iPod (fifth generation, 2005 original)

October 2005 original · 30 GB / 60 GB

Source-checked · Not hands-on testedUpdated 2026-10-18

iPod (fifth generation, 2005 original) AI concept image — AI concept image · Not a photograph or identification reference

This profile covers the original fifth-generation iPod announced in October 2005. It has a 2.5-inch color display, a Click Wheel, and support for music, photos, and video; Apple offered it in white and black. Apple lists the original at 30 GB or 60 GB and separately identifies a Late 2006 revision at 30 GB or 80 GB. The 30 GB capacity appears in both releases.

Original capacity: 30 GB / 60 GB
Original colors: White / Black

Find out if it suits you

At a glance

Introduction: October 2005; this profile covers the original 30 GB and 60 GB configurations.
Display and media: 2.5-inch color display; plays music, photos, and video.
Connection: 30-pin Dock connector; Apple specifies USB for syncing.
Audio formats: AAC (16–320 Kbps, including Protected AAC from the iTunes Music Store), MP3 (16–320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible formats 2–4, Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV.
Video formats: H.264 Baseline profile (Level 1.3 max; up to 768 Kbps; 320 × 240; 30 fps) or MPEG-4 Simple profile (up to 2.5 Mbps; 480 × 480; 30 fps), in .m4v, .mp4, or .mov with AAC-LC audio (up to 160 Kbps; 48 kHz stereo). A matching extension alone does not guarantee playback.
Original capacities: 30 GB or 60 GB.
Late 2006 revision: Apple lists a separate Late 2006 revision at 30 GB or 80 GB and describes a brighter display. Because 30 GB appears in both versions, capacity alone does not establish the release year.

It might be your kind of thing

People who want a physical scroll wheel, a color screen, and early portable video playback.
Collectors who want more storage than the iPod mini and are comfortable with a legacy syncing workflow.

Living with it today

This profile describes the October 2005 release, not the separate Late 2006 30 GB / 80 GB revision; capacity alone cannot identify a 30 GB unit.
Video files must meet Apple's supported encoding limits; a .mp4 extension alone does not guarantee that a file will play.
The condition of the hard drive and built-in battery varies by device; appearance and stated capacity do not prove that either is healthy.

Before you bring it home

Ask the seller to show the capacity, About screen, and device in operation. For a 30 GB unit, ask for release-specific evidence you can verify; treat the version as unverified if it remains unclear.
Check the 30-pin connector and USB cable, display, wheel, buttons, headphone output, charging, and recognition. If syncing matters, ask which OS and software the seller used and request a demonstration with your intended setup; a successful sync elsewhere does not establish current compatibility.
Before connecting, avoid restore or sync actions that could replace existing content.

Sources

This profile is based on published sources, not hands-on testing. Original specifications do not establish the battery or storage health of a used device.