Cheap MP3 Players

What you can get for less than $100

If you don't need that much capacity, there are lots of MP3 players available for less than $100, and many for less than $50. But there are often some trade-offs.

Praise is considerably more muted for the stripped-down iPod shuffle in 1 GB (*Est. $50) and 2 GB (*Est. $70) capacities, Apple's other flash-memory player. This stripped-down player is tiny, but doesn't have a display screen at all.

While being able to view song information on a little LCD screen may not seem like a big deal on paper, not having it means that on-the-go flexibility is lost. It's virtually impossible to find a specific song on the iPod shuffle since you can't visually scroll through a list of music on the player. You can't create playlists on the go, and instead you're limited to assembling and transferring playlists ahead of time on your computer using iTunes software or only listening to songs in shuffle mode.

The SanDisk Sansa Fuze (*Est. $60 for 2 GB) is noted as a great value in reviews, and it does have a screen (albeit a small one). You get an FM tuner, voice recording, microSD card expansion (with files on the card integrated into the player's library) and support for music subscription services. Jasmine France of CNet.com says the player delivers strong midranges, detailed high ranges and "reasonable bass," though this was tested with two high-quality headphones instead of the included earbuds. CNet.com also got impressive results from the battery, about 28 hours of audio (versus the 24 advertised) and 6.5 hours of video (versus the five advertised). Other reviewers got closer to 20 hours of audio, which is still good for this type of player.

At 1.9 inches, the display on the Sansa Fuze is only slightly smaller than the iPod nano's, but it doesn't come close to the nano's crisp picture. The Fuze screen is coated with material that gives the impression of a "grainy shadow," according to CNet's Jasmine France, who adds "This dulling shadow also affects photos and videos, slightly diminishing the overall quality of viewing." You'll also need to convert all videos and photos with software that comes packaged with the player before you can view them, a hassle if you have many of them. All reviewers agree that while the Fuze is fine for short viewing, those wanting some serious video playback should look elsewhere. Another complaint we saw in reviews -- relatively limited file support -- has been largely addressed in a recent firmware update.

The iRiver Lplayer (4 GB (*Est. $70), 8 GB (*Est. $100)) gets some nice recommendations from non-U.S. reviewers, including Britain's Trusted Reviews and Australia's GoodGearGuide, though AnythingButiPod.com is a little less excited -- saying it is "great," but without much in the way of innovation. At just 2 inches, most people won't want to spend much time viewing videos, but reports say it's sharp and crisp, with excellent color. The only drawback is that the reflective screen does not stand up well to sunlight. Most say audio quality is great, but Grahm Skee at AnythingButiPod.com calls it only mediocre.

The cheapest MP3 player to consistently get rave reviews is the SanDisk Sansa Clip in 1 GB (*Est. $35 for 1 GB), 2 GB (*Est. $50) and 4 GB (*Est. $60) capacities. You don't get video or photo viewing capabilities at this price, but the 1-inch OLED screen makes navigating through tracks convenient. The player comes with a clip, and users agree that it's a great MP3 player for the gym. Battery life is decent with reviewers getting between 12 and 14 hours. It's not Mac-friendly and there's no AC adapter, so you need a computer connection to charge it through a USB port (much like the iPod shuffle).

Most reviewers agree that the SanDisk Sansa Clip's sound quality and feature set make up for these shortcomings. Australia's GoodGearGuide.com is impressed, saying that the Clip is "nicely balanced, with a rich mid range, powerful bass and sparkling highs." Jasmine France of CNet.com reacts in a similar way following her tests. The Clip packs an FM tuner that allows you to record radio shows, a voice recorder and music subscription support. Although the Clip can't stack up to the quality of more expensive players like the iPod nano and Creative Zen, reviewers and users say you definitely get your money's worth.

Those looking for an inexpensive but functional MP3 player might find the 2 GB Samsung YP-U3 (*Est. $60) MP3 player of interest. PC Magazine's Tim Gideon says the YP-U3 is a good value because of its interface and overall physical design. Andrew Kliem of GoodGearGuide.com thinks the YP-U3 delivers "brilliant sound quality," but reviewers at both CNet and AnythingButiPod.com are underwhelmed.

Another disappointment is the lack of FM recording, but the Samsung YP-U3 MP3 player has a few other goodies. An FM radio is present, as is the ability to make voice recordings. It also supports music subscription tracks. The YP-U3 isn't Mac compatible, though, and battery life is about 12 hours.

Finally, among budget MP3 players, the 2 GB Creative Zen Stone Plus (*Est. $55) gets some recommendations. This player is similar to Creative's Zen Stone (*Est. $40) except it comes with a tiny 3/4-inch screen, an FM tuner and voice recording. Most reviewers are disappointed with the user interface and complain of sluggish response when flipping through tracks. Sound quality, however, is impressive with strong mids and highs. There's also a voice-recording feature.

However, the Zen Stone Plus doesn't support music subscription services. Like all of Creative's players, you can't use it with a Mac. Reviewers got less impressive battery life than either the Sansa Clip or the YP-U3 with seven to eight hours of playback.