You might think that the smartphone killed off the MP3 player, but there’s still life in it yet. Today’s portable music players are a versatile bunch, with some squeezing hundreds of albums into postage stamp-sized devices, and others boasting the very latest in audiophile-quality, hi-res audio technology. And then, of course, the iPod family is still going strong, too.
In this list you’ll find our pick of the best MP3 players and portable music players you can buy right now, and we’ll also go through some of things you need to consider before purchasing. If you’re not sure where to start, then read on, and if you just want the best budget and high-end options, you’ll find our favourites below.
Best MP3 players: Editor’s Picks
Many people looking to buy an MP3 player want something cheap, lightweight and with enough storage space to store their music collection without having to constantly copy files to and fro. For under £25, the SanDisk Clip Jam fits the bill nicely, with great battery life and 8GB of storage which is expandable via a MicroSD card.
If, however, you want a portable media player that can provide stunning hi-res audio, and do justice to a pair of high-end headphones, then the Astell & Kern AK Jr is the premium choice. Its £500 sibling, the AK70, remains the ultimate mobile audiophile accessory, but the AK Jr delivers a potent package for half the price.
How to buy the best music player for you
Can’t I just use my smartphone instead?
If you’re a fitness aficionado and don’t want to take your phone into the gym, or just want something super-lightweight which you can chuck in a pocket, or clip onto your clothes, while going out for a run – an MP3 player is definitely a better choice. Basic models are often far more robust than a smartphone – not least as there’s no expensive screen to break – and some models even add waterproofing, which is perfect for year-round training.
There are other benefits, too. If you’re out and about without your phone charger, playing music through a portable music player isn’t going to drain your phone’s battery. You’ll also be able to take your entire music collection with you, without filling up smartphone storage that you’d rather use for apps, or photos and videos. And if you’re keen on the idea of hi-res audio, you’ll definitely need to shell out on a dedicated player to get the most out of the latest hi-res albums.
How many songs can the average music player hold?
If you’re happy sticking with compressed MP3 music, then even a modest 8GB of storage will be enough for 60 hours of music at the highest possible audio quality. Start dabbling with hi-res audio, however, and 8GB will only be enough for around one-and-a-half hours of the highest-quality DSD audio. Thankfully, most music players have a microSD slot that allows you to expand their storage – except the iPod family, naturally – and microSD cards are cheap to buy.
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How are you planning to use your music player?
As mentioned above, if you need a device for your workouts, then look for one that’s small, light and ideally water- and sweat-proof. The Sony NW-WS415 in this list is a definite winner on that front, and can also be used for swimming if that’s more your thing.
If you’re looking for something to keep you company on long journeys, then we’d opt for something with a longer battery life that also has more storage space. The Sony NW-E394 below should last you 35 hours, while three of the devices on this list come with a microSD slot for you to expand the amount of storage to accommodate even the largest of music collections.
Can I use my MP3 player to stream music?
This could be a dealbreaker for some people, but if you only listen to music through streaming services such as Spotify and Tidal then these music players aren’t for you. The only one that supports streaming services is the AK70 from Astell & Kern, and even then you’ll be limited to listening whilst you’re in reach of a Wi-Fi connection. With the rest you’ll only be able to listen to the physical music that you own, or tunes you download directly.
Best MP3 players to buy
Astell & Kern AK70: The best overall MP3 player
Price when reviewed: £499
If you value sound quality above money in the bank, then the Astell & Kern AK70 is just what you’ve been looking for. Astell & Kern has become synonymous with the best in high resolution sound quality, and this portable music player packs in a superb-sounding DAC and headphone amplifier along with Wi-Fi connectivity so you can stream music from the likes of Spotify and Tidal. It comes with 64GB of internal storage, but the microSD slot allows you to add a further 256GB, which should be enough for the biggest hi-res music collections. This is a wallet-buster but when it comes to looks, features and audio clarity, there’s really nothing better.
Key specs – Size (HWD): 9.7 x 6 x 1.3cm; Weight: 132g; Battery life: 35hrs; Screen size: 3.3in; Storage: 64GB; microSD Slot: Yes; Bluetooth connectivity: Yes; FM radio tuner: No; Wi-fi connectivity: Yes
Apple iPod nano 16GB: The best MP3 player for under £150
Price when reviewed: £139
Apple’s seventh-generation iPod nano is their thinnest and lightest yet. It’s about the same size as a credit card and weighs just 31g, yet it still packs in a gorgeous 2.5in touchscreen. There’s no expandable storage, and the three-and-a-half hours of video playback doesn’t make it much use for watching movies on, but the 30 hours of music playback is respectable. It’s also your ideal workout buddy thanks to the Bluetooth compatibility – which means you can pair the nano with some Bluetooth headphones – and the in-built Nike+ support and pedometer mean that you can track your distance, pace and calories burned during a run or gym session. This is a great-looking, durable iPod that does everything you’d want from it and more.
Key specs– Size (HWD): 7.7 x 4cm x 0.5cm; Weight: 31g; Battery life: 30hrs; Screen size: 2.5in; Storage: 16GB; microSD slot: No; Bluetooth connectivity: Yes (and Nike + Support); FM radio tuner: Yes; Wi-fi connectivity: No
Astell & Kern AK Jr High Resolution Audio Player: The best for sound quality
Price when reviewed: £249
Astell & Kern’s AK Jr offers a taste of the brand’s hi-res excellence for half the price of the AK70. You get 64GB of internal memory to fill with hi-res audio, and there’s also a microSD slot that can add another 64GB. First-rate sound quality comes as standard, and the AK Jr is capable of driving the kind of high-end headphones that lesser players, and most smartphones, will struggle to do justice to. It certainly helps that the AK Jr looks stupendously pretty, but if there’s something that lets it down slightly it’s the relatively short nine-hour battery life. If you want a truly pocketable hi-res player, though, then this is a device that’s worth paying a premium for.
Key specs– Size (HWD): 11.7 x 5.3 x 0.9cm; Weight: 93g; Battery life: 8hrs; Screen size: 3.1in; Storage: 64GB; microSD slot: Yes; Bluetooth connectivity: Yes; FM radio tuner: No; Wi-fi connectivity: No
Sony NW-WS415 Waterproof 4GB: The best MP3 player for workouts
Price when reviewed: £69
Sony describes its NW-WS413 as the ultimate training partner and after giving this five stars a few years ago, we’re not going to disagree. The unusual design is both music player and earphones in one, and while its head-hugging design holds firmly in place while jogging or cycling, it’s also completely waterproof to a depth of two metres so can be used in the pool. Battery life is a very reasonable 12 hours of battery life given the size and lack of weight, and the Ambient Sound Mode is a stroke of genius: it lets you tweak the amount of external noise that’s piped through the headphones, so you don’t get caught unawares by other runners, or traffic. Storage space is very limited, but for upbeat workout playlists, the 4GB should be more than enough.
Key specs– Size (HxWxD): Not disclosed; Weight: 32g; Battery life: 12hrs; Screen size: N/A; Storage: 4GB; microSD slot: No; Bluetooth connectivity: No; FM radio tuner: No; Wi-fi connectivity: No
SanDisk Clip Jam: The best MP3 player for ease of use
Price when reviewed: £24
If all you’re looking for is an inexpensive, tiny MP3 player, then the SanDisk Clip Jam is the one for you. As the name suggests, its tiny dimensions mean that you can literally clip it onto your clothing and it’ll all but disappear in a pocket. The 8GB of storage will be enough for most people, but the microSD slot allows you to squeeze on even the most epic of music collections. You’ll also get 18 hours listening out of a single charge. The presence of an FM radio tuner is a bit of a boon, too. It doesn’t come with the same bells and whistles as the iPod nano, but for something cheap and easy to use, it’s a fantastic option.
Key specs - size (HxWxD): 4.6cm x 4.6cm x 1.6cm; Weight: 22.7g; Battery life: 18hrs; Screen size: 0.96in; Storage: 8GB; microSD slot: Yes; Bluetooth connectivity: Yes; FM radio tuner: Yes; Wi-fi connectivity: No