There are several reasons. Besides the fact that he steep, Certainly. I’ve long wanted to tell you why I always carry this thing with me, and I finally found the right words.

Brevity is the soul of wit

Presentation of the 4th generation iPod shuffle in 2010

– the cheapest device in Apple’s range, and also the least functional. So, these two features make the player relevant even now. Less tinsel, more real benefits.

I sincerely believe that the latest generation shuffle has become the most successful iPod player based on the totality of all characteristics. For more than four years now I have not parted with him, although sometimes I forget for whole weeks, if not months. The player performs specific tasks, more than once helping out in the most boring moments. Maybe it's time for you to get such a thing?

iPod shuffle remains a great buy even now. Here are five reasons from my years of experience using it.

Reason 1. Virtually invisible

It is so tiny that losing it in your bag is a breeze. Occupying less space than a pair of earbuds, the latest generation of iPod shuffle simply doesn't count as cargo, and you won't notice it until the musical cravings strike.

The weight doesn’t lag behind – it’s insignificant, just nominal. 12 and a half grams. This is a weightless, invisible “portal” to the world of your favorite music.

Reason 2. Indestructible body

According to good tradition, iPod shuffle is packaged in an almost solid aluminum case. The choice of material here is determined not only by the corporate design, but also strength. Being a small device, the “shuffle” often falls out of sight and can easily fall on the asphalt, get under an arm or leg, fly from a height that is lethal for iPhones, and so on. Metal saves.

Over time, each player becomes covered with a set of microscopic traces of active life. Mine has a number of deep dents on the top end. If it were plastic, then there would be cracks everywhere, but metal doesn’t care. The simplicity of the design is advantageous here: in 99% of cases, the damage is purely visual and does not affect performance in any way, and the secrecy and micro-size of the device allow you to safely wear even a “killed” shuffle on yourself and not be ashamed. No one will see anything anyway.

Reason 3. Blind availability

There are five playback control keys on the front of iPod shuffle. You can recognize their location by touch, since the “ring” is raised above the body, and the entire internal area under it is reserved for a large play/pause key.

You can close your eyes, hang the player on a sports headband or in your pants pocket and control playback without even glancing towards the device. The ring of keys is felt through clothing, and each click gives clear tactile feedback. Even the fact that the player is not equipped with a display has been partly resolved: the round key on the end can be used to pronounce the name of a track, as well as to select a playlist.

iPod shuffle does everything that any player should be able to do, and nothing more. This is his strength.

Reason 4. Thoughtful design

Guess which music player is considered the most convenient and generally best for an athlete? That's right - it's an iPod shuffle. Reliable clip on the back of the case is an integral part of the device. The clamping force is enough to hook the shuffle onto a pocket, put it into the slots for the waist belt of jeans, and attach it to sports accessories and clothing in general. You can run, listen to music and not worry that the player will suddenly fly off, hit, break, and so on. And even if it “falls off,” it won’t go far: the headphone port is deadly tight and won’t allow the gadget to slip unnoticed onto the floor.

Reason 5. Sound and battery life

You don't have to expect "audiophile" sound quality from the iPod shuffle. But what we have is more than satisfactory for me and millions of other owners. There is a chip inside Cirrus Logic CLI1544C0, which was also used in the boxy 6th generation iPod nano. Music sounds lively, with a slight emphasis on high frequencies, and due to this, it rocks “cheap” plugs unusually well, as well as especially bass-heavy models – including Beats.

With its ridiculous size, iPod shuffle plays up to 15 hours on one charge. The actual operating time of my four-year-old player is about ten hours, but this is enough for any trip or a busy city day. The shuffle must be charged through the headphone port using the miniature cable included in the kit. It’s better not to lose it :) You won’t listen to music, but the charging time to 100 percent is short - 2-3 hours, you can be patient.

Always a relevant thing

How does the iPod shuffle fare in the age of smartphones, talking assistants and smart watches? In short - Amazing. When buying this player, you clearly know what you want from it, and therefore you will be satisfied with the purchase for many years to come.

Of course, there is also a drawback: the amount of memory. This is not a universal device for playing music: two gigabytes will not allow owners of large collections of tracks to turn around. This is where iTunes comes to the rescue, allowing you to “compress” music before sending it to shuffle, saving free space on the latter.

Even me, with a media library of more than a hundred gigabytes, lives well in the company of shuffle. I upload there the latest music from the playlist of recent purchases in the iTunes Store: it takes a maximum of 15 minutes to completely replace the entire contents of the player, and the “fresh batch” of music lasts for another two weeks until it gets boring.