Best flash memory MP3 players

(Updated November 23, 2011 5:43 AM PST)

Donald Bell
Senior editor

MP3 players have quickly gone from the early-adopter fringes to the mainstream, and the most-common ones use flash memory to store music, data, and sometimes photo and video files. While most players offer about 8GB (or about 130 hours) of storage, they have distinct advantages over their hard-drive counterparts: they're smaller and more affordable, and they don't skip a beat. We're beginning to see more flash players hit 32GB and more, the most notable being the 64GB Apple iPod Touch and the 64GB Zune HD.

Apple iPod Touch 2011 (32GB, black)

The iPod Touch is the best iPod yet, offering all the fun of the iPhone experience without a carrier contract or monthly bill.

Price: $272.95 - $325.00 (check prices)

4 stars

Outstanding

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Zune HD (32GB - platinum)

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.

Price: $278.34 - $399.95 (check prices)

4 stars

Excellent

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SanDisk Sansa Clip+ (4GB, red)

The SanDisk Sansa Clip+ is an excellent successor to the line, offering a fitness-friendly design with a built-in belt-clip, a simple interface, solid sound quality, and plenty of handy features--all for an ultralow price. It's an unbeatable value.

Price: $34.94 - $51.40 (check prices)

4 stars

Excellent

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