Apple iPod Nano 16GB review

Apple's latest iPod Nano weighs just 34g and is only 5mm at its thickest point, tapering off at the edges. Despite this, Apple has squeezed in an FM radio and a video camera alongside its usual media playback features.

The video camera records in H.264 format at a resolution of 640x480 pixels. Video recorded in bright daylight looked reasonably detailed, but low-light video was very grainy. The amount of recordable video is limited only by the available storage.

The Nano's battery lasted for one-and-a-half hours when recording video in our tests, but it's unlikely you'll want to hold it that long. The lens is behind the click wheel, which is where you'd naturally want to grasp the Nano. The only way to hold it without obscuring the lens or the screen is by its slender edges, which feels precarious. Surprisingly, the camera can't take still photos.

The integrated FM radio is a first for any iPod. Scanning for stations and bookmarking your favourites is quick and simple. You can buffer up to 15 minutes of live radio while you listen, so you can rewind or pause broadcasts at any time. It's a very useful feature when listening to live sports or talk radio. It can't record entire broadcasts, though. On stations with RDS it can identify songs being played and save the details so you can buy them later from the iTunes Store.

Beyond these new features the new Nano looks and feels almost identical to the previous model. The interface is as easy to navigate as ever using the responsive click wheel. Its battery lasted over 32 hours when playing music; a couple of hours less than the old model, but hardly a cause for concern.

The included earphones are too quiet, lack bass and sound muddy, so you'll want to buy a better set. Even with quality headphones, music didn't sound as rich and warm as we'd expect and the bass wasn't quite as thumping as we'd like.

The 2.2in screen is slightly larger and has a slightly higher resolution than its predecessor. It's still not big enough for watching movies, but it's bright, with good contrast. Its battery lasted for just over four hours when playing video, whereas the previous Nano managed five-and-a-half hours.

Despite its extra features, the 16GB Nano costs no more than many other 16GB MP3 players. The FM radio is a welcome addition, but the video camera feels like an afterthought and certainly won't worry manufacturers such as Flip. We were also disappointed that the battery life and audio quality don't match the standard set by the old model. It's a good MP3 player, but owners of the previous Nano have few reasons to upgrade.

Author: Alan Lu