Donald Bell, Senior Editor January 21, 2010
Has the daily ritual of recharging all your portable devices become so loathsome that adding one more gadget to the list might just make you snap? Or maybe your extreme, jet-setting lifestyle requires a portable music player that can run for more than 30 hours without a recharge? Well, you've come to the right place. We've assembled this list of our favorite long-haul MP3 players, all of which are capable of a week's worth of casual usage without a recharge.
Leading the pack is the Cowon S9, which pulled off 36 hours of music playback and a mind-boggling 11 hours of video during CNET Labs testing. For those with more refined tastes (and bigger wallets), the Sony X-Series Walkman offers stunning OLED picture quality, a capacitive touch-screen interface, exceptional audio quality, and an integrated pair of active noise-canceling headphones. It also goes the distance with 33 hours of audio playback and 9 hours of video.
The Samsung P3, Apple iPod Touch, and Microsoft Zune HD, all offer a great balance of audio and video battery life, averaging 30 to 40 hours of audio and 6 to 8 hours of video. If your needs (or budget) run more to the modest end of the spectrum, the Philips GoGear Spark is a great buy with 32 hours of battery (CNET Labs results) life and an ultracompact design.
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| Product name | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $154.99 to $205.39 | $385.66 |
As shown: $229.99
| $249.95 to $365.74 | $249.99 to $399.95 | |
| CNET editors' rating | ||||||
| Average user rating | ||||||
| Review date | January 20, 2009 | July 07, 2009 | April 07, 2009 | September 11, 2009 | September 18, 2009 | |
| The Bottom Line | The Cowon S9 is a sexy-looking gadget with exceptional audio and video quality, but its construction quality and user interface pale in comparison to the competition. | The X-Series is a superb choice for audiophiles who want a luxury device with an excellent touch-screen interface and plenty of other bells and whistles. | The Samsung P3 is an excellent multimedia device that packs a grand amount of features into an impressively compact package with one of the best screens available. Plus, it sounds superb, making this a top contender for audio enthusiasts. | Though the updates are subtle, the third-generation iPod Touch leaves its competitors in the dust. | The Zune HD delivers one of the best portable music and video experiences money can buy. At a time when many people have shifted their focus to games and applications, providing a killer media experience may not be enough for potential Zune buyers. | |
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| Features | ||||||
| Weight | 2.7 oz | 3.5 oz | 3.4 oz | 4.1 oz | 2.6 oz | |
| PC interface(s) supported | Info unavailable | USB Wi-Fi | Bluetooth Hi-Speed USB | Bluetooth Wi-Fi Hi-Speed USB | Wi-Fi Hi-Speed USB | |
| Flash memory installed | Info unavailable | 16 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB | |
| Flash memory form factor | Info unavailable | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | Integrated | |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | Info unavailable | 2.1 in x 0.4 in x 3.9 in | 4 in x 0.4 in x 2.1 in | 2.4 in x 0.3 in x 4.3 in | 2.1 in x 0.4 in x 4 in | |
| Resolution | Info unavailable | 432 x 240 | 480 x 272 | 480 x 320 | 480 x 272 | |
| Battery technology | Info unavailable | Lithium ion | Lithium polymer | Lithium ion | Lithium ion | |
| Mfr estimated battery life | Info unavailable | 33 hour(s) 9 hour(s) | 30 hour(s) | 30 hour(s) | 33 hour(s) | |
| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | |
| Buying choices | | | Pricing not available | | | |
