The iPod is officially 'vintage retro tech' now, and restored models sold out at Gen Z-favorite Urban Outfitters
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
- iPods are now considered "vintage retro tech" instead of the hip new MP3 players they once were.
- Apple officially discontinued the iPod line, the final model being the iPod Touch, last year.
- Two discontinued models from the early 2000s recently sold out on Urban Outfitters' website.
Apple's iPod line, which officially went out of production last year, is now considered vintage in the eyes of tech retailers.
Vintage tech dealer Retrospekt listed "refurbished and restored" fifth-generation iPods — the classic-looking models without a touchscreen – for sale on lifestyle retailer Urban Outfitters' website. Retrospekt described the iPod as a "genuine piece of vintage retro tech" outfitted with a new battery and 129 gigabytes of flash storage.
It's unclear how many the company had in stock, but the devices are already sold out.
Urban Outfitters
That specific iPod model was initially launched by Apple in 2007 and retailed for about $249 at the time. More than 15 years later, it was priced at $349 on Urban Outfitters, according to Fast Company.
The first iPod debuted in October 2001, and it became one of the most popular gadgets of the 21st century. Now, it's become a potential collectible for vintage tech enthusiasts and Gen Zers looking to rely on smartphones less.
The first-generation Apple iPod Mini was also listed on the site for $199, also refurbished, and also sold out. The same model is listed on eBay for nearly $4,000 in new condition.
In May 2022, Apple announced that the last remaining iPod on its product line — the iPod Touch — would only be sold while supplies lasted. Sixteen years before the company ended its production, the iPod line accounted for around 40% of Apple's revenue at the time.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
One review on Urban Outfitters' listing described the fifth-generation iPod as "overpriced obsolete tech." Insider was unable to verify if all eight reviews under the device are from customers who actually purchased an iPod.
"And now it turns up on urban outfitters for the same price 30 years ago? tim apple must be turning in his grave," another reviewer wrote.
Urban Outfitters said its target customers are "young adults aged 18 to 28" in an annual report from earlier this year.
The late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, who returned to lead the company after being ousted by Apple's board earlier in his tenure, famously announced new iPods on stage while wearing a black turtleneck and blue jeans before his death in 2011.
Demand for iPods decreased following the iPhone's rise to dominance in the smartphone industry, although the company continued selling variations for years after the iPhone's introduction. Both products contributed to Apple's resurgence as a tech company.
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