The best MP3 players for the money (2023)

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Today, most people use their smartphones to listen to music, podcasts and audiobooks on the go, but there are still dedicated digital music players out there, some of them costing hundreds of dollars. Why buy an MP3 player? A small, lightweight device is much easier to take on a run or to the gym than a phone. Most MP3 players are also considerably cheaper to replace than a smartphone if you break or lose them, a special consideration if you're a parent looking for an MP3 player for your kids. For discerning music lovers, some MP3 players are capable of playing high-resolution digital files for high-quality sound on the go.

We scoured the web for the latest expert test results and consulted hundreds of MP3 player reviews published by consumers to identify the best MP3 players. All of our picks have at least 12 hours of battery life, and most have at least 4GB of memory, which is more than enough to store a day of non-stop music. Some MP3 players are also equipped with Bluetooth and can be paired with wireless headphones, a laptop or a stereo to easily play your favorite songs over a home speaker system. Other cool features include a waterproof or waterproof case and clip so you can use your music while working or exercising.

No set of MP3 players would be complete without products from Sony, the brand that pioneered portable music players in 1979 with its classic Walkman. We've got two from the company's recent lineup, including a pair of headphones with a built-in MP3 player that's great for sweaty workouts or swimming. Of course, an Apple iPod is also on our list, along with a fitness tracker with MP3 playback that's giving the Apple Watch a run for its money. Unless otherwise noted, all products come with a one-year limited warranty.

Prices and availability are subject to change.

SANDISK CLIP SPORT PLUS | Best Value MP3 Player

That. Price:$ 55 |comprein the amazon

Benefits:

• 16 GB of storage for up to 4,000 songs.
• Bluetooth for wireless connectivity.
• Built-in FM tuner.
• Waterproof.
• 2 year limited warranty.

Contras:

• Playing audiobooks, especially Audible downloads, can be buggy.
• It's not as solidly built or as user-friendly as previous models, say some longtime owners.
• Some reports of premature battery death; the battery is not replaceable.

To load:Sandisk is one of the biggest manufacturers of computer memory cards, drives and other storage, so it's no surprise that the company also makes digital music players. Sandisk MP3 players are a critics' favorite and have a good mix of features for the money. The Sandisk Clip Sport Plus offers plenty of built-in storage and good sound quality in a lightweight package designed with training in mind. Designed to clip easily and securely to your waistband or pocket like a pager, this little player stays in place during exercise, say most users (although some complain that the clip broke after several months of use). Sandisk claims this MP3 player can run for 20 hours before needing to be recharged via the included micro USB 2.0 cable, and users confirm that it can easily help you get through a full and active day.

AGPTEK A02 8GB | The best cheap MP3 player

That. Price:US$ 26 |comprein the amazon

Benefits:

• 8 GB memory stores up to 2,000 songs; Expandable up to 64 GB with a micro SD card.
• It works like a voice recorder.
• Built-in FM radio.
• Very low price; a good mp3 player for kids.

Contras:

• Micro SD cards tend to get stuck in the memory card reader.
• The controls are difficult to use, say some owners.
• Sound quality is not up to par with more expensive MP3 players.
• Some say the construction looks flimsy.

To load:If all you (or your kids) want to do is play music and you don't mind extra features like Bluetooth, an inexpensive MP3 player like the Agptek A02 is all you really need, reviewers say. The micro SD port supports more than enough memory to store songs from a library. But several owners complain that Agptek organizes music files randomly and it's impossible to play an entire album in sequential order or resume playing a track where you paused it. We've also encountered scattered complaints about poor build quality and players that stop working after a few weeks (a very common complaint about cheap MP3 players in general). Agptek claims up to 70 hours of playback time on a full three to four hour charge, or up to 12 hours of FM radio time. While we haven't found any evidence to support this, reviewers say they have around a day of use on a full charge, which should be enough for most users' needs.

APPLE IPOD TOUCH 32GB | apple mp3 player

That. Price:$ 185 |compreof fate

Benefits:

• More internal memory than most other MP3 players.
• Play music, videos and games like an iPhone.
• Integrated camera and Retina display.
• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capability.
• Works with Apple's Siri digital assistant.

Contras:

• Relatively expensive.
• Bigger than other MP3 players.

To load:Apple officially phased out the iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle in 2017, leaving only the iPod Touch to continue this product line. While some say the iPhone makes this digital music player redundant, those are exactly the features usually reserved for smartphones: apps and Internet access, the ability to send email and text messages, an 8-inch megapixel camera, and an A8 processor. speed, along with 32GB of memory, make the Apple iPod Touch stand out from other MP3 players. The interface is very intuitive and easy to use. According to reviewers, this iPod never crashes when playing media (something cheaper MP3 players tend to do). Apple claims the battery lasts 40 hours of music, although a small minority of owners say the battery drains much sooner. For those with larger music libraries, there's a version with 128GB of memory for about $100 more (available on amazon).

SONY A40 WALKMAN A SERIES NW-A45 | Sony Audiophile MP3 Player

That. Price:$ 178 |comprein the amazon

Benefits:

• 16 GB of memory plus a micro SD slot.
• Supports 24-bit High-Resolution Audio for higher-than-CD quality playback.
• Digital noise cancellation blocks out ambient sounds.
• Bluetooth and NFC connectivity.

Contras:

• Expensive for an MP3 player.
• Patented charging cable.
• No playing videos.
• No app store.

To load:Experts give this Sony Walkman MP3 player positive marks, but with a caveat: unless you're into hi-res music (and have the headphones or speaker system to support it), this is very yet another MP3 player. what most people need. Reviewers say it's a good entry-level player for audiophiles, who would normally have to pay hundreds of dollars more for a model that supports uncompressed digital music files. This MP3 player eschews many of the iPod extras that many music lovers consider unimportant, instead focusing on simple music quality at a price that experts and audiophiles alike find relatively low. Adding music is a simple drag and drop, though several people complain that the interface for organizing albums, songs, and playlists can be inconsistent or confusing to use (getting the right album art to display seems to be a particular challenge). Another downside: with only 16GB of internal memory, you'll definitely need a micro SD card if you're playing uncompressed files (which take up a lot more memory than CD-quality files and most music downloaded online). Sony promises up to 45 hours of use on a full charge, but some reviewers say battery life is much less when using Bluetooth or playing larger music files.

SONY NW-WS413 | Auriculares MP3

That. Price:$ 80 |buy themda Best Buy

Benefits:

• Water resistant up to 2 meters; can be used for swimming.
• 3-minute quick charge option; Fully charges in 60 minutes.
• Very lightweight at only 1.1 oz.

Contras:

• The earbuds don't fit perfectly or comfortably for some users.
• Volume could be higher, say some critics.

To load:Of course, waterproof MP3 players and MP3 headphones are niche products, but for active users who love to listen to music while swimming or exercising, reviewers say the Sony NW-WS413 is a good option. There are no cables connected to a music player; These Sony headphones have a built-in 4GB MP3 player. It's very easy to transfer music files from your computer with the included USB cable and software, users report and play, pause and skip songs while exercising. This Sony MP3 player is fresh and salt water resistant, and several owners express surprise at the sound quality of the headphones while swimming, although some say they had to replace the headphones to get a truly waterproof fit. 'water. Overall though, consumers seem to have few serious complaints about this portable MP3 player. Avid fitness enthusiasts appreciate the fact that they don't have to carry a separate music player with them during workouts, and have been very pleased with the ease and performance of the Sony NW-WS413.

FITBIT VERSA | MP3 watch and fitness tracker

That. Price:$ 200 |comprein the amazon

Benefits:

• Cheaper than an Apple Watch and other smartwatches with similar features.
• Water resistant up to 50 meters.
• Relatively long battery life.
• Compatible with iOS and Android devices.

Contras:

• Only 2.5GB of memory, less than other MP3 players.
• Bluetooth connectivity can be unreliable.
• Without cellular connection or GPS.

To load:If you're a fitness buff who likes to track your workouts and don't like being weighed down by multiple devices, a sports watch that doubles as both a fitness tracker and MP3 player might be a better option than a stand-up one. digital music player only. Fitbit makes some of the most popular activity trackers on the market, and many experts say the brand's latest smartwatch is second to none when it comes to fitness services, including on-screen workouts, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking and monitoring. of women's health. characteristics. On the music playback front, this device has some notable drawbacks. For one thing, it only has 2.5GB of memory, which means it can only store a fraction of the music that a dedicated MP3 player can. Also, while the Fitbit has an app store, it's much more limited than Apple's or Google's, and you won't find many popular apps like Spotify. Still, reviewers generally agree that the Fitbit Versa is a great alternative to an Apple Watch at half the price. Fitbit claims the Versa can last four days between charges, and while analysts say the estimate is too optimistic, it outperformed the "iWatch" in tests done byCNET.