 | |
 iPod Mini in Silver | |
| Manufacturer | Apple |
|---|---|
| Product family | iPod |
| Type | Digital audio player |
| Lifespan | February 20, 2004 – September 7, 2005 (1 year, 6 months) |
| Media | Microdrivehard drive (either 4 or 6 GB) |
| Operating system | 1.4.1 |
| Display | 1.67"monochromeLCD at 138 x 110 pixels |
| Input | Click wheel |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 FireWire Dock connector Remote connector |
| Power | Lithium-ion battery |
| Model Number | A1051 |
| Successor | iPod Nano |
| This article is part ofa series on the |
| iPod |
|---|
| List of iPod models |
TheiPod Mini (stylized and marketed as theiPod mini) is adigital audio player that was designed and marketed byApple. It was positioned as a smaller, midrange model in Apple'siPod product line to complement theiPod 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 theclick wheel, which was developed for Apple bySynaptics. 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 theiPod Nano.[5][6]
| Model | Image | Capacity | Colors | Connection | Original release date | Minimum OS to sync | Rated battery life(hours) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st generation |  | 4 GB | colors — 5
| USB orFireWire | 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 |  | 4 GB |
| USB orFireWire | February 23, 2005 | Mac: 10.2.8 or10.3.4 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. | |||||||
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 fromanodizedaluminium. 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 usesMicrodrive hard drives (CompactFlash II) made byHitachi andSeagate. 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 capacitylaser etched into the aluminum case.
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 includedFireWire andAC adapter cables to avoid increasing selling costs. A proprietaryApple 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 viaUSB orFireWire. Along the top, it has a hold switch, a headphone jack, and a remote connector for accessories.
The iPod Mini supportsMP3,AAC/M4A,WAV,AIFF, andApple Lossless audio formats. It supports integration withiTunes and theiTunes Store, allowing for syncing of content between the software application and the iPod Mini.
_with_replacement_CF_card_visible_on_logic_board.jpg)
 | Some of this section'slisted sourcesmay not bereliable. Please help improve this article by looking for better, more reliable sources. Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed.(April 2025) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
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 runiPodLinux orRockbox 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 GBMicrodrive with high capacity 8, 16,[18] 32, 64 and even 256 GBCompactFlash andSD 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 |
|---|
 |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)