model offered a small color screen and 1 GB, 2 GB, and 4 GB storage capacity for audio. Also known as Apple model number A1137.
  • 2nd Generation iPod nano: This model doubled storage capacity — 2 GB, 4 GB, and 8 GB — and brought bright case colors to the nano line. ​Also known as Apple model number A1199.
  • 3rd Generation iPod nano: ​A big change to the nano thanks to its squat form factor and video playback. Models offered 4 GB and 8 GB capacity. Also known as Apple model number A1236.
  • 4th Generation iPod nano: A return to the vertical form factor, with capacity raised to 16 GB at the high-end, and nine brightly colored models. Also known as Apple model number A1285.
  • 5th Generation iPod nano: The same form factor as the 4th generation model, but it added a video camera and FM radio tuner to create a versatile, capable iPod. ​Also known as Apple model number A1320.
  • 6th Generation iPod nano: A major redesign in shape and functionality. This model added a multitouch screen, removed video playback and the video camera, and changed how you use the nano in ways some users didn’t like. Also known as Apple model number A1366.
  • 7th Generation iPod nano: Another major redesign, also the last iPod nano model. The 7th generation model added a big touchscreen and a home button, making it look like a shrunken iPod touch. It also restored video playback and added support for Bluetooth headphones and bluetooth speakers. Also known as Apple model number A1446.

iPod Nano Hardware Features

Over the years, iPod nano models have offered many different kinds of hardware. The latest, 7th generation model sports the following hardware features:

For an in-depth look at every model of the iPod nano, check out our history of the entire iPod nano line.

  • Screen: A 2.5-inch, rectangular multitouch screen.
  • Touchscreen: The 7th gen. nano has a touchscreen (no more Click wheel on any nano models). Like the iPhone and iPad, it’s a multitouch screen.
  • Memory: The iPod nano uses solid-state Flash memory to store music, video, and other data.
  • Accelerometer: The 4th, 5th, and 7th generation nanos include an accelerometer like in the iPhone and iPod touch that allows the display to automatically re-orient itself based on how the nano is held (you can also manually rotate the screen).
  • FM Tuner: The 5th, 6th, and 7th generation models sport an FM radio tuner ​that allows users to listen to and record radio, as well as tag favorite songs to buy later.
  • Bluetooth: Connecting to wireless headphones and speakers is supported on the 7th generation model, using this close-range wireless technology.
  • Lightning Dock Connector: The 7th generation nano uses Apple’s Lightning dock connector for syncing with computers, the same small port used on the iPhone 5 and up. All previous nano models used Apple’s Dock Connector port.

How to Buy an iPod nano

Thanks to its many useful features, the iPod nano is a compelling package. If you’re considering buying an iPod nano, read these articles:

  • Is the iPod nano, or another iPod, right for you?
  • How can you find a cheap iPod nano (other than buying used)?
  • What accessories should you buy with an iPod nano?
  • Are you interested in the AppleCare extended warranty?

How to Set up and Use an iPod nano

Once you’ve bought an iPod nano, you need to set it up and start using it! The set-up process is pretty easy and quick. Once you’ve completed it, you can move on to the good stuff, like:

  • Adding your own music.
  • Buying music at iTunes (or other online music stores).
  • Using the FM tuner.
  • Rearranging icons on the 6th & 7th Generation nano.​

If you’re upgrading from another iPod or MP3 player, there may be music on your old device that you want to transfer to your computer before setting up your nano. There are a few ways to do this, but the easiest is probably by using third-party software.

iPod nano Help and Support

The iPod nano is a pretty simple device to use. Still, you may run into a few instances in which you need troubleshooting help, such as:

  • How to restart an iPod nano or turn it off.
  • How to update an iPod nano’s software.
  • How to restore the iPod nano to factory settings.
  • Where to download manuals for every iPod nano model.
  • Can you install apps on the iPod nano?​

You’ll also want to take precautions with your nano and yourself, such as avoiding hearing loss or theft, and learning how to save your iPod nano if it gets very wet.

After a year or two, you may start to notice some degradation of the nano’s battery life. When that time comes, you’ll need to decide whether to buy a new MP3 player or look into battery replacement services.

How Does the iPod Click Wheel Work?

Early versions of the iPod nano used the famous iPod click wheel for scrolling and selecting on the screen. Learning how the Click wheel works will help you appreciate what a great bit of engineering it is.

Clicking the click wheel simply involves buttons. The wheel has icons at its four sides, one each for menu, play/pause, and back and forward. It also has a center button. Beneath each of these icons is a sensor that, when pressed, sends the appropriate signal to the iPod. Pretty simple, right?

Scrolling’s a bit more complicated. The click wheel uses a technology similar to that used in touchpads on laptops (while Apple eventually developed its own Click wheel, the original iPod click wheels were made by Synaptics, a company that makes touchpads). This is called capacitive sensing.

The iPod click wheel is made up of a couple of layers. On top is the plastic cover used for scrolling and clicking. Beneath that is a membrane that conducts electrical charges. The membrane is attached to a cable that sends signals to the iPod. The membrane has conductors built into it called channels. At each place where channels cross each other, an address point is created.

The iPod is always sending electricity through this membrane. When a conductor — in this case, your finger; remember, the human body conducts electricity — touches the click wheel, the membrane tries to complete the circuit by sending electricity to your finger. But, since people probably wouldn’t like getting shocks from their iPods, the plastic cover of the touch wheel blocks the current from going to your finger. Instead, the channels in the membrane detect the address point of the charge, which tells the iPod what kind of command you’re sending to it via the click wheel.

The End of the iPod nano​

While the iPod nano was a great device for many years and sold millions of units, Apple discontinued it in 2017. With the rise of the iPhone, iPad, and similar devices, the market for dedicated music players like the nano had shrunk to a point where it didn’t make sense to continue the device. The iPod nano is still a great device and easy to find. So, if you want to get one, you should be able to get a good deal and use it for years to come. 

Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day