iPod nano 6 review

The iPod Nano 6 player differs from previous models in this series. It lacks analog control, which was implemented in the form of a Click Wheel. Instead, the player received a touch screen that supports multi-touch function.

The problem is that along with the analog control, many useful options have disappeared. This is also due to the fact that the dimensions of the case have become much smaller. Compared with the previous device, the sixth model received a different body shape and an updated interface. Now the player is a cross between the iPod Touch and Shuffle.

Characteristics

In the description of the iPod Nano 6, the characteristics are as follows:

• dimensions - 37.5x40.9x8.78 mm;
• weight - 21.1 g;
• volume - 10056 mm³;
• 8 or 16 GB of permanent memory;
• TFT class color screen with a diagonal of 1.54”, a resolution of 240x240 and a pixel density of 220 PPI;
• sound is reproduced at frequencies from 20 Hz to 20 kHz;
• AAC, HE-AAC, MP3, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF and WAV file extensions are supported;
• the user can adjust the maximum volume;
• FM radio with regional options for America, Asia, Australia and Europe;
• the ability to stop and resume radio broadcasts using a 15-minute buffer;
• accelerometer installed;
• built-in lithium-ion battery;
• When the battery is fully charged, music is played for up to 24 hours continuously;
• The device is charged via USB from a PC or AC adapter;
• the battery is fully charged in 3 hours (with 80% being reached in 1.5 hours);
• support 29 languages;
• headphones operate at a frequency of 20 Hz-20 kHz, acoustic impedance is 32 Ohms;
• Voice Over interface with voice guidance is controlled by gestures;
• High-resolution display with customizable backlight, designed for use in the dark.

Equipment

A review of the iPod Nano 6 is necessary to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this device. The package is minimal, as it includes a player, headphones, a USB cable, a user manual and a sticker with the Apple logo. The Nano 6 is a stylish gadget with limited functionality.

The Nano 6 player comes in a clear plastic box. It works well with branded headphones, although many music lovers are unhappy with their sound. When you connect headphones, an additional “Voice Recorder” item appears in the menu. It is impossible to launch this function without a headset.

The hand strap to which the Nano 6 player is attached is not included in the package. With the strap installed, the device visually looks like a smart watch. The player menu even has a special “Clock” section. This is a minor feature, but it is well implemented and can be useful to the user in some situations.

Appearance

The Nano 6 player looks best in a gray case. Other colors look too pale.

The metal of Nano 6 is smooth to the touch, no extraneous sounds or backlashes were noticed. The design is reminiscent of the 2008 iPod Shuffle. The main difference is that the front side is occupied by a display instead of buttons. At the back there is a large clothespin for fixing the player on clothes. At the end you can see the Apple connector and minijack. The display is covered with natural glass, which retains fingerprints.

The Nano 6 player has a square shape and is compact in size. In addition to the touch screen, buttons for adjusting the volume level and turning on the screen are used to control the device. There is no USB port, as a special Apple connector is used instead. The quality of materials is at a high level. According to the developer, the body is made of polished anodized aluminum.

After unpacking the Nano 6 device, the user immediately notices its size. This player is so small that the previous generation iPod Nano looks too big in comparison. The sixth model weighs 21 g, and the fifth - 36 g.

Display

Despite the fact that the Nano 6 screen diagonal is 1.54” and the resolution is 240x240, the menu turned out to be easy to use. The player contains a touch-type display using capacitive technology. This is a bright screen with a good viewing angle.

The Nano 6 has buttons to turn on the device and adjust the volume, but other functions need to be controlled using the touch display. Despite the convenience of the menu, the screen does not always respond clearly to touches. Sometimes the device may slow down. In the worst case, the display recognizes touches the third time. All these inconveniences are associated with the excessively small size of the display, but the user gets used to them over time.

On the iPod Nano 5, you could activate music playback without taking the player out of your pocket. This is not possible on the updated model. The main disadvantage of the sixth generation player is that the user is forced to constantly access the display. For this reason, connoisseurs of Apple products criticized the new product and prefer to use the previous model.

Interface

The Nano 6 player menu contains the following items:

• "Playlists";
• "Dictaphone";
• "You listen";
• "Watch";
• "Performers";
• "Fitness";
• "Genius Mixes";
• "Songs";
• "Albums";
• "Genres";
• "Composers";
• "Radio";
• "Settings";
• "Podcasts";
• "Photo".

At the top of the Nano 6 interface you can see the battery charge indicator and the current time. When you launch some applications, these readings disappear from the screen. This is inconvenient because while listening to music the user will not be able to find out the time. If you minimize the application to play, the Play and Pause buttons will appear next to the battery indicator.

If you don't touch the Nano 6's display while listening to music, it will display the current album's cover art. Touching brings up controls. In addition to the main display, there is also a secondary screen where you can select a music playback mode (for example, Shuffle). This screen allows you to rewind the song and turn on Genius. If you press the “i” button, the song rating will open.

Memory

There are 2 modifications of the iPod Nano 6 player with a memory capacity of 8 and 16 GB. The storage capacity here is much smaller than in iPod Touch devices. Even 16 GB is not enough for a full-fledged audio player that will be regularly used as a device for listening to music. For this reason, users do not perceive the sixth generation gadget as a full-fledged player. When you first connect to your computer, the player will try to synchronize your entire music library (if it has enough memory for this).

Working hours

The manufacturer stated that the Nano 6 device can play music for 24 hours. The player has a fast charging function. If you connect it to a USB port, the battery will reach 80% in 1.5 hours, but it will take about 3 hours to fully charge.

The Nano 6's battery life will depend on how often the user turns on the display. The screen drains the battery the most, and this rule applies to all mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.). In order for the charge to last for a long time, you should first create playlists, and then the desired songs will be played without user intervention.

The test showed that the Nano 6 device can play sound for 21 hours. This can be explained by the fact that an undeveloped battery needs to be fully charged and discharged several times before it begins to meet its stated characteristics. Some users note that the player is able to work offline for more than 30 hours, and this is an excellent indicator for such a compact device.

Sound quality

The sound quality of the Nano 6 is suitable for everyday use if the user does not consider himself a sophisticated audiophile. This miniature device with a touch screen and an abundance of additional functions cannot provide premium sound quality. In this regard, Apple players are inferior to competing gadgets developed by Cowon, Sony and Samsung.

If you compare the iPod Nano 6 with the fifth generation model, the user will immediately notice the lower maximum volume. The test used Sennheiser HD 215 headphones. The music will sound quieter even if you disable the volume limit in the menu. This can be explained by the fact that the sixth model is equipped with a less powerful headphone amplifier. In addition, the Nano 6 player is more focused on pop music, since the highs and lows have been artificially inflated.

The sound of the Nano 6 will largely depend on the headphones you use. The standard headset that comes with the kit can only be used to familiarize yourself with the capabilities of the player.

conclusions

A Nano 6 player with a memory capacity of 8 GB costs about 6 thousand rubles, 16 GB costs about 8 thousand. The fifth and sixth generation models are very different from each other, and each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The iPod Nano 5 has more features, a classic design, and a better look. The sixth model is a stylish gadget that captivates with its appearance, but instead of it, users will prefer to buy an iPhone, iPod Touch or a budget Chinese player.

The iPod Nano 6 can be considered an experiment by Apple. Its positive qualities are its excellent design, thoughtful interface and ease of use. This device was the first to feature a pause function while listening to the radio and other interesting innovations that were not found on previous products of the brand.

The Nano 6 operating system looks so good that some of its elements should be transferred to smartphones. The interface would look good on a larger display if we added the ability to install programs and other iOS features.