Electronics & Computers Deals here!
Jasmine France,
Senior Associate Editor
July 30, 2007
Nowadays, the line between MP3 players and portable video players (PVPs) is blurrier than ever, as the majority of devices hitting the market include video playback as a feature. Still, for the sake of categorization, we're still defining "MP3 players" and "PVPs" as two separate entities. So what's the difference? By our definition, a PVP must have a screen that measures more than 3 inches diagonally. Also, a PVP is marketed as such by its manufacturer, as is the case with most Archos devices; whereas an MP3 player is pushed primarily as a music player, only offering video playback as a "bonus feature." Most of the time, this fact is directly related to the aforementioned screen size issue: video is merely a bonus on a small screen because it's not ideal for extended viewing periods. As such, MP3 players with relatively large screens make the best substitute PVPs. Keeping that in mind, we've rounded up our top choices for MP3 players that play video.
- More Resources
- Editors' top MP3 players,
- Editors' top PVPs,
- MP3 Insider podcast,
- Digital music tips
| Product name | ||||||
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| Price | $248.99 to $249.99 | $195.95 to $199.99 | $679.00 | $189.99 | $130.29 | Check Prices |
| CNET editors' rating |
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| Average user rating | ||||||
| Review date | November 14, 2006 | October 20, 2005 | January 26, 2006 | April 25, 2007 | February 27, 2007 | March 23, 2007 |
| The Bottom Line | The Microsoft Zune, with its intuitive interface and solid playback performance, will please most users. But lukewarm format support and the cool but limited Wi-Fi capability will have advanced users seeking more. The Zune is a very good start, though. | Get the affordable, sleek, and sexy 5G Apple iPod for its audio virtues. Although video looks great, poor video battery life and a relatively small screen hamper its appeal to video heads. | The dazzling, DRM-friendly Creative Zen Vision:M gives the iPod a run for the money as the current high-capacity WMA champ. | The Iriver Clix offers the perfect blend of hot design, desirable features, and stellar sound quality. If you're looking for an alternative to the iPod Nano, this device should top the list. | If you can get on board with the Cowon D2's PDA-like touch screen interface, the reward is great-sounding audio, a smorgasbord of features, and a fantastic battery life. | Thanks to built-in Bluetooth, an affordable price, a wide array of desirable features and a graphically pleasing, user-friendly interface, Insignia 4GB Video MP3 Player is a solid choice for budget-conscious users, first-timers, and wire-haters. |
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| Features | ||||||
| Battery technology |
Lithium ion |
Lithium ion |
Lithium ion |
Info unavailable |
Lithium polymer |
Lithium ion |
| Digital player (recorder) |
WMA MP3 AAC |
WAV AIFF Audible MP3 AAC Apple Lossless |
WMA WAV Protected WMA (DRM) ADPCM MP3 |
MP3 |
WMA FLAC WAV Ogg Vorbis MPEG 1 Audio MPEG 2.5 Audio MPEG 2 Audio MP3 |
WMA Protected WMA (DRM) Ogg Vorbis Audible MP3 |
| Digital Player total harmonic distortion | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
0.1 % |
Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
| Software type | Info unavailable |
Apple iTunes for Mac Apple iTunes for Windows |
Creative ZENcast Organizer Creative Media Explorer Creative MediaSource |
Drivers & Utilities |
Cowon jetAudio VX Cowon jetShell |
Drivers & Utilities |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) |
2.4 in x 0.6 in x 4.4 in |
2.4 in x 0.6 in x 4.1 in |
2.4 in x 0.7 in x 4.1 in |
Info unavailable |
3.1 in x 0.7 in x 2.2 in |
1.8 in x 0.6 in x 4 in |
| Color |
Brown |
White |
Black |
Info unavailable |
Black |
Black |
| PC interface(s) supported |
Hi-Speed USB Wi-Fi |
Hi-Speed USB |
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