Apple’s original iPod went on sale exactly 25 years ago today, on November 10, 2001, marking the beginning of one of the company’s most successful product lines. Priced at $399, the pocket-sized music player initially worked only with Macs, but eventually transformed how millions of people purchased, stored, and listened to music.
Steve Jobs had unveiled the first iPod on October 23, 2001, at Apple’s Infinite Loop headquarters in Cupertino. The device arrived in stores just over two weeks later, promising to put 1,000 songs in users’ pockets.
What Made the Original iPod Special?
The first-generation iPod featured a 5GB hard drive, a monochrome LCD display, and a mechanical scroll wheel that allowed users to browse their music libraries with one hand.
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Despite its compact design, the device offered up to 10 hours of battery life and weighed just 6.5 ounces. Its FireWire connection also allowed users to transfer an entire CD in under 10 seconds or synchronize 1,000 songs in less than 10 minutes.
According to Apple’s November 9, 2001 announcement, Philip Schiller, then vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said:
“iPod is going to change the way people listen to music.”
The original model required iTunes 2 and a Mac running Mac OS 9.2 or Mac OS X 10.1. Apple later expanded compatibility to Windows, helping the iPod reach a much larger audience.
How the iPod Changed Apple Forever
The iPod quickly became a defining product for Apple, especially after the launch of the iTunes Music Store in 2003. By April 2007, Apple had sold more than 100 million iPods worldwide.
Over the following years, the lineup expanded to include the iPod mini, shuffle, nano, and touch, with each generation introducing improvements in storage, portability, and functionality.
The original iPod was also developed in less than a year, according to former Apple executive Tony Fadell, who helped lead the project.
Apple eventually discontinued the iPod touch in May 2022, officially ending the product line after more than two decades.
Although the iPod is no longer available, its influence remains visible across Apple’s products, particularly the iPhone, Apple Watch, and Apple Music, which continue the portable music experience that began 25 years ago.
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