Apple iPod nano (5th gen, 16GB) review

Radio to go

This fifth generation nano also becomes the very first Apple audio player to boast radio, and it turns out to be a much more attractive feature than the video. It's only FM, but it’s equipped with RDS so you can see which station you're tuned in to, and you can also pause and rewind live radio as you're listening to it; a fantastic feature if you're always missing the names of tunes you like.

And as a side benefit to the video features, the nano catches up with most of the competition by including dictaphone functions – although at least here, the typical Apple attention to detail shows through. The voice record screen features a useful VU meter so you can tell if the microphone is picking anything up, and the nano will insert chapter markers, audio-book style, for you every time you hit pause.

The screen is a touch wider and boasts more pixels than before, at 2.2in in diagonal and 240 x 376. There's even a rudimentary speaker built in, though it's rather scratchy and weak – only for listening to video audio and voice recordings.

Elsewhere, the nano remains as competent at music and (occasional) video playback as it always has been. Although format support has not been expanded to include Ogg or Flac, when paired with a good pair of headphones sound quality is fine.

And the nano is admirably easy to use, with the new voice-over function making it possible to control with the clickwheel, even in your pocket. The accelerometer is still on hand to rotate the screen so you can use it in either portrait or landscape mode, and a new pedometer function uses the same sensor to detect steps and provide a basic fitness log.

So, despite the rather awkward video implementation, we find it hard not to like the iPod nano. With the new features not adding significantly to the price – the 16GB version costs £135 inc VAT and the 8GB is £115 – you're getting more for your money than ever before. Our favourite media player of the moment remains the Cowon S9 for its spectacular screen and audio quality, but with the new nano, Apple gains an even stronger hold on the runner up spot.

Author: Jonathan Bray