The iPod Touch hasn't been touched by Apple since 2019 But that may change; according to MacRumors writer Steve Moser, it looks like we won't have to wait too long for the stylish refresh

"This fall, Apple will release the next version of the iPod Touch," Moser tweeted, citing a rumor he heard from Twitter user @AppleLe257 He posted a number of renderings created by @Apple_Tomorrow

As you can see, the photos show a device that looks a lot like the iPhone 12, with square edges and Face ID for unlocking This would be a welcome change, given that the current iPod Touch design has changed little since the 5th generation 2012 version, which closely resembled the iPhone 5 Also, while there is a home button for navigation, there was no built-in Touch ID, so an upgrade to Face ID would be very welcome

It is interesting to speculate whether the upgrade to the current iPhone design will introduce other Apple modernizations to the new iPod Touch For example, the latest model still has a 4-inch screen, which is a relic by modern standards Even Apple's iPhone 12 mini has a 54-inch display iPod Touch retains a 35mm headphone jack, which makes sense for a device dedicated to music and video consumption, but Apple's phones have not had the iPhone 6s and the original iPhone SE have not had this connectivity since the iPhone SE

Of course, even if the new iPod Touch comes with the look and feel of the iPhone 12, that doesn't mean it will have the internals of the iPhone 12 The last iPod Touch used the Apple A10 Fusion chip, which debuted in the iPhone 7 three years ago and was already showing its age Frankly, if Apple is trying to replicate the current iPod Touch's starting price of $199 this time around, there is no way the iPhone 12 will have the A14 processor

It is important to note that even Moser himself calls this a "rumor" rather than a genuine leak In a follow-up tweet he wrote: "Please note that this information has not been independently verified and should be treated as a rumor, not a leak" However, as Moser points out, Apple's addition of the term "iPod Touch" to the Apple Music PR statement last November gives it some credibility

We will have to wait and see; Apple's recent moves in the audio arena, such as announcing $549 AirPods Max headphones and adding lossless audio to Apple Music at no extra charge, show that the company is serious about music The company's recent moves in the audio arena show that it is serious about music Indeed, a 2021 model change to the original portable music-only player would be the biggest statement of intent to date