Refurbished iPod Photo (4th Generation) — inspected, function-tested, and ready to play. Confirm the exact capacity, color, and order number on this listing before you buy.
Product Overview
This refurbished iPod Photo (4th Generation) 20GB Black/Red is a complete working iPod listing for buyers comparing model, capacity, and condition.
Use the identification table below to confirm the exact configuration and order-number record.
Choose Your Option
U2 color edition: black front, red Click Wheel, engraved signatures, 2-inch color screen. Same hardware as the 20GB White MA079LL/A.
You're viewing this optionAbout This iPod
The iPod Photo represented Apple's first step toward making the iPod a multimedia device rather than just a music player. Announced October 26, 2004, its 2-inch, 220x176 pixel, 65,536-color LCD was the first color display in the iPod line, capable of showing album art, photo slideshows, and TV output through Apple's AV cable (bundled at retail only with the 2004 launch models; sold separately afterward).
About This Variant
The U2 edition of the color-display 20GB iPod, released June 28, 2005 at US$329 alongside the “iPod with color display” rebrand — black front, red Click Wheel, and the band's signatures engraved on the chrome back. Hardware is identical to the 20GB White MA079LL/A (A1099, 2-inch color screen), so it plays music and shows photos but does not play video. The color-screen U2 is scarcer than the 2004 monochrome U2 and is bought almost entirely as a collector piece.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Color-display lineup date | June 28, 2005 |
| Discontinued | October 12, 2005 |
| Original Price | US$329 |
| This Listing | MA127LL/A |
What Changed
- Display: 2-inch 220x176 color LCD with 65,536 colors replacing the 160x128 monochrome LCD — the first color display in the iPod line
- Photo Support: JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG photo viewing; TV output through Apple's AV cable (a 2004 launch-box item, later sold separately) for photo slideshows with music
- Interface: Same Click Wheel interface but with color UI elements and album art display during playback
What Refurbished Means
A refurbished iPod is a complete used iPod that has been inspected, cleaned, tested, and prepared for resale; it is not a sealed-new Apple retail unit.
| Area | What this listing means |
|---|---|
| Inspection | Function-tested complete iPod with model, controls, display, sync, and audio checked before sale. |
| Battery | A replacement battery is installed unless the listing states otherwise. |
| Battery Age | These iPods are about 21 years old. Original batteries are well beyond their design life. |
| Storage | Storage is tested during restore/sync checks. Unless flash-modded, the original 1.8-inch mechanical hard drive is a 20+ year-old part; treat remaining drive life as unknown. |
| Cosmetics | Cosmetic condition is listing-specific and may vary by shell, backplate, screen lens, and engraving wear. |
Charging & Connection
This iPod syncs and charges over USB or FireWire through the 30-pin dock connector. For reviving a deeply discharged battery or running a full restore, a FireWire charger or a high-power USB port is the most reliable path.
Battery Safety & Shipping
⚠️ Lithium-Ion / Li-Po Battery Safety. This product contains (or is) a rechargeable lithium-ion/lithium-polymer battery. Charge only with a compatible charger; don't leave it charging unattended or overnight, and unplug once fully charged. Avoid charging or storing in direct sunlight or other high-heat environments. Stop using and stop charging immediately if the battery swells, bulges, gets unusually hot, hisses, smokes, or leaks. Do not puncture, crush, bend, short-circuit, or try to "deflate" a swollen cell, and never press a lifted screen or case back down — it can rupture the cell. If electrolyte contacts your eyes, flush with clean water for 15 minutes without rubbing and seek medical care; on skin, wash with water and soap. Battery service should be done by a trained technician. Recycle through an electronics or universal-waste recycler, not household trash.
Shipping. A refurbished iPod shipped with its battery installed ships as UN3481 (lithium-ion batteries contained in equipment); a loose replacement cell shipped on its own ships as UN3480 (lithium-ion batteries). Cells have passed UN Manual of Tests and Criteria 38.3 testing.
Exact Model Identification
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Order Number | MA127LL/A |
| Apple Model Number | A1099 |
| Capacity | 20GB |
| Color | Black/Red |
| EMC | EMC 2022 |
Every variant in this generation shares the Apple model number A1099 — the order number engraved on the back is what identifies the exact unit.
All Available Variants
| Order Number | Capacity | Color | Case | Released | Original Price | Refurb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M9585LL/A | 40GB | White | Thick | October 2004 | US$499 | View refurb |
| M9586LL/A | 60GB | White | Thick | October 2004 | US$599 | View refurb |
| M9829LL/A | 30GB | White | Thin | February 2005 | US$349 | View refurb |
| M9830LL/A | 60GB | White | Thick | February 2005 | US$449 (US$399 from June 28, 2005) | View refurb |
| PS492AA | 30GB | White (HP-branded) | Thin | ~April 2005 | ~US$349 | View refurb |
| PS493AA | 60GB | White (HP-branded) | Thick | ~April 2005 | ~US$449 | View refurb |
| MA079LL/A | 20GB | White | Thin | June 2005 | US$299 | View refurb |
| MA127LL/A | 20GB | Black/Red (U2 Special Edition) | Thin | June 2005 | US$329 | This page |
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Processor | Photo logic platform (dual ARM7TDMI, 80 MHz) |
| RAM | 32 MB |
| Storage | 20GB Toshiba 1.8" IDE HDD |
| Display | 2" Color TFT 220x176 |
| Audio CODEC | Wolfson WM8975 |
| Battery (Original) | Li-Ion, Apple-rated 15 hours music / 5 hours photo slideshow (616-0206 family) |
| Battery Life (Music) | 15 hours |
| Battery Life (Photo Slideshow) | 5 hours |
| Case Depth | Thin |
| Model Number | A1099 |
| Order Number | MA127LL/A |
| Revision | June 2005 U2 color edition |
What's Included
- Refurbished iPod
- 1 year warranty
Ships as the iPod only — no cable or charger is included.
Compatibility
Modern Sync Notes
- Broad compatibility: works with all popular Windows versions — Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Windows 11 — as well as Macs; any system that can run iTunes 7.4 or later can sync and restore this iPod.
- macOS: macOS Sequoia 15.4 and later can break native iPod recognition for some owners; if Finder or Apple Music does not see the iPod, use Windows iTunes or an older Mac for restore and sync.
- Windows: on current Windows, standalone iTunes 12.6.5 is the most reliable restore and sync path for click-wheel iPods.
- Streaming: These iPods do not provide native Spotify, Apple Music streaming, Wi-Fi, or Bluetooth.
Original System Requirements
- Minimum Mac OS: Mac OS X 10.2.8
- Host Port: High-power USB 2.0 or FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394)
- Windows: Windows 2000 Service Pack 4; Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later
Photo Sync Requirements
- Mac: iPhoto 4.0.3 or later
- Windows: Adobe Photoshop Album 1.0 or later, or Adobe Photoshop Elements 3.0 or later, or My Pictures folder
Known OS Compatibility Issues
- macOS Sequoia 15.x: Legacy iPod recognition may be unreliable on newer macOS releases; 32-bit iTunes unavailable. Workaround: Use Windows standalone iTunes or an older Mac with a known-good iPod sync path.
Rockbox
Status: Supported
Build: IPOD_COLOR
Stable port. Target name is 'ipodcolor' (not 'ipodphoto').
iTunes Compatibility
- Minimum: iTunes 4.7
- Recommended: iTunes 12.6.5
- Note: iTunes 4.7 shipped with the iPod Photo (October 2004). Photo sync required iPhoto 4.0.3+ on Mac. iTunes 12.6.5 on Windows is the last version with full click-wheel iPod support.
Flash Storage Upgrade
A stock refurbished iPod can keep its original storage style, but many buyers choose flash storage when they want a quieter, lower-power player with fewer moving parts. See the 128GB Flash Mod Kit (IDE flash adapter + 128GB SD Card Included) page for the DIY kit, capacity options, and card guidance.
| Topic | Buyer Guidance |
|---|---|
| Why buyers upgrade | No moving parts, silent operation, lower power draw, improved battery life, and room for higher-capacity libraries. |
| Maximum confirmed capacity | 128GB or 256GB (ATA1 flash adapter) offered in our builds confirmed with ATA1 flash adapter with SDXC media |
| Format requirement | SDXC cards (64GB+) must be pre-formatted to FAT32 — default exFAT not supported by original firmware |
| Rockbox | Rockbox is supported (IPOD_COLOR); Stable port. Target name is 'ipodcolor' (not 'ipodphoto'). |
Buyer FAQ
How is this different from the 2004 U2 iPod?
There are two U2 click-wheel iPods: the October 2004 monochrome U2 (M9787LL/A, grayscale screen) and this June 2005 color-display U2 (MA127LL/A, 2-inch color screen, US$329 at launch). Both have the black front, red Click Wheel, and signature-engraved chrome back; this is the later, color-screen version.
How do I confirm this is the color-display U2?
Check the order number MA127LL/A and the color screen. The shared model number A1099 appears on every iPod Photo / color-display unit, so the order number engraved on the back is what identifies this exact edition.
Why people land on this part
Common Names & Search Terms
Buyers find this iPod using these names and phrases:
Product Names
u2 ipod color, ipod u2 color display, ipod photo u2, ipod u2 special edition color, ipod photo refurbished, ipod photo for sale, ipod with color display, ipod color, ipod classic 4th generation photo, vintage ipod photo a1099, M9585LL/A, M9586LL/A, M9829LL/A, M9830LL/A, MA079LL/A, MA127LL/A, PS492AA, PS493AA
Comparisons People Make
What Buyers Are Looking For
best ipod for photos, ipod for car stereo, offline music player 2026, ipod for large music library, ipod for audiophile, ipod wolfson dac, best sounding ipod, best ipod to mod
Collector & Enthusiast Terms
hp invent ipod, rarest ipod photo, ipod photo sealed
Compatibility Questions
rockbox ipod color, iPod flash mod photo, ipod photo itunes, ipod photo work with modern mac
Other Models to Consider
Compare refurbished iPods across the other model families, or jump to flash mods for this generation:
- Flash mods for iPod Photo (4th Generation) →
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Replace the aging battery for longer playback time.
Related: 128GB Flash Mod Kit (IDE flash adapter + 128GB SD Card Included)Upgrade the mechanical hard drive to flash storage for improved reliability.
Related: Replacement Hard Drive (60GB)Use a hard drive only when restoring original-style storage; use the model's flash-storage path when a compatible adapter path is available.
