Donald Bell,
Senior Editor
April 5, 2009
MP3 players powered by replaceable AAA batteries may seem archaic compared with the rechargeable models most of us use, but many people seek them out. For instance, if you're traveling to some remote corner of the globe (or a weekend camping trip), it's often much easier to come by a AAA battery than a USB charging station--especially if you stock up ahead of time.
Despite what you'd think, there's also an ecological argument to make for MP3 players powered by AAA batteries. The rechargeable batteries included in most MP3 players are not designed to be user-replaceable and they will eventually wear out. An MP3 player with a replaceable battery can theoretically last a lifetime, and there's nothing preventing you from using an off-the-shelf rechargeable AAA battery to further lessen your impact on the environment.
The following are our favorite AAA-powered MP3 players that strike a balance between battery life, usability, features, format support, and sound quality. The Creative Zen Nano Plus, in particular, is one of the best players on this list and the closest you can get to an inexpensive, battery-powered audio Swiss Army Knife. Unfortunately, the product is being phased out by the manufacturer, so grab one while you can.
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| Price | Check Prices | $31.99 | $14.95 | Check Prices | $35.00 |
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| Review date | June 05, 2006 | October 31, 2005 | April 18, 2007 | October 15, 2008 | June 28, 2007 |
| The Bottom Line | If you're looking for a feature-packed flash player but you don't want to spend a ton to get one, Creative's Zen Nano Plus is the device for you. | With its many features as well as its compatibility with audiobooks and subscription-based music, the SanDisk Sansa m200 series is an overall great value. | If you want to get your children started on digital music at a young age, the Sansa Shaker provides a great way to do so: it's inexpensive, simple, and acts like a toy. | The SanDisk Sansa slotMusic Player is a reasonable option for those who still haven't made the switch from CD to MP3, and there's no computer required, so even technophobes can use it. | If you're looking for a better-sounding alternative to the Sansa Express, the RCA Pearl does the trick--but be prepared to deal with a funky user interface and disposable batteries. |
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| Features | |||||
| Software type | Drivers & Utilities Creative MediaSource | Info unavailable | Drivers & Utilities | Drivers & Utilities | Drivers & Utilities |
| Mfr estimated battery life | 18 hour(s) | 19 hour(s) | Info unavailable | 15 hour(s) | 15 hour(s) |
| PC interface(s) supported | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB | USB | Info unavailable | Hi-Speed USB |
| Flash memory form factor | Integrated | Integrated | SD Memory Card | Info unavailable | Integrated |
| Flash memory installed | 1 GB | 2 GB | 512 MB | Info unavailable | 2 GB |
| Battery technology | Alkaline | Alkaline | AA alkaline | AAA alkaline | AAA alkaline |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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