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Samsung YP-U3

*Est. $60

Samsung YP-U3

pros
  • Inexpensive
  • Good-looking and compact
  • FM radio
  • Voice recorder
cons
  • Battery life is lower than promised
  • Problems using it as a flash storage device
 
 
Where to Buy
  • Amazon

    for $79.99

  • eBay

    for $34.99

  • Overstock.com

    for $36.49

 
 
 

The Samsung YP-U3, a fairly basic, inexpensive flash-based player, is generally well-received overall by professional reviewers, who try to keep reader expectations in perspective with regard to price. Customer reviews aren't necessarily that generous. CNet.com editors are a bit lukewarm about the YP-U3 -- for some reason it doesn't appear on the site's list of best budget players despite having a higher score than two of the six rated players. Laptop magazine and GoodGearGuide.com love the YP-U3 and support their views with some good arguments.

User reviews are a little tougher on the YP-U3, with a number of contributors upset that the player, which plugs directly into your computer rather than attaching via cable, doesn't work as a flash storage device as Samsung claims. Professional reviewers don't even mention this feature as a possibility. Customers seeking an alternative flash-based device should also look at the Creative Zen V Plus (4 GB, *est. $90), another ConsumerSearch top pick and CNet.com's top-rated flash player. Some of the usual review standbys, such as Consumer Reports magazine, PC Magazine and PC World magazine hadn't reviewed the Samsung YP-U3 as of this writing. CNet.com weighs in with its hands-on use and lab testing, and its encyclopedic coverage of digital audio players gives it a broader frame of reference than Laptop magazine and Australia's GoodGearGuide.com. All three professional reviewers test battery life, and all observe that it falls short of the promised 15 hours. Only CNet seems especially concerned about this.

Where To Buy
 
 
Featured StoresStore RatingNotesTotal Price
AmazonAmazon rated 3.50 (1651 reviews)1651 store reviewsIn Stock. Get free shipping on orders over $25!$79.99
eBayeBay rated 4.00 (1175 reviews)1175 store reviewsIn Stock. $34.99
Amazon MarketplaceAmazon Marketplace rated 3.00 (168 reviews)168 store reviewsIn Stock. Fantastic prices with ease & comfort of Amazon.com!$51.99
 
 
 

Our Sources

1. CNET

CNet.com says the U3 "looks strikingly like a six-stick pack of Doublemint" and is an attractive bare-bones product, but its sound quality is "flat" and the battery life tested at 11.8 hours compared with the promised 15.

Review: Samsung U3 , Jasmine France, Aug. 16, 2007

2. GoodGearGuide.com

Australia's GoodGearGuide.com loves the Samsung YP-U3, giving it the maximum five stars and calling it "one of the best flash media players we've reviewed" -- high praise for a basic model. One negative: Observed battery life of 13 hours falls short of the promised 15.

Review: Samsung YP-U3, Andrew Kliem, June 21, 2007

3. Laptop Magazine

Laptop magazine tries to do the right things with hands-on use testing and lab testing. (Battery tests showed 12 hours instead of the promised 15.) Reviewer Joanna Stern gives the U3 a rating of four out of five stars, saying that it exceeds expectations as a basic music player.

Review: Samsung U3, Joanna Stern, Nov. 14, 2007

4. Amazon.com

There's a smattering of customer reviews at Amazon.com spread among various Samsung YP-U3 versions. A relatively high proportion of critical feedback focuses mostly on a lack of success in trying to use the U3 as a flash storage device users can plug into their computers.

Review: Samsung YP-U3JQB 2 GB Touch Control MP3 Player Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com

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