Capacity

• As of 2011, iPod offers the sixth-generation iPod in one capacity: 160 GB. Previous revisions of the sixth-generation iPod had 80 and 120 GB of storage space. Apple manufactured the fifth-generation iPod in 30, 60 and 80 GB versions. The fifth- and sixth- generation iPods both use conventional rotating hard drives for storage.
  
  

Battery Life

• The sixth-generation iPod offers much greater battery life than the fifth-generation model -- up to 36 hours for audio playback, and up to 6 hours for video playback. The battery life of the fifth-generation iPod depends on the capacity; the 60 GB and 80 GB versions are slightly thicker and accommodate larger battery packs. The 80 GB model can play up to 20 hours of audio or 6.5 hours of video. The difference in run time between audio and video playback is due to the increased processor power required to render video, along with the increased hard drive and screen activity.
  
  

Cover Flow

• When you browse the contents of your physical music collection, you might do so by glancing briefly at the cover of a CD before putting it down and picking another up. The Cover Flow interface mimics this by allowing the user to browse the iPod's music library using album covers rather than plain text. The sixth-generation iPod supports Cover Flow, while the fifth-generation iPod does not.
  
  

Genius

• The sixth-generation iPod supports Apple's Genius feature, which allows you to select a song that you enjoy create a playlist of songs like it using information obtained from the iTunes Music Store. The fifth-generation iPod does not support Genius playlists.
  
  

Appearance

• The fifth- and sixth-generation iPods are both available in black and white. However, Apple used different design materials for the front panels of the two devices. The fifth-generation iPod has a glossy front panel, while the sixth-generation iPod has a matte anodized aluminum front panel.