Choosing the best MP3 player can be a difficult quest if you are not sure what you really need or want. Perhaps you want the best portable MP3 player or a budget option under 50 bucks. It all depends on your criteria and your needs.
However, there are some factors you should consider. We are here to help you with that. We are going to show you some of the best MP3 players on the market and give you some tips on what to look for in a good MP3 player.
This should help you decide on what kind of player you need. Your choice might not be the best cheap MP3 player, but the one that meets all your needs, even if it is a bit more expensive.
Top Picks:
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How to Choose the Best MP3 Player
Memory Storage
Memory space is a very important aspect for selecting the right MP3 Player, same as when it comes to choosing a flash drive. What you want to look for is a player that has large enough memory storage to fulfill your needs, depending on the reason for which you are buying the product itself.
Portability Options
Depending on the reason you are looking for an MP3 player, you might also need to check the portability issues, whether the device is small enough to pack it for long travels, or whether it is light enough so you could wear it while doing your workouts. In that case, you would need to find a suitable MP3 player for working out.
Interface
The interface is an important factor to look at because some players have complicated UI, which can be a problem for some people. Therefore, you should check if the UI suits you before you buy the product. For instance, if you want to get the best MP3 player for running, you might need to get the one with a simple interface, so you wouldn’t have to spend too much time on tinkering with settings.
Power and Charging
Whether you are trying to get a good MP3 player for audiobooks or for some other reason, you need to think about the battery life. If you need the player that can be easily charged and that can last long, you might need to look for ones with long-lasting batteries.
Accessories
Sometimes it is good to know if the certain MP3 player supports other devices, such as some types of gaming headsets, in which case you may need to look for a MP3 player with Bluetooth. Or perhaps you need it to work on certain operating systems.
8 Best MP3 Players
HiBy R6 Pro
MP3 Player for the Best Sound Experience
HiBy R6 Pro features the latest version of Android 8.1 OS, which means that this music player has entered the Android Oreo Era.
It comes with an intelligent audio system, which allows you to experience HiFi music as comfortably and as smoothly as possible.
HiBy R6 Pro comes with the overall inner upgrade, with MUSES8920 as I/V. There are two high-precision crystal oscillators, to ensure low phase noise.
Also, this MP3 player features Polymer Capacitor from Panasonic, which has Low-ESR for power circuit, alongside Elna SILMIC audio grade capacitors for the output of power.
In order to ensure that there is no interference, there is dual ES9028Q2M for the DAC in the voltage output mode.
When it comes to its design, HiBy R6 Pro is made of high-quality materials, since it features Japanese NIPPON DICS 4.4 Balance Case, which makes it a bit larger and more durable.
Apart from that, there is a built-in HiBy Link Control, which allows you to control and manage your playlist by using your mobile phone.
Pros:
- Fast and reliable
- Excellent sound output
- Durable design
- Wireless control
- Minimum interference
Cons:
- Very expensive
Sony NW-A55/B
The Perfect Addition for Every Music Enthusiast With a Taste for Specialized Devices
Portable sound systems are all around us, and they keep on improving as the years pass. Yet, despite the improvements, issues regarding battery life, cost, and sub-par speakers (among other things) are unusually common, even among high-end mobile phones. This elegant, premium quality MP3 Player from Sony provides a universal solution.
With the S-Master HX upscaling, your favorite tracks become Hi-Res audio during the entirety of music playback. The DSEE HX feature can restore every last one of your compressed music files, transferring them all to high-resolution audio that you can feel!
Thanks to precision engineering, the premium aluminum milled frame allows for minimum impedance, and the circuit board is gold-played, giving the device a luxurious and sturdy feel.
The touch screen is large and vibrant, giving you easy control of all the MP3 players’ core functions and quick music selection. It even allows you to expand the memory with a micro SD card, making it an expansive music library and player all in one!
Take it wherever you go and combine it with Bluetooth speakers or headsets, or plug in a pair of earbuds- it can support all of the options and keep on playing for 45 hours without end!
This is a fantastic choice for just about any music enthusiast looking for a specialized device with an abundance of possible capabilities.
Pros:
- High-quality sound
- Fantastic build quality
- Bluetooth included
- Long-lasting battery life
- Compatible with SD card memory upgrades
- Affordable
Cons:
- The software can sometimes be a bit buggy
Apple iPod Touch
Magnificent Device for Playing Music, Games and AR Applications
Just looking at the Apple iPod Touch would bring back old memories of iPhone 4. With pretty similar looks, this 4-inch iPod with Retina Display is a great choice for everyone who appreciates both style and functionality. With it, you can keep your favorite songs and games right in your pocket.
Apple iPod Touch has a built-in A10 Fusion Chip, which gives almost doubled overall performance and three times faster, more efficient and elegant graphics. Along with that comes the option to use Group FaceTime feature to have group calls and chats with your friends.
It has two options when it comes connecting it to other devices. You can either use WiFi or Bluetooth. This device is the part of the new 7th generation of iPod Touch, so you can expect great iOS support and high-quality performance.
When it comes to the storage space, it comes in three versions: 32gb, 128gb, and 256gb, so there is something for everyone.
Pros:
- Faster performance and graphics than its predecessors
- Multiple connectivity options, such as WiFi and Bluetooth
- Large storage space
- Perfect for children
- Multi-purpose device (you can use apps and send messages from it)
Cons:
- Might be too much for people who just want to have a device for listening to the music
Cowon Plenue V
A Cutting-Edge Sound System That Combines Elegance With Immense Audio Quality
The moment you lay your eyes on this beauty, the sheer level of detail that went into making this device a top of the class choice becomes evident. High memory, high quality of sound, and a multitude of filters and modes define this exemplary stylish and powerful music player.
The next-gen DAC, known as the CS43131, is built to impress. Aside from reproducing sound perfectly, it has integrated headphone amplifiers to bring your experience to an entirely new level.
This generation of DAC’s doesn’t require much power to bring out the highest quality sound so that you could use it for hours on end, even on the highest settings.
You can micro-tune your music player with five digital filters, giving every track a unique touch that makes replaying songs feel like an entirely new experience altogether.
Features such as the SNR, THD+N, and Crosstalk make this device stand out as a studio-quality gadget that goes well beyond the boundaries of a music player, making your entire experience with it a 24bit/192kHz resolution wonder that changes filters and flavors at a moments notice!
Pros:
- One of the best music players in terms of sound quality
- DSD CD format included
- 5 distinct digital filters
- 24bit/192kHz resolution sound
- Tons of tools to amplify your entire experience
- Luxurious and beautiful design
Cons:
- As you can expect, this is one of the more expensive options
FiiO M11
Best for Long Playlists
FiiO M11 features an in-cell touch screen, which is 18:9 and works in 1440x720p resolution, which means that it is a full-view display. To make everything clear, PPI or Pixel Density is 312 and there are 16.7M colors.
As for the available storage, this MP3 player has 3GB internal storage, where you can install and use third-party software, with up to 2TB capacity for external storage.
When it comes to performance, FiiO M11 comes with a powerful 6-core processor chip, which is Samsung Exynos 7872, alongside Flagship DAC chips dual AK4493.
The decoding is also pretty good, with PCM being 284kHz/32bit plus Native DSD256, alongside iSO tracks in DST codec.
As for additional connectivity, there are a lot of options. It supports headphone outputs that are 2.5mm, 3.5mm or 4.4mm respectively.
Apart from that, there is Two-Way LDAC Bluetooth support, as well as two-way Type-C and USB Audio/DAC and SPDIF output, with the full support for Wireless file transfer.
Pros:
- Excellent touch display
- A large amount of internal storage and external memory limit
- Great sound output
- Good connection options
- Powerful hardware
Cons:
- Need to be recharged offline, without working
HiBy R3 Pro
A Pocket Music Buddy for Every Occasion
Hiby has indeed done a marvelous job of producing a miniature music player that is extremely lightweight – especially useful for consumers who wish to take it with them wherever they go, yet this is not this device’s best trait!
This device uses Dual CS43131 components, Cirrus Logic’s line of MasterHif fidelity DAC chips. The playback capabilities can achieve up to 32 bit/384kHz, bringing unique sound wherever you are.
The Two-way UAT optimizes a wide variety of music genres at a sampling rate of 192kHz with a bandwidth of 1.2Mbps, offering a lightning-fast and delightful user experience.
The FPGA chip and dual crystal oscillators (22.5792MHz and 24.576MHz) reduce jitter, increase the accuracy of sound reproduction, and minimize any phase noise – all in one gadget!
The MSEB tuner is one of the best tuners out in the market – it allows just about anyone to tune their device without training.
With the Quobuz music library and Tidal implementation that you can access via wifi, you can use this device as a dedicated music library and music player all in one – with a stellar performance on both ends.
Pros:
- Ultraportable and powerful
- Dual crystal oscillators
- Online music library
- Intuitive UI
- Long-lasting battery life
- Constantly improving software
Cons:
- Bluetooth can be somewhat unstable
- Lack of user support on the manufacturer’s website
FiiO M3 Pro
An Affordable Multi-Purpose MP3 Device
The very definition of mp3 players mandates specialized use within one area, yet Fiio’s newest market contender expands the boundaries and becomes a highly-powerful music player with a handful of smartphone-like additions.
With one of the newest high-performance processors, the Ingenic X1000E, you hold a device that ultra-responsive and fast while not being too much power demanding.
But that is not all you get, as with the preinstalled ES9218P DAC chip, you get the absolute highest digital to analog conversion, enabling you to sit back and experience the music as if you were at a live play!
The expensive capabilities of this already potent device allow for an upgrade by installing a micro SD card. Doing that activates the device’s recording functionality, allowing you to use it as a recorder to playback all the sounds you save in crystal clear quality.
This gadget also serves as a portable e-book library. The IPS 3.5-inch touchscreen is perfect for turning pages and viewing all the content in a 340*800 resolution, with adjustable brightness to suit all light levels.
The battery life can keep your device going for 15 hours without end and 35 days in sleep mode. With everything you get for such a modest price, it is no wonder this device has won over the market in such a short timespan!
Pros:
- Powerful, high-grade components
- Multi-functionality
- High-fidelity recording
- Long battery life
- Compact design
- Intuitive UI and 3 control buttons
- Affordable
Cons:
- It does not support Bluetooth
SanDisk Clip Sport Plus
Excellent Water-Resistant MP3 Player with FM Radio
SanDisk Clip Sport Plus is a very good water-resistant audio device made for people who like to combine doing sports or workouts with listening to their favorite music. The device is very light, made of fine, durable materials and can be put on your gear or clothes with ease.
It comes with Bluetooth that allow you to have fun listening to music while doing a workout or going out for a run.
The device itself has internal storage of either 8GB or 16GB, making it easy to put a lot of songs onto it. If, however, you like to listen to the radio in the mornings, this MP3 player has a built-in FM radio.
It uses one Lithium Polymer battery and can last for a continuous 20 hours of playtime, so you will have enough time to do multiple workouts during the week. You can use either headphones, earphones or speakers to receive sound.
Pros:
- It’s affordable
- Water-resistant
- Very durable and light, making it perfect for workouts
- Has a built-in FM radio
- Good battery life
Cons:
- Bluetooth signal tends to be weak, so you can’t walk around too far away
Summary
There we go! Those were the best MP3 players we wanted to show you today. What’s left is for you to go out there and choose one that suits you the most, now that you have more information about some of the best devices on the market.