Friday, November 14, 2025

iPod Touch 4G RETRO REVIEW then and now

 iPod Touch 4G  RETRO REVIEW

There are devices that don't just play music or run apps, but transport us to a specific era. The iPod Touch 4G , introduced in 2010, is one such device. Today, it may seem like a relic of the past, but back then... it was simply a small revolution.

Design – an ultra-thin gadget that made an impression

Back when phones were still massive and the iPhone 4 was brand new, the iPod Touch 4G was a delight:

  • a thin, only 7.2 mm housing ,

  • a shiny steel back (which scratched just by looking at it),

  • lightweight construction – the device weighed like nothing.

Holding it in your hand still gives you the same feeling: how did they make it so light in 2010?

Retina display – the magic of sharpness

The 4G was the first iPod Touch with a Retina display , meaning 960x640 pixels on 3.5 inches.
At the time? Absolute wow.

Today, the technology's age is certainly evident, with a lack of True Tone, low brightness, and a small diagonal. But text sharpness is still impressive on such a small panel.

A camera that… just was

Apple finally added a camera. Unfortunately:

  • rear: 0.7 MP , 720p recordings,

  • front: VGA , perfect for FaceTime and… for taking a selfie once a year

The camera was already weak back then, but the very fact that it was there seemed to be a breakthrough.

Multimedia – here the iPod was king

While Spotify and Apple Music are everywhere today, the iPod Touch 4G was:

  • pocket iPod,

  • a miniature iPhone without a phone,

  • a machine for music, podcasts and movies.

Apps ran smoothly on iOS 4–6. App Store games—Fruit Ninja, Temple Run, Angry Birds—played beautifully.
Back then, it was the cheapest ticket into the Apple ecosystem .

Battery – this is where nostalgia loses out to reality

Even on launch day, the battery was mediocre. Today, if it's original, it probably lasts 30-60 minutes when in use, and when it's on and not in use, it magically lasts for a few weeks.
But that's normal: time has done its job.

Performance – A4 and 256 MB RAM

Equipment used to be fast . Today
:

  • Safari barely loads modern pages, 

  • most applications have been discontinued for a long time,

  • The App Store is practically dead. Not even practically dead, just completely dead.

But… as a retro gadget? It's still satisfying.

Why does it still arouse emotions?

Because the iPod Touch 4G is:

  • symbol of the "Retina era",

  • the hardware of the first mobile games,

  • cheap "iPhone for kids",

  • musical classic.

And, most importantly, it has something that many of today's devices lack: simplicity and character .

Summary (retro style)

The iPod Touch 4G was a miniature revolution .
Today, it's a beautiful reminder of a time when iOS was light and colorful, and every Apple device had its own distinct charm.

Overall rating: strong 8/10 because the iTunes AppStore doesn't work, but you can make FaceTime calls and send text messages via iMessage. 

And if you want to fix the App Store on it, I refer you to the material that you can find  HERE

Skyglow Repo Link in Cydia

http://cydia.skyglow.es/

Tweaks to fix weather, maps, and stock market

MapsX

StocksX

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