When it comes to the Apple iPod Touch many people are opting for refurbished models for a number of reasons. If you are among those that have recently found yourself a little bit short on funds to purchase one of these nifty devices Apple’s iPod Touch refurbished may be the answer you’re looking for versus its bigger iPhone brother. Before you run out and snag one of these discount units there are indeed a few important tips to be aware of. With the iPod Touch becoming such a phenomenon as of late scores of
tech gurus have weighed in on the matter to help keep consumers safe. We will attempt to sum up some of the most important buying tips to keep consumers safe but also some of the pros and cons of this device versus a full blown iPhone.
iPod Touch Versus iPhone Advantages
Whether you are opting to go with a new iPod Touch or refurbished there are some distinct advantages versus purchasing the iPhone. The main reason most people are going for an iPod touch is to avoid having a very expensive phone bill. Owners of iPhones can easily expect a phone bill of nearly $100 a month for basic plans. When you add in the fact that a two year agreement is required for an iPhone it doesn’t make them as attractive. The great part about the iPod Touch is that it now offers nearly all the advantages of an iPhone without enormous monthly bills. Sure Wi-Fi is required for many of the functions however being that wireless internet connection hotspots are available nearly everywhere now it’s not a major drawback.
Cons of iPod Touch Versus iPhone
Of course the iPod Touch and the iPhone look nearly identical but are they really? Many argue that Apple certainly leads people to believe so however the reality isn’t such. Aside from the quite obvious difference that one is a fully functional phone, the iPod Touch definitely has a few cons to it. The question is really how important performance is to you. One of the major downsides is that the iPod Touch has drastically less battery life coming in at just over half of what an iPhone has. The next major downside is that the iPod Touch has less than half the RAM that an iPhone does and has a fraction of the megapixels that an iPhone camera does. While both can handle MP3 music playing, pictures, movies, game playing and video calling with the program Facetime the iPod Touch simply doesn’t contain the same high end components, hours of video playback or display that an iPhone does.
Refurbished iPod Touch Advantages
One of the most obvious advantages to a refurbished iPod Touch is their discounts. There are number of outlets offering iPod Touch deals that are certified refurbished with a range of different pricing. Probably the most trusted source for refurbished Apple is the Apple store. Directly owned by Apple, the Apple Store has an average savings of around 30% off retail. While buying direct from Apple may not yield the cheapest iPods, Apple clearly has among the highest quality standards in the industry. When you compare Apple certified quality, their return policy, their ironclad 1 year warranty that is the identical coverage on new products, free shipping it makes buying direct from the original manufacturer an attractive point versus buying from an outside third party outlet.
Refurbished iPod Touch Cons
While indeed a refurbished iPod Touch may cost less than a brand new unit there are a couple of downsides to be aware of before you buy. One aspect that isn’t often mentioned is that stock is usually rather limited especially if you are trying to buy direct from Apple especially at certain times of the year like holidays. If you manage to find a refurbished iPod Touch, the specific model or hard drive capacity may not be what you’re looking for. What is listed today may not be available tomorrow so be diligent in checking availability and placing your order quickly once product is available. For this reason it may not be the best idea for a last minute Apple gift.
The major downside can be that not all warranties or certification processes are the same. When it comes to refurbished products, the outlet you are dealing with can mean all the difference. Since refurbishment and certification processes have improved significantly in the last couple of years products from manufacturer outlets clearly tend to have the lowest failure rate. If you are opting to deal direct with a non-name brand manufacturer warranties tend to involve much less coverage and quality of iPod Touches being offered for sale may not be as high. The main reason is related to the fact they can’t afford to implement the latest state of the art certification and testing equipment that major corporations like Apple have. However for some the even larger savings can be worth the gamble as generally if the product works for 30 days the likelihood that they will keep working is high. From the hours of music playback, to the iPod Touch features, to the benefits of having iTunes at your fingertips, the iPod touch regardless whether new or refurbished is a remarkable Apple product.