MP3 Players: Reviews

Updated December 2008

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Best MP3 player overall

*Est. $140 for 8 GB Compare Prices

The Apple iPod nano is the top-rated MP3 player among critics. Most say it's easy to use, and they love the updated slim design. Audio quality is good, and video playback is impressive despite the small 2-inch screen.… Apple has also added some new features like Genius playlists, shake-to-shuffle and a tilt-sensor screen. Be aware, however, that it's incompatible with some third-party accessories that worked with earlier-generation players. A 16 GB version (*est. $180) is also available.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNet.com gives the iPod nano a high rating in this detailed review. Donald Bell says that it's "easy on the eyes and the wallet," ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine gives the Apple iPod nano an Editors' Choice designation, saying it "makes the competition look like a bunch of ...

ConsumerReports.org: The Apple iPod nano is rated by Consumer Reports among the flash-based MP3 players covered in the latest report, but you'll need ...

Laptop Magazine: This report at Laptop magazine is detailed and insightful. Mike Kobrin says that the latest iPod nano has all of the best ...

Amazon.com: As of this writing, there were more than 200 reviews of the latest Apple iPod nano on Amazon.com. While many users are pleased, ...

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Best value

Sandisk Sansa Fuze

*Est. $60 for 2 GB Compare Prices

While most critics say the iPod nano is the best MP3 player overall, many are impressed with SanDisk Sansa Fuze's audio performance and features. The screen can't rival the nano's, but you get an FM tuner, support for… subscription-based music services and a memory card slot. Although this isn't the best player for viewing videos and photos, reviewers agree that sound quality is good. Battery life is about 20 hours, and it'll work with a Mac. The Fuze also is available in versions with 4 GB and 8 GB of memory.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNet.com rates the SanDisk Sansa Fuze higher than any other "budget" MP3 player. Great value and solid sound quality are listed ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine delivers a satisfactorily detailed report on the SanDisk Sansa Fuze. While not innovative, the player is described as ...

PC World: PC World falls short of most top reviewers when it comes to discussion, but the magazine's opinions are backed by lab and ...

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports provides the less commentary than most top reviewers, but the quality of its testing is well regarded. The ...

Amazon.com: While Amazon.com has lots of different flavors of the SanDisk Sansa Zune listed, the 8 GB version draws the most user feedback by ...

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Alternative to iPod nano

Creative Zen

*Est. $70 for 2 GB Compare Prices

Reviewers say non-Mac users should seriously consider the Creative Zen. At 2.5 inches, the screen beats the iPod nano's. It also has an FM tuner and memory card slot. You'll have no trouble playing music-subscription… tracks on it. Sound and video quality is great, although you need to convert videos before playing them on the Zen. Battery life isn't as long as advertised, and tracks on external memory cards aren't integrated into the player's libraries, like on the Sansa Fuze. You can also find the player with 4 GB, 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB of storage.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: While this isn't among one of CNet.com's more detailed reports, Jasmine France does a nice job reporting on highs and lows, and ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine gives the Creative Zen one of the lower ratings of any reviewer, but still finds enough to like to say that the ...

PC World: The Creative Zen is complimented in this review for its great feature lineup. Darren Gladstone adds that it racked up ...

ConsumerReports.org: To see Consumer Reports' ratings of 35 flash players, which includes a rating for the Creative Zen, you'll need a subscription. ...

Amazon.com: More than 600 users have chimed in with opinions about the Creative Zen. The vast majority gives it either four or five stars ...

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Best large-capacity MP3 player

Apple iPod classic

*Est. $230 for 120 GB Compare Prices

The latest iPod classic MP3 player can hold up to 30,000 songs or 150 hours of video. You get the Genius playlist feature and voice recording, though you'll need to have a compatible headset with a microphone. Battery… life is excellent, and sound quality is as good as ever. As with all iPods, the hardware and iTunes software and extensive music store integrate well to create a seamless user experience. Videos display nicely on the 2.5-inch screen.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNet.com updates its coverage of the iPod classic to incorporate changes introduced this year, including the Genius playlist ...

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports tests and rates seven hard-drive MP3 players, including the latest iPod classic. Testing is unbiased, and ...

iLounge.com: iLounge.com, which reports on everything iPod, delivers what's easily the most comprehensive report we've seen on the current ...

Macworld: Macworld does hands-on and laboratory testing, but it reviews only iPods. Christopher Breen says the small improvements are nice, ...

Amazon.com: Dozens of Amazon.com user reviews of the Apple iPod classic have been posted here. Some are quite long and detailed. Some ...

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eBay

for $211.95

Abt Electronics & Applian

for $249.00

Crutchfield

for $249.99

Alternative to iPod classic

Microsoft Zune

*Est. $230 for 120 GB Compare Prices

Reviewers say Microsoft's 120 GB Zune is a worthy competitor to the iPod classic, especially for those not already wedded to iTunes. The Zune offers Wi-Fi for syncing wirelessly with your PC's music collection or… downloading tracks from Zune Marketplace. The 3.2-inch display is larger than the iPod classic's 2.5-inch screen, yet the player is roughly the same size. You also get an FM tuner. Unfortunately, the high-quality earphones that were packaged with the previous version of the player are missing, and battery life isn't great. Flash versions of the player are also available, but have not been well received.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: CNet.com places the Microsoft Zune atop rankings of hard-drive MP3 players. The large storage capacity and availability of a ...

PCMag.com: PC Magazine gives the current Microsoft Zune an Editors' Choice award. Tim Gideon says that the iPod can't compete with the ...

Laptop Magazine: Laptop magazine also gives the Zune an Editors' Choice award. More features -- including wireless connectivity -- are a big ...

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports is a trusted source of unbiased product evaluations that spares little effort in the lab. However, you'll need a ...

Amazon.com: There are more than 100 customer reviews of the 120 GB Microsoft Zune at Amazon.com, giving the device an average four out of ...

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Budget MP3 player

SanDisk Sansa Clip

*Est. $35 for 1 GB Compare Prices

The SanDisk Sansa Clip is one of the cheapest and smallest MP3 players around. You won't get video or photo capabilities, but the 1-inch screen makes flipping through tracks easy. Sound quality gets a thumbs-up from most… reviewers. The Clip has an FM tuner, voice recording and supports subscription music tracks. Battery life isn't bad either. Unlike the Sansa Fuze, the Sansa Clip is not Mac-compatible. The Clip also comes in 2 GB (*est. $50) and 4 GB (*est. $60) capacities.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CNet.com: This report, which was updated in Nov. 2008 to reflect a firmware upgrade that increased file compatibility, is nicely detailed. ...

PCMag.com: Buggy bundled software and "horrible" earbuds aren't enough to offset the value provided by the SanDisk Sansa Clip according to ...

TrustedReviews.com: Britain's Trusted Reviews is so taken with the SanDisk Sansa Clip that it bestows a Recommended award on the MP3 player. Jonathan ...

GoodGearGuide.com: You can count this Australian site among those that find lots to like in the SanDisk Sansa Clip MP3 player. Andrew Kliem's review ...

Amazon.com: At last look, 300 customers have weighed in on the 1 GB SanDisk Sansa Clip, and the results are an impressive 4.5 out of five ...

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Apple iPod Touch 8 GB MP3 Player *Est. $220

7 picks by top review sites.

Creative Zen Stone Plus *Est. $55

3 picks by top review sites.

Samsung YP-U3 *Est. $60

3 picks including: Amazon.com, CNet.com…

SanDisk Sansa View 8 GB *Est. $120 for 8 GB

3 picks by top review sites.

Samsung YP-P2 4 GB *Est. $175 for 4 GB

2 picks by top review sites.

Creative Zen Stone *Est. $40

2 picks by top review sites.

iRiver Lplayer 8 GB *Est. $100

2 picks by top review sites.

Creative Zen X-Fi *Est. $115 for 8 GB

2 picks by top review sites.


	Creative Zen Stone Plus 2 GB MP3 Player (Red) from Amazon.com New: $31.95 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Samsung YP-U3JQB 2GB Touch Control MP3 Player (Black) from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	SanDisk Sansa View 8 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) from Amazon.com New: $78.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Samsung YP-P2JAR P2 4 GB Slim Portable Media Player (Burgundy) from Amazon.com New: $159.17 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Creative Zen Stone 1 GB MP3 Player (Pink) from Amazon.com New: $19.94 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	iriver Lplayer 8 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Creative Zen X-Fi 8 GB Video MP3 Player with Built-In Speaker (Black/Silver) from Amazon.com New: $129.97 In Stock. Average Customer Review:

MP3 Players: Reviews

Best MP3 player overall

Best value

Alternative to iPod nano

Best large-capacity MP3 player

Alternative to iPod classic

Budget MP3 player

MP3 Players by Price Range