Apple iPod through its 21 years – in pictures

Popular audio device will be discontinued once supplies of the iPod Touch run out

The Apple iPod 1st generation was released October 23, 2001. It cost $399, and had 5GB storage holding 1,000 songs. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod 2nd generation was released July 17, 2002. It came with 10GB of storage for $399 and later a 20GB version was released for $499. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod 3rd generation was released April 28, 2003 and started making use of the iTunes store. It was the first to have an all-touch wheel to scroll. Prices ranged from $299 to $499 depending on storage size. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod mini 1st generation was released January 6, 2004. This was the first time the click wheel was used and the pod came in five different colours - blue, pink, silver, green, and gold. It sold for $249. Photo: Getty Images

The Apple iPod 4th generation was released July 19, 2004. The function buttons were moved on to the wheel. A 20 GB model sold for $299, while a 40 GB model was available for $399. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod 4th generation with a colour screen was released October 26, 2004. Album covers could be seen for the first time and the shuffle function was introduced. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod U2 Edition was released at the same time as the 4th generation. It held up to 5,000 songs and featured a black enclosure with a red click wheel and custom engraving of U2 band member signatures. It retailed at $349. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod shuffle 1st generation was released January 11, 2005. A first entry to the low-end market, it had no screen and just buttons to play / pause, next song or previous. The 512MB model sold for $99, while the 1GB model sold for $149. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod mini 2nd generation was released February 22, 2005. It had just minor changes from the first generation mini, and the 4GB version sold for $199, while the 6GB model sold for $249. Photo: Getty Images

The Apple iPod 6th generation was released September 5, 2007. It came in a 160GB model for $349. Photo: Apple

The Apple Nano iPod 1st generation was released September 7, 2005. This was a super thin iPod at just 0.27in thick. It used flash memory for storage, and sold at $199 and $249 for 4BG and 6GB respectively. Photo: Getty Images

The Apple iPod 5th generation was released October 12, 2005. This had a larger screen, smaller wheel and played video. In 2005, Apple also released the iPod nano and iPod shuffle. Photo: Apple

The Apple Nano iPod 2nd generation was released September 12, 2006. More colour options were added, plus an 8GB version for $249. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod shuffle 2nd generation was released September 12, 2006. A small, clip-on size was introduced in a variety of colours. A dock replaced the integrated USB connector. With 1GB is was $79. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod Nano 3rd generation was released September 5, 2007. A big change in shape to allow video display. The 4GB model was $149, while the 8GB model was $199. Photo: Getty Images

The Apple iPod Touch 1st generation was released September 5, 2007. It was basically the iPhone without the camera and phone capabilities. An 8GB model sold for $299, and a 16 GB model sold for $399. Photo: Apple

The Apple Nano iPod 4th generation was released September 9, 2008. It was a return to the rectangular shape, while the "Genius" playlist option was introduced. It had bigger capacity, came in nine colours and was $149 and $199 for 8GB and 16GB respectively. Photo: Getty Images

The Apple iPod Touch 2nd generation was released September 9, 2008. It featured the new iPhone 2.0 OS and a curved back. An 8GB model was $229, a 16GB model was $299, and a 32GB model was $399. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod shuffle 3rd generation was released March 11, 2009. A shape change saw it go back to rectangular. It included Apple's new VoiceOver feature, with song title, artist, and playlist title spoken aloud. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod Nano 5th generation was released September 9, 2009. An integrated video camera, FM radio and pedometer were added. 8GB and 16 GB cost $149 and $179 respectively. Photo: Getty Images

The Apple iPod Touch 3rd generation was released September 9, 2009. Faster and with greater capacity, it came in 32GB and 64GB for $299 and $399 respectively. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod Nano 6th generation was released September 1, 2010. It was goodbye click wheel and hello touch screen. The camera was removed, while it was sold in seven colors, in capacities of 8 and 16 GB, for $149 and $179, respectively. Photo: Getty Images

The Apple iPod shuffle 4th generation was released September 1, 2010. It shrunk in size again and was sold with 2GB of storage for $49, in five colours. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod Touch 4th generation was released September 1, 2010. It brought in iPhone 4 enhancements such as retina display, front and rear cameras. 8GB was $229, 32GB was $299 and 64GB $399. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod Nano 7th generation was released September 12, 2012. Another change in shape - back to tall and thin. It sold in eight colours, with 16GB of storage for $149. Photo: Getty Images

The Apple iPod Touch 5th generation was released September 12, 2012. A bigger 4in screen was added, plus Bluetooth 4.0 and the lightning connector. 32GB was $299 and 64GB $399. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod Touch 6th generation was released July 15, 2015. The A8 processor found in the iPhone 6 was brought in, plus better cameras. 16 GB was sold for $199, 32 GB for $249, 64GB for $299 and 128GB for $399. Photo: Apple

The Apple iPod Touch 7th generation was released May 28, 2019. The quad-core A10 chip from the iPhone 7 was used, and Apple said it had a 40-hour battery life for music. It coincided with the launch of Apple Arcade games. 32, 128, and 256GB cost $199, $299 and $399 respectively. Photo: Apple

For those of a certain age, the Apple iPod in 2001 felt as revolutionary as the iPhone did when it was launched a few years later.

Gone were the days of lugging about a cassette tape player — commonly known as a Walkman — with its crackly sound and big buttons. How did that clunky object fit in a pocket?

The discman — a portable way of listening to CDs — improved the quality and was needed, given tapes were on the way out, but again, how could you carry one around without it becoming a hassle?

The mini disc player solved that issue, but copying CDs on to the discs was time consuming and a disc collection had to be stored and carried around.

The iPod solved all of these problems, until Apple slowly made the iPod redundant by eclipsing its own product with the evolution of the iPhone.

Apple recently announced plans to discontinue the iPod Touch, the last of the product line, finalising its demise. It will stay on sale until supplies run out, and is available for $199.

The iPod has come in different versions over the years, with the first one sporting a grey screen resembling an Amazon Kindle before heading on a colourful journey with a variety of shapes and sizes.

To see all the different generations of the iPod, scroll through the slide show at the top

From 2007, when the iPod started to resemble the iPhone, its prospects dimmed, although Apple ploughed on with smaller, cheaper versions, such as the nano and shuffle.

“Music has always been part of our core at Apple, and bringing it to hundreds of millions of users in the way iPod did impacted more than just the music industry — it also redefined how music is discovered, listened to and shared,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing.

“Today, the spirit of iPod lives on. We’ve integrated an incredible music experience across all of our products, from the iPhone to the Apple Watch to HomePod mini, and across Mac, iPad, and Apple TV. And Apple Music delivers industry-leading sound quality with support for spatial audio — there’s no better way to enjoy, discover and experience music.”