Thick vs Thin Back iPods Explained

If you've spent any time looking at iPod parts, upgrade guides or eBay listings, you've probably come across the terms "thick back" and "thin back".

It's one of the most common sources of confusion for people getting into iPod modding, especially when buying replacement parts.

The good news is that it's actually pretty simple once you understand why Apple made them in the first place.

Why Did Apple Make Thick Back iPods?

The answer is storage.

Back when these iPods were released, Apple used traditional spinning hard drives. The larger capacity hard drives were physically thicker, so Apple needed a deeper rear housing to fit them inside the iPod.

For example:

Thin Back Models

• 30GB iPod Video (5th Generation)
• 80GB iPod Classic (6th Generation)
• 120GB iPod Classic (6.5 Generation)
• 160GB iPod Classic (7th Generation)

Thick Back Models

• 60GB iPod Video (5th Generation)
• 80GB iPod Video (5th Generation)
• 160GB iPod Classic (6th Generation)

At the time, the extra depth was required to accommodate the larger hard drive.

Today, however, most upgraded iPods use flash storage instead of mechanical hard drives. Flash adapters take up significantly less space than the original hard drives, which means most modern flash-modded iPods no longer need a thick rear housing.

Why Does It Matter?

Knowing whether your iPod uses a thick or thin rear housing is important because certain parts are not interchangeable.

This affects:

• Rear housings
• Batteries
• Headphone jack assemblies
• Hold switch assemblies
• Some upgrade combinations

If you're ordering parts for a build, it's worth checking before you buy.

Can I Convert a Thick Back iPod to a Thin Back?

Absolutely.

In fact, it's one of the most common upgrades people make.

Once you've replaced the original hard drive with flash storage, there's usually no need for all that extra space inside the iPod. Many people choose to fit a thin rear housing to make the iPod slimmer and lighter.

I've done this on plenty of builds over the years.

However, there is one important thing to remember.

Headphone Jack and Hold Switch Compatibility

The headphone jack and hold switch assembly is different between thick and thin rear housings.

A thick-back headphone jack assembly will not fit correctly in a thin rear housing.

Likewise, a thin-back assembly will not fit correctly in a thick rear housing.

If you're converting a thick-back iPod to a thin-back setup, you'll need:

• A thin rear housing
• A thin headphone jack and hold switch assembly

If you're converting from thin to thick, you'll need the matching thick-back headphone jack and hold switch assembly instead.

This is probably the most common mistake people make when swapping rear housings.

Which Is Better?

For most flash-modded builds, I generally prefer a thin rear housing.

The iPod feels slimmer in the hand, weighs slightly less and has a cleaner overall look.

That said, thick-back iPods still have their place.

If you're planning a build with a particularly large battery or simply prefer the feel of the thicker design, there's nothing wrong with keeping the original rear housing.

Neither option is right or wrong. It simply depends on the build you're trying to achieve.

How Can I Tell Which One I Have?

The easiest method is usually to look at the original storage capacity.

Thin Back

• 30GB 5th Generation
• 80GB 6th Generation
• 120GB 6.5 Generation
• 160GB 7th Generation

Thick Back

• 60GB 5th Generation
• 80GB 5th Generation
• 160GB 6th Generation

If your iPod has already been modified, the storage capacity may no longer match the original configuration.

In that case, the easiest way is to compare the side profile of your iPod or remove the rear housing and inspect the parts inside.

Final Thoughts

Thick-back iPods only existed because Apple needed extra room for larger hard drives.

Once you replace that hard drive with modern flash storage, a thick rear housing is no longer required and many people choose to switch to a thinner setup.

Just remember that the headphone jack and hold switch assembly must match the rear housing you're using.

If you're unsure which parts you need for your build, feel free to get in touch and I'll be happy to help.

Happy modding!

Adam

Retro Refresh