How To Check Your iPod's Generation

Knowing the generation or model of your iPod helps in finding replacement parts, checking specifications, buying accessories, hacking and reselling to name just a few.

The easiest way of identifying which ipod you have is to go to the Apple WWW site and enter the serial number of your ipod (found on the back). The WWW site will then give you all the information available on it.

Alternativly you can tell which generation it is by comparing the ipod you have with the below identification guide

Original iPods

1. Identify a 1st Generation iPod: 
   • A monochrome screen.
   • A scroll wheel that physically turns.
   • Control buttons placed around the scroll wheel
   • Either 5 or 10GB capacity.
   • A firewire connection.
   • Only in white.
    
2. Identify a 2nd Generation iPod: 
   • The scroll wheel replaced with a touch wheel (no physical movement), otherwise identical to generation 1.
    
3. Identify a 3rd Generation iPod: 
   • A monochrome screen.
   • A touch wheel.
   • Control buttons in a row directly below the screen.
   • The fireWire port has a cover.
   • The Dock Connector port was introduced.
   • 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 GB capacities.
    
4. Identify a 4th Generation iPod: 
   • A monochrome screen (although some are colour)
   • A touch wheel.
   • The hold switch is on the top right side.
    
5. Identify a 5th Generation iPod: 
   • Check if it plays movies. Known as the Video iPod or iPod Video, if your iPod plays movies it is a fifth generation iPod.
   • A large "wide-screen" color display.
   • A click wheel.
   • Uses USB for synching.
   • Only available in black and white.
    
6. Identify the 80GB iPod 5.5:
   • An 80GB hard drive.
   • Look for a very large, wide-screen color display.
   • A click Wheel.
   • Can display photos and videos.
   • Uses USB for synching.
   • Only available in black and white.
   • You can distinguish the new 80 gig version from the original 5th generation by the serial number. 80 gig versions have serial numbers ending in:
     • V9K
     • V9P
     • V9M
     • V9R
     • V9L
     • V9N
     • V9Q
     • V9S
     • WU9
     • WUA
     • WUB
     • WUC
     • X3N

Ipod Minis

1. Identify a 1st Generation iPod Mini:
   • A monochrome screen.
   • The hold switch is on the top left side.
   • A click wheel.
   • The button labels are on the click wheel itself.
   • Available in multiple colors.
   • No shiny underside.
   • USB 2.0 to Dock Connector cable
   • 4 GB Capacity.
2. Identify a 2nd Generation iPod Mini:
   • The drive size is laser etched on the back.
   • The click wheel text color matches iPods color.
   • 4 and 6 gig

Ipod Nanos

1. Identify a 1st Generation iPod Nano: 
   • Smaller than an iPod Mini.
   • A click wheel.
   • A color screen.
   • Very thin.
   • Has a shiny underside.
   • The dock connector and headphone jack are on the underside.
   • Synching with USB 2 and not firewire.
   • Available in only black and white.
   • Uses internal flash memory and not a hard drive.
   • Lyrics support.
    
2. Identify a 2nd Generation iPod Nano: 
   • No shiny underside.
   • An anodized aluminum case.
   • Available in six colors.
   • A brighter screen than first generation.
   • A longer battery life.
   • A music search function.
   • Rounded edges
    
3. Identify a 3rd Generation iPod Nano:
   • Wider and shorter than a first and second generation Nano.
   • Can play videos.
   • Has cover flow.
4. Identify a 4th Generation iPod Nano: 
   • Available in 9 colors.
   • Like the 2nd generation Nano, but with a portrait screen.
   • Curved shape.
   • Available in 8 or 16GB
    

1. Identify a 5th Generation iPod Nano:
   • Exactly the same as a 4th Gen, but has a small camera on the back. Available in several colors.

Ipod Shuffles

1. Identify a 1st Generation iPod Shuffle:
   • No display.
   • LED lights on the front and the back.
   • The drive capacity is engraved on the front USB connector.
   • Smaller than the iPod mini.
   • Only in white.
2. Identify a 2nd Generation iPod Shuffle:
   • Has a clip on the back.
   • Is either silver, green, orange, pink or blue.
   • Is about matchbox-sized.

Other iPods

1. Identify an iPod Photo:
   • Resembles a 4th Generation iPod.
   • Boasts a color screen.
   • Displays photographs.

Tips

• iPod Photos and the color 4G iPods have no differences in design, apart from hard drive size.

Warnings

• If your iPod is not made by Apple Computer, or by HP, then it is not an iPod, even if it looks like one.