Jasmine France, Senior Associate Editor May 26, 2009
Flash-based MP3 players are taking over the marketplace. Unlike their hard-drive-based counterparts, flash MP3 players have no moving parts, affording them entirely skip-free playback and, in most cases, a long battery life. Also, flash chips are tiny, meaning the players that use them can be small to the point of ridiculousness. Luckily, most manufacturers realize that there is such a thing as too small, so we had no trouble finding a collection of manageable MP3 players that won't take up valuable space in a briefcase, a backpack, a purse, or a pocket. And although each measures less than 2 cubic inches, all of them offer at least 2GB of memory, which is enough to hold about 500 songs or 32 hours' worth of music.
The winner in terms of tininess? The Apple iPod Shuffle, at a startlingly scarce 0.39-inch. Next billing goes to the Sony W-Series Walkman, which incorporates an MP3 player into two 0.61-inch earphone modules. And then there's the Creative Zen Stone Plus at 1.1 cubic inch. At 1.4 cubic inches a piece, you have the plug-and-play Sony B-Series Walkman and the ultrathin iPod Nano, which offers an impressive 11.4GB per inch for the 16GB model. Finally, there's the sporty Sansa Clip at 1.5 cubic inches.
- More Resources
- Editors' top MP3 players,
- Editors' top headphones,
- MP3 Insider podcast,
- Digital music blog
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| Product name | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $89.98 | $189.00 |
As shown: $69.99
| Pricing not available | $209.00 to $299.99 | |
| CNET editors' rating | ||||||
| Average user rating |  | |||||
| Review date | March 12, 2009 | April 14, 2009 | July 26, 2007 | September 25, 2008 | September 10, 2008 | |
| The Bottom Line | The third-generation iPod Shuffle is the next best thing to an invisible MP3 player, but the quirky controls and microscopic design make it a limited recommendation. | The Sony W-Series Walkman is a great option for active users who want an all-in-one music device to use while working out. | For those who want a supersmall and cute MP3 player that offers more than just simple music playback, the Creative Zen Stone Plus fits the bill nicely. | The entry-level Sony B-Series Walkman is a solid choice for the gym thanks to its ultracompact design, quick charge function, and integrated FM tuner--but beware the eye strain. | The fourth-generation iPod Nano is easy on the eyes and the wallet, and you can't beat its hardware and user interface design. Just be sure to give iTunes 8 a spin before committing. | |
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| Features | ||||||
| PC interface(s) supported | Hi-Speed USB | USB | USB | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB | |
| Flash memory installed | 4 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB | 16 GB | |
| Flash memory form factor | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 0.7 in x 0.3 in x 1.8 in | 7.4 in | 2.2 in x 0.5 in x 1.4 in | 3.5 in x 0.6 in x 1 in | 1.5 in x 0.2 in x 3.6 in | |
| Weight | 0.4 oz | 1.3 oz | 0.7 oz | Info unavailable | 1.3 oz | |
| Battery technology | Lithium polymer | Lithium ion | Lithium polymer | Lithium ion | Lithium ion | |
| Mfr estimated battery life | 10 hour(s) | 12 hour(s) | 9.5 hour(s) | 16 hour(s) | 24 hour(s) | |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | |
| Buying choices | | | Pricing not available | Pricing not available | | |
