Sony DVP-FX820

Reviewers say the 8-inch Sony DVP-FX820 portable DVD player offers the best value in its class, and that video quality is among the best. The main knock is its skimpy features: Many other players in this price range manage to include USB ports, DivX compatibility and outputs for high-definition audio, but the Sony DVP-FX820 comes with none of these. The consensus is that the 8-inch, 800-by-480-pixel, swiveling widescreen is excellent, and the Sony portable DVD player can play a variety of video formats without issues. Tests show that the rechargeable battery can last up to six hours. The one-year parts warranty is much longer than you'll find on cheap players, but labor is only covered for 90 days. You could save a bit by choosing the 7-inch Coby TF-DVD7377 (*Est. $85) instead, but reviewers don't like it nearly as much as the Sony DVP-FX820.

The Sony DVP-FX820 portable DVD player is selected by experts at CNET and About.com as one of the five best players on the current market. We also found helpful and generally favorable owner reviews for the Sony DVP-FX820 at Amazon.com.