With a string of success stories stemming from the release of large screen iPhones and Apple Watch, Cupertino tech giant Apple is rumored to bring back its iPod lineup, which has not seen an updated model since the year 2012. Apple's iPod 5<sup>th generation currently runs the company's A5 SoC, which comprises up of a dual-core processor belonging to ARM's Cortex-A9. According to Apple Insider, the next iPod is expected to come with a 4 inch screen, which is the same form factor used on iPod 5G.
While resolution details of Apple's iPod 6<sup>th generation are currently unavailable, the website states that the upcoming product will either be running the tech giant's A7 or A8 SoC. Since Apple's A9 chipset will be running inside its upcoming iPhones, it is only fitting that an A8 chipset is incorporated in to the next iPod. Additionally, the device is also expected to feature a better camera sensor than its predecessors. Currently, the information that remains elusive is whether or not the sensor present inside Apple's iPod 6<sup>th generation will be equivalent to that sensor present in iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
For added security measures, a Touch ID interface will also be present. While the following has yet to be confirmed, Apple might just end up placing an NFC chip to facilitate contactless payments through Apple Pay. The last time that iPod sales were reported was during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, where the sales tally was a little over 2.6 million units, earning the company a mere $410 million in revenue.
In contrast, Apple's iPhones and newly released Apple Watch have been able to garner more success in a shorter time span, which does not give the company sufficient incentive to release its iPod 6<sup>th generation. Regardless, it is possible that the upcoming gadget will be unveiled during the WDDC 2015 event, along with the company's iOS 9 platform and iPad Pro.
