iPod nano 7th generation review roundup
Just over a month on from their unveiling alongside the iPhone 5, Apple’s new iPods are finally shipping. Yesterday we published a review roundup for the fifth-generation iPod touch, and today the spotlight is on the seventh-generation iPod nano. Compared to the previous generation nano, the new model sports a completely different form factor, with a taller 2.5-inch screen, and more physical buttons.
Here are a few quotes from some of the first reviews.
Nilay Patel – The Verge
“If you’re cool with managing files, the new iPod nano is the best dedicated music player on the market. It’s the sort of product that only Apple can make; a seamless slice of metal and plastic that feels essentially inevitable once you hold it.” – Full review
Tim Stevens – Engadget
“Depending on how you look at it, this new seventh-generation iPod nano is either the latest, most optimal design of the long-running series, or it’s Apple’s latest shot in the dark. Even the cynics will have to agree this is a pretty good shot, thinner than ever and packing more functionality than in the past — including Bluetooth 4.0.” – Full review
Jamie Lendino – PC Mag
“With its latest model, Apple has finally fixed the iPod nano. The 5th- and 6th-generation MP3 players were a radical rethink that didn’t work all that well; Apple tossed the click wheel design that the first four nano generations used, and replaced it with a tiny, square screen that was too small to view or control comfortably. The 7th-generation nano ($149 direct, 16GB) fixes this problem with another full-scale redesign that includes a larger, sharper touch screen.” – Full review
Jim Dalrymple – The Loop
“The new iPod nano reminds me a lot of that first generation model, albeit with better design and technology. The iPod nano literally fits in the palm of my hand — it’s really tiny, but since the large screen takes up almost the entire face of the device, it’s very easy to navigate and use.” – Full review
Donald Bell – CNET
“The seventh-generation iPod Nano is a fine product, but I’m not entirely sure who it’s for. It comes across like a breeding experiment between an iPod Shuffle and iPod Touch. The kid is cute, but I think most people will be better served by its parents.” – Full review
Jeremy Horwitz – iLounge
“The seventh-generation iPod nano isn’t the best or the worst nano Apple’s ever made—it’s someplace in the middle, and from our perspective, towards the lower middle of the pack given its price tag and features. Viewed most generously, it offers small improvements relative to the fifth-generation nano it most resembles, losing several big features such as an integrated speaker, video camera, and game playing capabilities, while gaining a modestly larger screen and a generally very-well executed Bluetooth wireless mode.” – Full review
So, while these particular reviews are by no means unanimous in their praise of the seventh-generation iPod nano, most seem to agree that it’s the best dedicated music player on the market.
Do make sure you read the reviews in full, especially iLounge’s, which is one of the most exhaustive and comprehensive write-ups we’ve seen for the new device.
Have you ordered yours yet?
