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iPod Mini

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Not to be confused with iPad Mini.

iPod mini
iPod Mini in Silver
ManufacturerApple Inc.
Product familyiPod
TypeDigital audio player
LifespanFebruary 20, 2004 – September 7, 2005 (1 year, 6 months)
MediaMicrodrive hard drive (either 4 or 6 GB)
Operating system1.4.1
Display1.67" monochrome LCD at 138 x 110 pixels
InputClick wheel
ConnectivityUSB 2.0
FireWire
Dock connector
Remote connector
PowerLithium-ion battery
Model NumberA1051
SuccessoriPod Nano
This article is part of a series on the
iPod
List of iPod models

The iPod Mini (stylized and marketed as the iPod mini) is a digital audio player that was designed and marketed by Apple Inc. It was positioned as a smaller, midrange model in Apple's iPod product line to complement the iPod Classic. The device was announced on January 6, 2004, and released on February 20 of the same year.[1][2] A second generation version with enhanced battery life and increased storage was released on February 23, 2005.[3] While it was in production, it was one of the most popular electronic products on the market, with consumers often unable to find a retailer with the product in stock.[4]

The iPod Mini was the first iPod device to use the click wheel, which was developed for Apple by Synaptics. It combined the touch-sensitive scroll wheel of the third generation iPod with buttons located beneath the wheel. This interface proved to be popular and was adopted for several later iPod models. Above the wheel is a monochrome 1.67" LCD that displays a menu or information about the selected track. The iPod Mini was discontinued on September 7, 2005, when it was succeeded by the iPod Nano.[5][6]

Models

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Model Image Capacity Colors Connection Original release date Minimum OS to sync Rated battery life (hours)
1st generation iPod Mini (1st Generation) Model A1051: January 2004 4 GB colors — 5
  • Silver
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Pink
  • Gold
 USB or FireWire February 20, 2004 Mac: 10.1.5 or later[7]
Windows: 2000

iTunes 4.6 or later 		audio: 8
New smaller model, available in 5 colors. Introduced the "Click Wheel".
2nd generation iPod Mini (2nd generation) Model A1051 4 GB
  • Silver
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Pink
 USB or FireWire February 23, 2005 Mac: 10.2.8 or 10.3.4 or later[7]
Windows: 2000

iTunes 4.7 or later 		audio: 18
6 GB
Brighter color variants with longer battery life. Click Wheel lettering matched body color. Gold color discontinued. The second generation iPod Mini was the final monochrome iPod to be sold by Apple, with the larger iPod (fourth generation) replaced with color screen models in early 2005.

Details

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The two generations of iPod Mini are almost identical apart from minor cosmetic differences. The first generation model has gray control symbols on the click wheel, while those on the second generation match the color of the body. Their major functional differences lay in their storage capacity and battery life. Both versions measure 3.6x2.0x0.5 inches (91x51x13 mm) and weigh 3.6 ounces (102 grams). The case is made from anodized aluminium. First generation iPod Minis were available in five colors: silver, gold, pink, blue, and green. The gold model was dropped from the second generation range. The pink, blue, and green models received brighter hues in the second generation but the silver model remained unchanged.

The iPod Mini uses Microdrive hard drives (CompactFlash II) made by Hitachi and Seagate. First generation models were available in a 4 GB size, while second generation models were available in both 4 GB and 6 GB versions (quoted as capable of storing roughly 1,000 and 1,500 songs, respectively). Second generation models have their capacity laser etched into the aluminum case.

The iPod Mini's Microdrive (4 GB Hitachi model), seen here on the right

The battery life for the first generation iPod Mini was criticized for its 8 hour duration,[8] similar to the third generation iPod that was available at the time. Apple addressed this problem in the second generation models by increasing the battery life to about 18 hours, at the cost of removing the included FireWire and AC adapter cables to avoid increasing selling costs. A proprietary Apple 30-pin dock connector is located on the bottom of the device. The iPod Mini can charge and transfer files when connected to a computer via USB or FireWire. Along the top, it has a hold switch, a headphone jack, and a remote connector for accessories.

The iPod Mini supports MP3, AAC/M4A, WAV, AIFF, and Apple Lossless audio formats. It supports integration with iTunes and the iTunes Store, allowing for syncing of content between the software application and the iPod Mini.

Modification

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Soon after the release of the iPod Mini, many third-party replacement batteries became available. By following online instructions, users could replace the battery themselves and avoid having to send the iPod back to Apple.[9] Many third-party batteries also claimed a higher capacity than the 450 mAh original stock battery – some claiming up to 1,300 mAh[10][11] Commonly advertised capacities of third-party batteries are 500 mAh[12] and 750 mAh.[13][14][15][16][17]

The iPod Mini could be flashed to run iPodLinux or Rockbox firmware which has support for extra codecs, games and various other plugins and allowed music placed directly on the iPod to be played without using iTunes. Users have replaced the 4 or 6 GB Microdrive with high capacity 8, 16,[18] 32, 64 and even 256 GB CompactFlash and SD cards. Aside from increased capacity, this has the advantage of increasing battery life and making the Mini more durable since CompactFlash cards are solid-state with no moving parts.

Timeline of compact iPod models
iPod Nano#7th generationiPod Nano#6th generationiPod Nano#6th generationiPod Nano#5th generationiPod Nano#5th generationiPod Nano#4th generationiPod Nano#4th generationiPod Nano#3rd generationiPod Nano#3rd generationiPod Nano#2nd generationiPod Nano#2nd generationiPod Nano#2nd generationiPod Nano#1st generationiPod Nano#1st generationiPod Nano#1st generationiPod Mini#2nd generationiPod Mini#2nd generationiPod Mini#1st generationiPod Shuffle#4th generationiPod Shuffle#3rd generationiPod Shuffle#3rd generationiPod Shuffle#2nd generationiPod Shuffle#2nd generationiPod Shuffle#1st generationiPod Shuffle#1st generation
See also: Timeline of full-sized iPod models and Timeline of iPod models and related products
Sources: Apple press release library,[19] Mactracker Apple Inc. model database[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Apple - Press Info - Apple Introduces iPod mini". www.apple.com. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  2. ^ "Apple - Press Info - Apple Ships New iPod mini". www.apple.com. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on August 6, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  3. ^ "Apple - Press Info - Apple Unveils New iPod mini Starting at Just $199". www.apple.com. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  4. ^ "supply shortages in Walmart: iPod Mini 2G, iPod Classic" - 2004 Walmart Announcement
  5. ^ peestandingup (February 13, 2006), Apple Music Special Event 2005-The iPod Nano Introduction, archived from the original on December 12, 2021, retrieved September 27, 2016 YouTube
  6. ^ "Apple - Press Info - Apple Introduces iPod nano". www.apple.com. Apple Inc. Archived from the original on July 9, 2011. Retrieved September 27, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "The differences between iPod mini and iPod mini (Second Generation)". Apple. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013.
  8. ^ TechFan. "Apple iPod Mini (4GB, Silver, first generation) MP3 player reviews – CNET Reviews". Cnn-cnet.com.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2011.
  9. ^ "iPod Mini Battery Replacement". iFixit. September 18, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  10. ^ "1300 mah iPod Mini battery replacement w/CF battery life". MacRumors Forums. May 19, 2011. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "INSTEN 1300mAh BATTERY Compatible With iPod MINI 4GB: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics". www.amazon.co.uk. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  12. ^ "eBay Mobile". pages.ebay.co.uk. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  13. ^ "Amazon.co.uk : ipod mini battery". www.amazon.co.uk. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  14. ^ "Apple iPod 1st and 2nd Generation. High capacity 2200 mAh Li-ion battery". www.smallbattery.company.org.uk. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  15. ^ "Battery 750mAh for iPod Mini". rounded.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  16. ^ B.V, BatteryUpgrade com, BraunOni. "Apple iPod Mini (4GB) M9804 products - BatteryUpgrade". www.batteryupgrade.com. Retrieved January 23, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ "750mAh EC003 High Capacity Battery for APPLE iPOD Mini 4GB, iPOD Mini 6GB - Newegg.com". www.newegg.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
  18. ^ turn your iPod mini into a flash based iPod :: projects :: geek technique, retrieved January 30, 2014
  19. ^ Apple Inc., Apple press release library, Retrieved September 19, 2007.
  20. ^ Mactracker (mactracker.ca), Apple Inc. model database, version as of July 26, 2007.
[edit]
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