R.I.P. iPod Classic: Apple quietly kills the iPod Classic

Apple launched the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch today in California - and finally removed the iPod Classic from its iPod roster at the same time, without so much as a mention.

Despite ending the launch event with a live performance from U2 and a free album giveaway via iTunes, the company's specialist music player, and the product that kick-started the digital music revolution, is now dead.

The Apple Store's iPod section now features the iPod Touch, iPod Shuffle and iPod Nano.

End of an era

The iPod Classic was also the last Apple device on sale from Apple that used the old 30-pin connector. All Apple iPhones, iPads and iPods now use the Lightning connector.

If you're after the biggest-capacity iPod you can buy, you'll have to make do with a 64GB iPod Touch - not a patch on the 160GB iPod Classic.

MORE: iPod Classic review

That said, Apple did announce two new iPhones with 128GB of storage. A bigger iPod Touch to follow? Maybe... but it just won't be the same.

If you're looking to buy an iPod Classic, now is the time to check out online retailers and the second-hand market. At the time of writing there was no sign of any iPod Classics on the Apple refurbished store or on the clearance page, with all mentions of the Classic redirecting to the new-look iPod section, in which the Classic doesn't feature.

Other online retailers such as Argos, Amazon and Currys did still have iPod Classics for sale, though we wouldn't bet against that stock going fairly quickly...

HANDS ON: Apple iPhone 6 review

MORE: iPhone 6 Plus vs. iPhone 6 vs. iPhone 5S - what's the difference?

Joe Cox
Content Director

Joe is the Content Director for What Hi-Fi? and Future’s Product Testing, having previously been the Global Editor-in-Chief of What Hi-Fi?. He has worked on What Hi-Fi? across the print magazine and website for almost 20 years, writing news, reviews and features on everything from turntables to TVs, headphones to hi-fi separates. He has covered product launch events across the world, from Apple to Technics, Sony and Samsung; reported from CES, the Bristol Show, and Munich High End for many years; and written for sites such as the BBC, Stuff and The Guardian. In his spare time, he enjoys expanding his vinyl collection and cycling (not at the same time).

Latest in Portable Music Players
Activo P1 hi-res music player
Activo P1
Fiio CP13 and DM13 with CD and cassette cases
Gimmick or Godsend? I spent a week with FiiO’s retro cassette deck and Discman to test their modern-day merit
Volumio Rivo Plus
This slimline, compact network player aims to deliver all your modern-day streaming needs
iPod MP3 digital music
Portable audio peaked 14 years ago – is it time to come full circle?
Astell & Kern A&Ultima SP3000M next to books
Astell & Kern claims that its latest premium portable player is "the world's finest"
Astell & Kern A&norma SR35
Best portable music player 2024
Latest in News
Musical Fidelity B1xi
Musical Fidelity's new stereo amplifier houses HDMI ARC and a built-in phono stage
A close-up of the FiiO FT7 headphones' earcups.
FiiO's FT7 flagship headphones take the fight to pricier rivals
A grey WiiM Vibelink Amp on a wooden cabinet between two bookshelf speakers.
The WiiM Vibelink Amp is WiiM's first integrated amp with no streaming elements
Q Acoustics 3050i
Save £650 on this five-star Q Acoustics 5.1 home cinema setup
Optoma Photon Go on white background
Optoma's new on-the-go projector is set to be one of the cheaper USTs on the market
Marantz Cinema 30 AVR
Our Award-winning reference Marantz AVR is still selling at its best price ever