iPod nano 4th gen or 5th gen

[cellmate75]

OK I was wondering is there a huge difference between the two besides the camera? Should I just go with the 4th gen. because I don't care for the camera. How much if the 4th gen?

[Code Monkey]

Ignoring the camera for the moment, do you plan to watch video on the device? If the answer is yes, get the 5th gen, if not, the only thing you'll be out is the camera and the support for Genius Mixes (which is really just an automated version of what the Genius Playlist function on the 4G already does).

The screen is considerably wider on the 5G, nearly 20% wider than on the 4G, and that means less severe letterboxing when you watch videos that are wider than a 4:3 aspect ratio. As someone who has come to love watching video on his 4G, let me tell you what feature I really covet from the 5G model...

[cellmate75]

OK so what about battery life? The reason I am really getting it is because I have an iphone 3g and I listen to music and watch videos because I also travel but it kills the battery so I can't use it for what it's really for. Calling and what not. And I do like watching movies. And how is the price a huge difference between too? If so how much? I don't know how much a nano 4g is because I can't find them any where. I know they are at my local wal-mart but I haven't gone yet.

[Code Monkey]

Battery life is marginally better on the 5G. They claim 5 versus 4 for video so either way it's not a dedicated video player, but a few hours a day still leaves plenty of juice for audio. If you want a 4G, grab a refurb from Apple ($129 for the 16GB and it's just like new, even with a full year's warranty). 5G is $179 for the 16GB. Basically, you're looking at $50 difference for the wider screen, video camera, and Genius Mixes.

[cellmate75]

Ok thanks man! I think I'll get the 5g refurb. How much is an 8GB refurb? And how do I get a refurb?

[speedythecat]

I think the 8GB refurbs are only $99. I think the $30 to double the capacity to 16GB refurb would be worth it for most people. By the same token I think it's worth the extra $50 at that point to get the 5G 16GB (NEW) which gives you the bigger screen, video camera, better finish, pedometer, built-in speaker, voice recorder, and FM radio which I read works really well. I think all of those are 5G exclusive features but I may be wrong. I'm trying to sort it all out myself.

It is very tempting to jump on the 8GB refurb for only $99, but I could use the 16GB and as said, can get a lot more features for an additional $50 with the new 5G. Like anything else you can keep throwing money at it and it keeps getting better.

8GB sounds small and it is by today's standards I guess but I have had a blast with my lowly 2nd gen Nano that is only 4 GB and has no video. I'm sure once I upgrde I will wonder how I ever lived this way.

[Code Monkey]

Oh yeah, I did forget radio and pedometer - both seem so pointless to me that I haven't been considering them next to the wider screen.

[tjm61]

If the only problem with using your iPhone for music/videos/etc. is battery life, you could buy a few rechargeable battery packs for half the price of a nano. Just putting that out there.

Regarding 4g vs 5g battery life: I'm hoping the 5g is better, and plan to get one soon to find out. I currently have a 2g (8gig) that has an awesome battery life, since the screen uses much less power. I tried a 4g when they first came out (wanted 16gig capacity), but soon returned it for poor battery life. Even though I used it exclusively for music, the screen use when browsing music, etc. really cut down the 24 hrs. I could only get ~2.5hrs video out of the thing. So "real battery life" for music only was ~6hrs. If the 5g makes it 8 - 10hrs, it might be workable. The increased spec from 4hr video for the 4g to 5 hrs for the 5g gives me hope.

Regards,
Tom