By Steve Holdgren

Samsung phones are gaining popularity very quickly in the smartphone market. They are in direct competition with the iPhone. So what about dedicated media players. Apple has the iPod Touch, so Samsung has introduced the Galaxy Player. It comes in various sizes, with the 4.2 inch model being the closest to the touch. Version 2.3.5 (Gingerbread) is installed on the player giving you access to Google Play and more than 400,000 apps. The internal storage is only 8gb but can be expanded to 32gb with microSD cards. This is an important option for many users who have large amounts of media for their players. The Galaxy Player is also equipped with two speakers for listening without headphones, front and rear facing cameras that take more than decent photos, and Bluetooth for connecting mics and other devices. This is a loaded little player that will do much more than just play your MP3s. It has to be since the iPod touch is really the only competition here.

Quick Specs

• Wifi b/g/n built-in
• 800×480 resolution on a 4.2-inch touchscreen
• 8gb internal memory expandable up to 32gb
• 0.4 x 2.6 x 4.9 inches
• 4.2 ounces

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

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By Steve Holdgren

For people looking for a convenient MP3 player on a budget, this Sylvania 8 GB device is a user-friendly option and equally friendly to your wallet at only $39.99. A great starter MP3 player that kids especially will love, it holds up to 2,000 songs and has a long battery life. Loading media onto it is simple with a drag-and-drop method. The built-in camera shoots photos and video, which won’t be very high quailty; however, for the price, it’s still nice to have these features. Adults will appreciate the FM tuner and the microphone, which is ideal for recording lectures. Overall, for a low price, the Sylvania offers satisfactory features and great music-playing capabilities.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

If you’re a music lover looking for a device primarily to hold your extensive music collection, then the iPod Classic 7th Generation is the way to go. Its sheer storage space is incredible: With 160 GB it holds up to 40,000 songs or 200 hours of video. The classic iPod interface stays the same, with a user-friendly click wheel and a bright 2.5-inch LED screen that shows album art, pictures, or videos with clarity. Note that this is not the iPod you take with you to the gym or on a run; the internal hard drive will not last as long with excessive shaking. However, as an MP3 player that lets you carry around your large music collection, the iPod Classic, at $229.20, can’t be beat.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

If you need a small portable device with enough memory to hold songs for your workouts, but you can’t spring for an Apple Nano, then the Coby 4 GB Flash MP3 player is a viable alternative. It even includes video, which the Nano doesn’t, although the display is so small at 1.8 inches that it’s limited in its video quality. The display menus and text isn’t as stylish or pretty as more expensive devices, but the overall design looks nice with a shiny metallic button wheel. Syncing the MP3 player with platforms like Windows Media Player is quick and simple, and the FM radio and text files are nice touches. For just $27.99, you’re obviously going to have limited features, but as a music-playing device, this Coby product delivers.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

A user-friendly MP3 player with fast syncing and a long battery life, this Sony Walkman device allows you to drag and drop media files from multiple applications, including iTunes and Windows Media Player. The SensMe feature conveniently groups your songs together by beats-per-minute, creating fun on-the-go playlists. We liked the feature that lets you turn down the vocals and boost the music so you can sing along with your favorite tunes, all while reading the lyrics on the screen. The device is easy enough to navigate with the five-way circular button interface. The screen isn’t really large enough to enjoy video or photo, but as a music player, it more than serves its purpose for the price of $100.49.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

For an amazingly low-priced MP3 player, just $24.90, this Coby device delivers what it promises: adequate access to music, photos, and videos. Granted, the video and picture quality is not superb, but the included software makes it easy to sync media with the MP3 player. The intuitive controls include a circular, seamless spread of buttons. Unless you know the name of the album or artist, however, it can be tricky to hunt down a particular song. We were pleased with the Coby MP3 player’s FM radio and ability to support text files. Overall, for such an inexpensive device, it’s a fairly durable gizmo with satisfactory music-playing capabilities, and it doesn’t look bad, either.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

One of the few iPods left that’s strictly for music, the 7th generation iPod Nano has gone back to the tall form factor with a 2.5-inch touchscreen. The click wheel is gone, replaced by touchscreen controls. That may or may not be a plus, depending on whether you plan to use it on your workouts. Pausing to fiddle with the screen may be a hassle. However, there’s the Shake to Shuffle feature, which lets you switch to a random song with a shake of the Nano. For $139.99, the latest Nano added some new features but took others away, like the ability to play or record video. Since all the prior Nanos had such tiny screens, it’s not too big a loss. We just wish its touchscreen controls were more practical for the on-the-go user.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

A tiny, feather-light MP3 player, this SanDisk Sansa Fuze+ is about the size of a credit card, making it easy to carry around in a pocket. The 8 GB version holds up to 2,000 songs or 24 hours of video, and it conveniently picks up FM radio. A voice recorder comes in handy if you need to record a lecture or to-do reminders. While the Sansa Fuze+ doesn’t have the capabilities of an Apple or Zune product, it doesn’t pretend to. The plastic construction is not solid or scratch-proof, but for an easily portable, inexpensive ($74.32) device, it serves its basic purpose quite well.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

A sleek, slender alternative to the iPod, the Zune HD MP3 player holds up to 8,000 songs, catches the radio, and lets you surf the web. Its fanciest aspect, though, is its ability to play HD movies and TV shows in their original 16:9 aspect ratio on the bright OLED display. You can record your own videos, too, and upload them to the web. While the game and app selection is paltry compared to Apple’s, its music and video capabilities are excellent. A monthly music subscription plan may or may not be your thing, but you can’t deny the incredible value of this Zune device available for $345.97.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

For the active on-the-go music lover who needs a small, practical MP3 player to bring to the gym, the SanDisk Sansa Clip Zip is a convenient choice. The small, lightweight device has a clip on the back that attaches securely to your shirt or backpack, so you can even take it on a jog with no worries. If you perspire a lot during your workout, you’ll appreciate pressing actual buttons instead of smearing the screen. The device supports most audio file formats, including songs from iTunes, and its built-in receiver also picks up FM radio. To be able to play songs, podcasts, and audiobooks on a highly portable MP3 player for only $44.99 is not a bad deal.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

The latest iPod from Apple contains all the excitement of digital songs, pictures, videos, games, and Internet in a slender, lightweight device. While it has enough capacity to hold up to 8,000 songs, it’s so much more than a basic MP3 player. The sharp 960×640-pixel screen is ideal for snapping photos and shooting 720p HD videos, and then of course you can upload everything to YouTube or Facebook to share with friends. With access to the greatest amount of apps and games, the iPod Touch, available for $264.99, is Apple’s most versatile product yet.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

Prices

By Steve Holdgren

While MP3 players vary in their size, capacity, and functions, we found ten models that scored well in the most important aspects:
1. High-quality audio, video, and/or pictures
2. Ease of navigation with buttons and menus
3. Compact, lightweight size and easy portability
4. Convenient features like clips for wearing to the gym
5. Versatility when it comes to music, FM radio, video, games, apps, and voice recording
6. Screen size and resolution
7. Value for the price
Whether you’re looking for an all-purpose tool that lets you surf the web and share pictures and videos or a simple device to play your music while you work out, there’s an MP3 player just right for you at a reasonable price on this top 10 list. See the MP3 player comparison and ratings below with a link to the full review of each.

Steve Holdgren is an engineer by trade and has worked for some of the largest energy related engineering firms in the world with his latest stint in Switzerland. He holds a degree is mechanical engineering… See more about Steve

More Top 10 Lists

Top 10 Headphones

If you’re an audiophile who wants to enjoy the full richness of sound, then you need a good set of headphones. We looked at a number of headphones and selected our 10 favorites based on several factors… [more]

Top 10 Earbuds

We are constantly on the go in the world of today. It could be on the way to school, work, or some exotic location on the other side of the planet. No matter what the situation, we are going to have our music. Earbuds are a great way to keep your load down while continuing to enjoy your favorite music or videos on the go. We rated 10 pairs of earbuds… [more]

Best Wireless Headphones

The word “wireless” has been sneaking its way into just about every electronic device we can think of. It started with cell phones, moved to the internet in our homes and we can even charge some of our devices wirelessly. A really great wireless innovation is headphones… [more]

Best Noise Cancelling Headphones

Listening to music on the go is becoming increasingly popular due to the flooding of smartphones that are capable of storing our entire music libraries. Since we are out and about while we are catching some tunes, there is bound to be some distracting environmental noise… [more]

MP3 Player Archvies