Using a iPod Classic in 2023
Summary:
The iPod Classic is a timeless and beautifully designed device that perfectly complements other Apple products. Its white color instantly evokes the iconic iPod image, while the click wheel, despite its age, provides a soothing and tactile experience. The aluminum body not only adds a good weight to the device but also showcases character through dings and scratches. While the 30-pin connector feels outdated, the presence of the headphone jack is appreciated. On the computer, the iPod Classic is recognized by Apple Silicon-based Macs in Finder, though integration with Apple Music is lacking. The listening experience is remarkable, with the click wheel navigation and satisfying clicks feeling familiar and nostalgic. Despite some limitations, such as poor shuffle functionality, the device can store an impressive number of songs, and music sounds crisp and great through the headphone jack. Overall, the iPod Classic's design, computer experience, and listening experience combine to create a truly iconic and memorable device.
Design:
The iPod Classic features an absolutely beautiful and timeless design. When I place it next to my MacBook, they complement each other perfectly. I went with the white iPod because that is what instantly comes to mind when I think of an iPod. Despite the decades, the click wheel still feels incredible and soothing to the touch. The choice of aluminum and stainless steel for the body was excellent, giving it a good weight in the palm, but it still shows character with its dings and scratches. While reviewing the device, the screen really stood out to me. Although it can be challenging to see on a sunny day, it remains viewable on overcast days. The 30-pin connector is outdated, but it charges the device at a decent pace. It’s nice to see our little friend, the headphone jack.
Listening Experience:
The listening experience with the iPod Classic is truly remarkable. Using the click wheel to navigate and hearing the satisfying clicks, browsing through albums to find the right one—it all feels so familiar. The only algorithm at play here is the shuffle mode, which does a pretty poor job of shuffling the music, it always feels like it lands on the same song. With the 30 GB version, you can store an impressive 7500 songs in your pocket. Music sounds crisp and great through the headphone jack, with zero complaints. This was also the first time I listened to podcasts on an iPod, and it felt strange yet intriguing to hear discussions about Apple's visionary products. One revolutionary product after another, eh?
However, I have to be honest with you—it can be quite a grind to transfer songs to the iPod. It took me over an hour to organize 3 albums. When I first started, including the artists, album names, and cover art. But let's face it—the cover art is one of the reasons to have an iPod, right? It can be an adventure to find old CDs or MP3s to put onto the device. Good luck!
User Interface (UI):
I have the 5th generation iPod Classic, and its user interface is super minimal. During music playback, you'll see cover art, but not for podcasts. Personally, I believe the last version of the iPod Classic had the best user interface, showcasing flow and functionality. However, podcasts are not given their own separate tab in the front menu, which causes some friction. It requires drilling down into the menu to find what I'm looking for, instead of a quick glance at the cover art. Going from song to song is easy, but going from song to podcast is cumbersome. This issue could have been resolved if the iPod Classic allowed for queuing up songs, but unfortunately, that feature is not available.
Lack of Voice Notes:
Unfortunately, voice notes are only available in the last iteration of the iPod Classic. I had hoped to use it as a solution to rely less on my phone, even getting headphones specifically for that purpose.
Headphones:
Speaking of headphones, the iPod Classic does not support Bluetooth. Personally, I wanted the full iPod experience, so I went on Amazon to search for "AirPods with wire", that’s not a product (they are actually called EarPods, I'll link them below). Using EarPods, I got the whole experience, but some things never change. EarPods tend to fall out, get tangled, and caught in your backpack. However, there's a little hack I discovered (insert "string around the ear" hack) that solves all these problems.
Battery:
The battery life of the iPod Classic was pretty great for me—around 3-4 days. I would charge it, but since the iPod doesnt stop playing after I unplug it from my aux cable I would just burn through the battery. I believe it's still the original battery inside, but it did occasionally put it to sleep. Pressing the play/pause button helped get it back up and running.
Cables:
Oh man, I wanted to reduce the number of cables in my life, but the iPod Classic forced me to add more. And it's the good old 30-pin connector that I don't love. The first time I unplugged the iPod, I was reminded that I had to hold down the two clips at the end to detach it. If you don't have the original 30-pin connector, I'll provide a link below for an alternative.
Computer Experience:
I wanted to briefly mention my experience with the iPod Classic on the computer. Yes, Apple Silicon-based Macs running Venture still recognize the iPod, but it's not through iTunes since it doesn't exist anymore. Instead, it appears in Finder. I have videos below demonstrating the process of adding music and notes, but I must say this is the first time the ecosystem feels a bit scattered. I have no clue why Apple Music doesn't integrate well with the iPod.
Price:
Determining how much to spend on old devices involves many variables. Personally, I wouldn't spend over $120 on an iPod Classic. However, what's neat is that many people out there are upgrading the batteries and installing SSDs in their iPod Classics, so you might get lucky with one of those.
The iPod was truly a revolutionary product. I don't remember paying attention to adults during my teenage years, but Steve Jobs grabbed my attention when he said, "You can carry 1000s of songs in your pocket. It's iPod.” I didn't even know what it was back then, but I knew it was cool. Now, I think it’s a great piece of history.
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