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One of the surprising trends of 2026 is the return of old-school iPods without official Apple support. The product line remains discontinued after Apple discontinued sales in 2022, and there are no official plans to bring back the media players. After all, every iPhone model also offers access to many music apps, including Apple Music, and modern iPhones can come with a lot more storage than older iPods. Yet, consumers buy used iPods for a variety of reasons. Some people want to disconnect from always-connected digital lives, while younger users may need iPods to listen to music in schools that restrict smartphone use.
However, there is one type of iPod that buyers can find on eBay and other marketplaces that looks a lot like an iPhone: the iPod touch. Among the iPod touch models, there is a unique iPod touch design that has a somewhat mysterious silver button on the back. Press it and the button will appear, allowing you to attach a lanyard (loop) to it.
That’s all the button does. It’s not a hidden music or camera control button, as some people might suspect, especially given the recent iPhone design trend of including more buttons on new models. For example, the iPhone 15 series introduced the Action button which replaced the traditional Mute switch, and the iPhone 16 series introduced the Camera Control button. The iPod touch button is only intended to prevent accidental drops when using it for purposes other than listening to music. As a reminder, the iPod touch had a large screen similar to certain iPhone models, application support and a camera on the back. In other words, the device was intended to be used more like an iPhone than other iPod models.
Which iPod touch model comes with a loop button?
The screenshot above shows the exact location of the rear-facing cord button. It is placed in the lower left corner, opposite the single-lens camera located in the upper left corner. The iPod touch loop is the name for the accessory Apple makes for iPod touch models with silver buttons on the back, similar to a camera strap that keeps the device attached to the user’s wrist. Other cord options may also work with the button.
Consumers interested in this unusual iPod touch design should be aware that not all iPod touch models come with buttons on the back. Apple used this design option only on the iPod touch (5th generation). The media player came in three capacity versions: 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB. Only the two largest options came with iPod touch loops included. The iPod touch (5th generation) came in two different versions, introduced between October 2012 and June 2014 (model numbers A1509 and A1421) and was available in five colors. These identifying details are important if you want to purchase this specific iPod touch model.
Apple removed the silver button from the sixth and seventh generations of iPod touch introduced in 2015 and 2019, respectively. It’s unclear why Apple removed the cord button, but Apple doesn’t always explain its design changes from model to model.
Do iPhones support cords?
Some people may find the idea of securing an expensive and often-used device with a lanyard to prevent accidental drops appealing, without necessarily looking to purchase the iPod touch (5th generation). The iPhone fits this description, given the importance of smartphones in modern life and the fact that iPhone screens and rear-facing glass panels can shatter after an accidental fall. Apple has never included a lanyard button in any of its iPhone models. The company has often tried to make the most of the available space inside an iPhone by optimizing the motherboard layout to maximize battery capacity. A pop-up button like the one on the back of the iPod touch would have used internal space.
However, Apple wooed cord accessory fans with the iPhone 17 series by introducing its own cord accessory. The Crossbody Strap models of the iPhone 17 were launched in September 2025. They cost $59 each and are available in different colors. The straps can be attached to different models of iPhone cases, not directly to the handset. Third-party lanyards also exist and may work with cases that include attachment openings for cross or wrist lanyards.
Speaking of price, a 32GB iPod touch (5th generation) might be barely more expensive than the Crossbody Strap. It’s listed for around $80 on eBay, as of this writing, not including the cord. Prices may vary depending on various factors, including available supply, storage and condition of the product. The same 32GB model cost $299 in September 2012, when Apple launched this generation of iPods.
