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Apple iPod touch 3rd Gen/32 & 64 GB 32 GB, 64 GB Specs

Identifiers: 3rd Gen (Late 2009) - MC008LL/A* - iPod3,1 - A1318 - 2310

All iPod touch Models | All 2009 iPod Models | Dynamically Compare This iPod to Others

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Apple iPod touch 3rd GenThe iPod touch 3rd Generation (Late 2009) models -- please note that this model does not have 3G networking support -- were marketed with an increased emphasis on gaming rather than the "iPhone without a phone" pitch provided by previous iPod touch models. Nevertheless, they offer much of the same functionality of the iPhone 3GS, minus the "phone", mobile phone networking (3G/EDGE), A-GPS, digital compass, and integrated camera.

Although they were initially sold effectively as a single lineup with 8 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB of storage, the 8 GB model is different in some respects. Most notably, the 32 GB and 64 GB models are the same externally as the iPod touch 2nd Generation but have innards more in common with the iPhone 3GS with advertised "50% faster performance" and OpenGL ES 2.0 support for better graphics performance (courtesy of the same 800 MHz Samsung ARM processor that powers the iPhone 3GS). In addition, the 32 GB and 64 GB configurations fully support iOS 4 and iOS 5, whereas the 8 GB configuration does not.

Like the iPod touch 2nd Generation, the iPod touch 3rd Generation models feature the same "multi-touch" sensitive 3.5" display with 320x480 resolution, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, and support for 802.11b/g (hardware-capable of 802.11n as well).

In addition to superior performance when compared to their predecessors, the 32 GB and 64 GB configurations also added Voice Control capability for voice navigation and a "VoiceOver" screen reader for the visually impared and shipped with the same "Earphones with Remote and Mic" as the iPhone 3GS.

Battery life is an Apple-estimated 30 hours for music playback and 6 hours for video.

Also see:

  • What are the differences between the iPod touch 3rd Generation (A1318/Late 2009) and the iPod touch 2nd Generation (A1288)?
  • What are the differences between the iPod touch 3rd Generation (Late 2009) and the iPhone 3GS?



  • Tech Specs
  • Global Original Prices
  • Popular Q&As

Click on a category for related details. The most commonly needed info is "open" by default, but all info is important. Asterisks (*) reference data in details fields.


September 9, 2009 September 1, 2010
Details: The "Introduction Date" refers to the date a model was introduced via press release. The "Discontinued Date" refers to the date a model either was replaced by a subsequent system or production otherwise ended.

Also see: All iPhone models introduced in 2009.
1 278
Details: Geekbench 2 provides 32-bit benchmarks for iOS models. This number is an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all Geekbench 2 user submissions for devices with the iPod3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare Geekbench 2 results from different iPod touch, iPhone and iPad models side-by-side, please see Everyi.com's Ultimate iComparison.
N/A N/A
Details: The Geekbench 3 benchmark does not support this iPod touch. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all 32-bit single core and multicore Geekbench 3 user submissions for devices with the iPod3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare 32-bit Geekbench 3 results from different iPod touch, iPhone and iPad models side-by-side, see Everyi.com's Ultimate iComparison.
N/A N/A
Details: The Geekbench 4 benchmark does not support this iPod touch model. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 4 user submissions for devices with the iPod3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare Geekbench 4 results from different iPod touch, iPhone and iPad models side-by-side, see Everyi.com's Ultimate iComparison.
N/A N/A
Details: The Geekbench 5 benchmark does not support this iPod touch model. Both numbers reflect an average of user provided results as submitted to the Geekbench website. Higher numbers are better.

You also might be interested in reviewing all single core and multicore Geekbench 5 user submissions for devices with the iPod3,1 Model Identifier, which may include multiple models.

To dynamically compare Geekbench 5 results from different iPod touch, iPhone and iPad models side-by-side, see Everyi.com's Ultimate iComparison.
800 MHz Samsung ARM*
Details: *Apple provides no information on the processor used in the iPod touch 3rd Gen models, but third-party "teardowns" indicate that the 32 GB and 64 GB configurations use an Apple branded Samsung ARM processor running at 800 MHz (the same processor used by the iPhone 3GS, but not downclocked to preserve battery life).

For more information, please refer to the disassembly "guide" from iFixIt.
256 MB* 32 GB, 64 GB
Details: *Apple provides no information regarding the RAM used in the iPod touch 3rd Gen, but software analysis has determined that the 32 GB and 64 GB models have the same 256 MB as the iPhone 3GS.

Also see: Is it possible to add external storage to the iPod touch? How?
7000, 14,000 40,000, 90,000
Details: Apple reports that the 32 GB iPod touch 3rd Gen model can hold "up to" 7000 songs and the 64 GB model "up to" 14,000 songs in "128-Kbps AAC format". Likewise, the 32 GB model can hold as many as 40,000 photos and the 64 GB model can hold as many as 90,000 photos.

Additionally, Apple reports that the 32 GB model can hold "up to" 40 hours of video and the 64 GB model "up to" 80 hours of video.
Sync & Charge None
Details: The iPod touch 3rd Gen is capable of charging and syncing by USB via the dock connector, but it cannot sync or charge via Firewire "400". It does not offer a "disk mode" for file transfer.
USB, Audio* Dock, Headphone*
Details: *Note that the iPod touch 3rd Gen models do not support video out via the headphone jack, they only provide video out via the dock connector. The 32 GB and 64 GB configurations shipped with the same "Earphones with Remote and Mic" as the iPhone 3GS.
Handheld iPod touch 3rd Gen
Details: N/A
Black Multi-touch
Details: The patented "multi-touch" interface allows one to control the functions of the system by dragging one or more fingers across the display.

Also see: How does the "multi-touch" interface introduced with the iPhone work? Who developed the "multi-touch" interface originally?
3.5" Color 320x480 (163 ppi)
Details: The iPod touch 3rd Gen models have a 3.5" 320 by 480 at 163 ppi resolution display, identical to that provided by the iPod touch 2nd Gen models.
802.11b/g* 2.1+EDR
Details: *The iPod touch 3rd Gen models are advertised as having 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR support. However, third-party teardowns have discovered that the Broadcom BCM4329 chip that provides 802.11b/g is capable of 802.11n as well. It is not supported in software, however.
None None
Details: The iPod touch 3rd Gen does not have mobile phone capabilities or an integrated camera.
Lithium Ion 30 Hours
Details: The iPod touch 3rd Gen models officially provide an Apple-estimated 30 hours of battery life for music playback and 6 hours for video playback.

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells replacement batteries (as well as displays) for this iPod.
N/A 6 Hours
Details: Apple does not provide estimated battery life for photo playback or web browsing, but does estimate "up to" 6 hours of video playback.
MC008LL/A* 3rd Gen (Late 2009)
Details: *MC008LL/A refers to the 32 GB configuration of the iPod touch 3rd Gen. The 64 GB configuration is assigned MC011LL/A.
A1318 (EMC 2310) iPod3,1
Details: Please note that these identifiers refer to more than one model.

Also see: All iPod touch models with the A1318 Model Number, the 2310 EMC Number, and the iPod3,1 Model Identifier.
iPhone OS 3.1.1 (7C145) iOS 5.1.1
Details: The 32 GB and 64 GB configurations of the iPod touch 3rd Generation are fully supported by the last version of iOS 5. They are not supported running iOS 6 or subsequent versions of the operating system. The 8 GB configuration is not even supported by iOS 5.
4.3 x 2.4 x 0.33 4.05 oz. (115 g)
Details: In inches - height by width by depth (110 x 61.8 x 8.5 mm).
Mac OS X 10.4.11 Windows XP SP3/Vista
Details: Apple reports that the iPod touch 3rd Gen models are compatible with a "Macintosh computer with a USB 2.0 port, MacOS X 10.4.11 or later, and iTunes 9 or later."

It is compatible with a "PC with USB 2.0, Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional with Service Pack 3 or later, and iTunes 9 or later."
Apple reports that the iPod touch 3rd Gen supports "AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV."
Apple reports that the iPod touch models sync iPod-viewable photos in "JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PSD (Mac only), and PNG formats".
Apple reports that the iPod touch 3rd Gen supports "H.264 video, up to 1.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Low-Complexity version of the H.264 Baseline Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; H.264 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Baseline Profile up to Level 3.0 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats."
All iPod touch 3rd Gen models ship with a USB 2.0 cable and a dock adapter. The 32 GB and 64 GB models ship with a pair of "Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic" as well. The polishing cloth provided by the iPod touch 2nd Gen is no longer included.

In the US (and many other countries), site sponsor Other World Computing sells accessories like cables, headphones, speakers and more for this iPod touch.

Also see: What is the best external keyboard for the iPod touch?
US$299, $399 N/A
Details: The 16 GB iPod touch 3rd Gen originally was offered for US$299 and the 32 GB for US$399.

Please note that on average the estimated current retail pricing of used systems is updated twice a year (please refer to the date on the bottom of the page for the date last updated).

Photo Credit: Apple Computer.



Global original prices for the iPod touch 3rd Gen/32 & 64 GB in 34 different countries and territories follow; organized alphabetically by region. Please note that prices with an asterisk (*) are bound by carrier contractual obligations.

For global original prices for all iPod, iPhone, and iPad models in one particular country on a single page, please refer to Everyi.com's Global Original Prices section.

If you have additional original prices for this iPod touch, please share. Thank you.


Original Prices - North & South America

C$329, C$429 N/A
N/A US$299, $399

Original Prices - Europe

€289, €379 €279, €369
DKK 2,099, 2,799 €299, €399
€289, €379 €279, €369
€279, €369 €279, €369
N/A €279, €369
NOK 2.490, 3.290 €279, €369
€269, €359 SEK 3.095, 4.195
CHF 399, 549 £229, £299

Original Prices - Asia

RMB 2,398, RMB 3,198 HK$2,288, HK$3,088
Rs 18,400, 24,400 N/A
¥29,800, ¥39,800 KRW 449,000, 599,000
N/A N/A
N/A NT$12,390, NT$16,590
N/A N/A

Original Prices - Australia & New Zealand

A$399, A$549 NZ$519, NZ$699


Ten of the most popular Q&As about the iPod touch line follow.




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