5 Reasons to Buy Apple's New iPod Touch

Apple just announced a new iPod touch, which adds an A10 processor but retains the little device's small and light form factor, low price, and good ol' 3.5mm headphone jack.

The iPod touch has always been popular among parents who want a smartphone-like device for their kids without the monthly service plan or all-day 4G LTE access. You can use an old iPhone for that, but the new iPod touch starts at $199. An iPhone 7, which has the same processor and thus the same power as the iPod touch, costs $449 new and starts at $279 for used models on Gazelle.

While I know a lot of people who would prefer a new iPhone SE, I think the iPod touch is what they're going to get for now. Apple wants to keep its iPhone average selling prices high for Wall Street, which means not releasing a lower-priced iPhone. But the iPod touch isn't an iPhone, so Apple can satisfy its customers without angering investors with dropping average iPhone prices.

The new iPod touch, available now, fits into a lot of little, narrow cracks in Apple's market, though, and I think it will please a lot of people. We don't have ours yet, and I'll do a full review as soon as we do. But honestly, I don't think it will disappoint. If you're not convinced why it's important, here are some key reasons.

It's small

The iPhone SE is the only device with a 4-inch screen left in Apple's lineup. So for those who want a very portable device that fits on an exercise arm strap, for example, the new iPod touch is the best bet.

It's upgradeable

The previous iPod touch's A8 processor only supported up to iOS 12. The new one will probably go up to iOS 14, which means the new iPod touch will support Apple's subscription Apple Arcade gaming service and any new iOS 13 features announced at Apple's WWDC conference next week. (Apple hasn't said which devices will support Apple Arcade; we're sure this one will, but not sure about the older iPod touch.)

It still works as a phone, without any monthly fees

The iPod touch can't connect to cellular networks. But it has iMessage and FaceTime, including FaceTime Audio, over Wi-Fi. For a traditional phone number, you can add the Skype or Sideline apps.

It offers support and parental controls

The iPod touch is spectacularly popular among families with younger kids in the US, because of Apple's network of stores and Genius Bars, and iOS's easy-to-use parental control options. Yes, parents could get cheap Android phones with no SIMs, but here in the US, those often have poor or no customer and technical support, and not much of a user community around them.

You join the iPhone club for under $200

Many teen and tween social groups rely on iMessage, and use its over-the-top messaging features such as reactions and read receipts, which don't appear in SMS on Android phones. Having an iPod touch keeps you in the loop without going full iPhone.

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