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Best MP3 players for podcasts

Jasmine France Jasmine France, Senior Associate Editor June 25, 2008

Obviously, an MP3 player's foremost purpose is music playback, but these days people are using their devices for much more than just that. You can view photos, watch videos, even play games in some cases. But perhaps one of the most popular side dishes people like to enjoy is podcasts--heck, it's the main dish for some. Podcasts are great for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that they're free. Plus, you can count on finding someone talking about just about any topic known to man, so there's something for everyone. Of course, not every MP3 player handles podcasts equally, which is why I've rounded up some of the best options for you here. The criteria? At the very least have a separate menu sort dedicated to podcasts and some decent software available for managing them. Advanced features include bookmarking capability (whether active or passive), accelerated fast forwarding, and the ability to delete podcasts on the fly once you're done listening.

For more details on why each of the players below was selected, head over to the MP3 Insider blog.

More Resources
MP3 Insider podcast,
Editors' top MP3 players,
Editors' top headphones,
MP3 player accessories
Product name
Price $11.59 to $16.22 $298.70 Check Prices Check Prices $89.99 to $124.95 $139.99 to $249.99
CNET editors' rating
Average user rating
Review date November 12, 2007 September 17, 2007 September 14, 2007 February 27, 2007 March 12, 2008 June 17, 2008
The Bottom Line The Zune has blossomed from an ugly duckling into a worthy iPod alternative. The iPod Touch is a beautiful product, inside and out, but prepare yourself for sticker shock. We're hard-pressed to find anything not to like about the Creative Zen. It's a great option for anyone looking for a great-sounding, pocketable MP3 player with an excellent, video-capable screen and plenty of extra features. 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. The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is a great value--a slim design, simple interface, plentiful features, memory expansion capability, and solid sound quality all come with an easy-to-swallow price tag. Haier America's flash-based Ibiza Rhapsody is pricier and larger than the competition, but its straightforward interface, excellent wireless integration, speedy processor, and plethora of features should appeal to those looking for a player that does it all.
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Features
Dimensions (WxDxH)2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.3 in
2.4 in x 0.5 in x 4.3 in
3.3 in x 0.4 in x 2.2 in
3.1 in x 0.7 in x 2.2 in
1.9 in x 0.3 in x 3.1 in
2.4 in x 0.4 in x 4.1 in
Resolution320 x 240
320 x 240
320 x 240
360 x 240
220 x 176
320 x 240
PC interface(s) supportedWi-Fi
Hi-Speed USB
Wi-Fi
Hi-Speed USB
Hi-Speed USB
Hi-Speed USB
Hi-Speed USB
Info unavailable
Battery technologyLithium ion
Lithium ion
Lithium ion
Lithium polymer
Info unavailableLithium polymer
Weight4.5 oz
4.5 oz
2.3 oz
3.2 oz
2.1 oz
3.2 oz
Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications
Buying choices