iPod · The Digital Hub · 2007
iPod classic
The hard-drive iPod’s final, definitive form: a sleek metal "classic" holding 40,000 songs. Apple quietly sold it, unchanged, until 2014 — long after the iPhone made it redundant.
iPod classic: key facts
When was the iPod classic released?
The iPod classic was released in September 5, 2007. Apple discontinued it in September 2014.
How much did the iPod classic cost?
The iPod classic launched at $249 in 2007 — about $383 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What are the iPod classic’s specs?
The iPod classic used a ARM running at 80 MHz, with 64 MB of memory and 160 GB of storage. It ran iPod software.
Why does the iPod classic matter?
Anodised metal body, Cover Flow browsing, and up to 160 GB of music.
Full specifications
| CPU | ARM · 80 MHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 1 |
| Memory (RAM) | 64 MB |
| Storage | 160 GB |
| Display | 2.5" colour LCD, 320×240 |
| GPU | Integrated |
| Ports | 30-pin dock connector |
| Weight | 140 g |
| Dimensions | 10.4×6.1×1.0 cm |
| Operating system | iPod software |
| Released | September 5, 2007 |
| Discontinued | September 2014 |
| Launch price | $249 |
How the iPod classic compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 256× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 80 MHz, the clock is roughly 40× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro — and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 41,000 modern phone photos — a respectable library even today.
Launched at $249 in 2007 — about $383 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Cross-architecture speed figures are clock-only and approximate; inflation figures use US CPI.
Did you know?
When discontinued, prices spiked — nothing else held an entire library offline.
Related iPod models
Open the iPod classic in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-06-25