Portable media players review and compare

We test the latest MP3, MP4 and video players to tell you the best buys.
 
Get access to all CHOICE BENEFITS
$1.91/wk
*Billed quarterly
 
 
 
 
  • Updated:12 Nov 2008
 

03.Product profiles

Product profiles - what to buy  

Media players with flash drive

Sony NWZA728B

Price: $199
Capacity: 8GB

Good points:

  • Very good sound quality.
  • Excellent video playback quality.
  • Excellent battery life.
  • Earbuds fit into ear canal.
  • Easily fits in pocket.

Bad points:

  • Had to pay to upgrade Sony software.

Sony NWZA826KB

Price: $229
Capacity: 4GB

Good points:

  • Very good sound quality.
  • Excellent video playback quality.
  • Longest battery life in this test.
  • Earbuds fit into ear canal.
  • Easily fits in pocket.
  • Bluetooth support (headphones included).

Bad points:

  • Only OK sound quality when using the Bluetooth headset.
  • Had to pay to upgrade Sony software.

# Sony NWZA729B

Price: $279
Capacity: 16GB

Good points:

  • Very good sound quality.
  • Excellent video playback quality.
  • Excellent battery life.
  • Earbuds fit into ear canal.
  • Easily fits in pocket.

Bad points:

  • Had to pay to upgrade Sony software.

SanDisk Sansa Fuze

Price: $129
Capacity: 4GB

Good points:

  • Very good sound quality.
  • Compact unit.
  • Least expensive on test.
  • Very good battery life.
  • Easily fits in pocket.
  • Can expand memory.

Bad points:

  • Small screen for video.
  • Necessary video conversion software must be downloaded.

Apple iPod Touch

Price: $549
Capacity: 32GB

Good points:

  • Very good sound quality.
  • Excellent video playback quality.
  • Large screen size.
  • Excellent battery life.
  • Second highest storage capacity.
  • Wi-Fi support (802.11 b/g).

Bad points:

  • Inferior transfer of mpeg-2 video.
  • Relatively expensive.
  • Comparatively large unit.
  • Had to download 3rd party video conversion tool.

Creative Zen X-Fi

Price: $330
Capacity: 16GB

Good points:

  • Rated equal first in sound quality.
  • Excellent video playback quality.
  • Easy transfer of mpeg-2 video.
  • Earbuds fit into ear canal.
  • Comparatively small unit.
  • Wi-Fi support (802.11 b/g).
  • Easily fits in pocket.
  • Can expand memory.

Bad points:

  • Supplied software would not rip properly without upgrade.

Creative Zen X-Fi

Price: $250
Capacity: 8GB

Good points:

  • Rated equal first in sound quality.
  • Excellent video playback quality.
  • Easy transfer of mpeg-2 video.
  • Earbuds fit into ear canal.
  • Comparatively small unit.
  • Relatively inexpensive.
  • Easily fits in pocket.
  • Can expand memory.

Bad points:

  • Supplied software would not rip properly without upgrade.

Media players with hard disk

Cowon iAudio A3

Price: $679
Capacity: 80GB

Good points:

  • Excellent video playback quality.
  • Large screen size.
  • Largest storage capacity.

Bad points:

  • Comparatively expensive.
  • Comparatively large and heavy unit.

Next G phones

Apple iPhone

Price: $Telco dependent
Capacity: 16GB

Good points:

  • Rated equal first in the listening test.
  • Excellent video playback quality.
  • Large screen size.
  • Next G mobile phone with digital camera.
  • Wi-Fi support (802.11 b/g).
  • Bluetooth support.

Bad points:

  • Inferior transfer of mpeg-2 video.
  • Comparatively large unit.
  • Had to download 3rd party video conversion tool.

Product profiles - the rest

Creative Zen

Price: $180
Capacity: 8 GB

Good points

  • Excellent video playback quality.
  • Easy transfer of mpeg-2 video.
  • Comparatively small unit.
  • Comparatively inexpensive.
  • Easily fits in pocket.
  • Can expand memory.

Bad points

  • Nothing to mention.

SanDisk Sansa View

Price: $199
Capacity: 8GB

Good points

  • Easily fits in pocket.
    Can expand memory.

Bad points

  • Had to download SanDisk video conversion software.

# Philips SA5245BT

Price: $180
Capacity: 4GB

Good points

  • Easy transfer of mpeg-2 video.
  • Highest ease of use.
  • Earbuds fit into ear canal.
  • Comparatively inexpensive.
  • Bluetooth support.

Bad points

  • Only scored 50% on video playback.
  • Small screen for video.

Samsung YP-S3A

Price: $149
Capacity: 4GB

Good points

  • Compact unit.
  • Cheapest unit in test.
  • Easily fits in pocket.

Bad points

  • Small screen for video.
  • Inferior transfer of mpeg-2 video.

Lenoxx MP37100

Price: $150
Capacity: 4GB

Good points

  • Comparatively inexpensive.
  • Easily fits in pocket.
  • Comparatively small unit.
  • Can expand memory.

Bad points

  • Lowest rated player in the listening test.
  • Poor video playback quality.
  • Inferior transfer of mpeg-2 video.
  • Lowest score in ease of use.

Next G Profiles

Nokia N95

Price: $1059
Capacity: 8GB

Good points

  • Next G mobile phone with digital camera.
  • Wi-Fi support (802.11 b/g).
  • Bluetooth support.
  • Can expand memory.

Bad points

  • Only OK sound quality.
  • Inferior transfer of mpeg-2 video.
  • Comparatively expensive, but has both camera and phone.
  • A little bulky in the pocket.
  • Only 54% for battery score.
  • Only 50% for video playback quality.

HTC Touch Diamond

Price: $999
Capacity: 4GB

Good points

  • Next G mobile phone with digital camera.
  • Easily fits in pocket.
  • Wi-Fi support (802.11 b/g).
  • Bluetooth support.

Bad points

  • Only OK sound quality.
  • Poor video playback quality.
  • Inferior transfer of mpeg-2 video.
  • Comparatively expensive, but has both camera and phone.

#Discontinued but may still be available in some stores

 

 

How to comment

Here's your chance to join in the debate. Just click in the comment box and let the CHOICE Community know what you think, or view all of the comments on this article.

Reporting offensive comments

If you see something offensive or something that just shouldn't be there, hit the report button and let us know immediately. View the Terms of use for user comments.

 

Make a Comment