Once the hallmark of popularity at school during the Noughties, owning the latest MP3 player gave you instant coolness and credibility.
However, with the rise in smartphones and the phasing out of popular portable music players such as Apple’s iPod range (RIP) came the demise of the MP3 player.
Until now.
Today, there is a new era of high quality portable music players that put our 2000s MP3 to shame and, despite all owning smartphones, there are many reasons why we would still want these mini music gadgets.
Whether it’s because you want to save memory or battery on your smartphone, or you’re after top-quality sound on the go, MP3 players are making a comeback.
There are three things to consider when shopping for a MP3 player.
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Storage: Consider how many audio files you’ll be uploading onto your MP3 player as this should dictate the storage size. If you’re unsure, or have an ever growing music library, then look for MP3 players with expandable storage (usually those with a built-in microSD card).
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Connectivity: Bluetooth connectivity is an absolute must for MP3 players if you’re planning on connecting wireless headphones to it. If you tend to listen to music on a streaming service such as Spotify, consider Wi-Fi enabled MP3 players which allow you to download those apps.
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Hardware: If you’re investing in a MP3 player for improved audio quality while you’re out and about then pay close attention if the music player comes with an advanced DAC (digital to analog converter). However, even if it doesn’t, the sound quality is likely to be better than your smartphone as MP3 players come with built-in audio jacks.
Now you know what to look for, shop below the best MP3 players below – we guarantee there’s something to suit every need and budget out there.
Sony Walkman 4GB MP3 Player – Blue
Best for: battery life
Do not be fooled by the small size of this product. Although it weighs a mere 28g and is only nine centimetres long, it boasts a number of great features. Not only does it have an 18 hour battery life, but if you’re short on time, then a three minute charge will give you a massive 90 minutes of music listening.
With 4GB of space, this MP3 player stores up to 900 songs and allows your music library to be accessible on your laptop via the built-in USB. The bass booster is also great for those looking to enhance sound quality.
Buy now £39.99, Argos
Astell & Kern A&Norma SR25 MKII Audio Player
Best for: incredible sound quality
Dubbed as “the pocket powerhouse”, this MP3 speaker features advanced audio design technology, which makes the sound quality exceptional. With a Quad-Core processor and top-quality Dual Cirrus Logic DAC, the sound is ultra-detailed and very well balanced. It has three output jacks of varying sizes allowing it to connect with many different headphones.
Compared to other MP3 players, the price point is rather high but if you’re looking for flawless sound quality on the move, great battery life (21 hours) and storage of up to 1TB (via microSD), then nothing beats the Astell & Kern A&norma SR25.
Buy now £649.00, Amazon
Yoto Mini
Best for: children
A child’s obsession with a song is not to be underestimated and we don’t blame you if you’re about to explode after the same Frozen song has played for the sixth time on what was meant to be a relaxing car journey.
The Yoto Mini is a portable audio player designed for children allowing them to listen to their favourite songs or audiobooks, all whilst giving parents a much needed break.
The child-friendly device is controlled with physical cards which can be purchased separately and there are over 400 titles to choose from that includes the Marvel audio books, Enid Blyton classics and Ladybird Lullabies for bedtime.
There is up to 20 hours of play per charge, a USB-C fast charge cable and it’s small enough to fit into the palm of a child’s hand.
Buy now £59.99, Amazon
AGPTEK 2.4″ Curved Screen Music Player
Best for: big music library
With 32GB of space and the possibility to increase it to 128GB with a TF card, the AGPTEK is perfect if you have an extensive – and ever growing – music collection. With upgraded Bluetooth 5.0, this model provides a more stable signal and better compatibility whilst being able to connect with wireless headphones and car Bluetooth.
The AGPTEK has a 2.4 inch 3D curved surface screen that’s the perfect size for looking through your music library and selecting songs. It also comes with a digital noise reduction chip that ensures your music is high quality regardless of background noise.
Buy now £36.99, Amazon
2019 Apple iPod Touch, 32GB, Gold
Best for: more than just music
Back in the late 00s, the iPod touch was the height of portable music sophistication. Even 15 years later, it’s still remarkably popular with a whole host of updated features that elevate the iPod touch to 2020 levels and makes it one of the best music players on the market.
With up to 32GB of space, the Touch allows you to store plenty of music whilst giving you room to download other essential apps. This a great buy for those who have music already stored in iTunes and on the Apple Music app as they come pre downloaded. The display is bright and clear – 326 pixels per inch – and the A10 Fusion chip gives speedy loading and functioning so you can easily multitask between music and various apps.
Best to get your hands on one of these gadgets sooner rather than later as although Apple have pledged to continue selling the Touch, it’s only “while supplies last”.
Buy now £199.00, John Lewis
Solo Personal Audio MP3 USB Player
Best for: ultra portable sound
This gadget may look and feel like a cassette tape but it is in fact a high-quality MP3 player that allows you to listen to exceptional sound on the go. Measuring just 8.6cm x 5.5cm x 1.8cm, this music player is ultra portable and can slip into even the smallest of pockets.
We found the USB bookmarking feature to be particularly useful for audiobook listeners as you can easily carry on from where you left off.
Buy now £64.99, Amazon
Portable Cassette Player Bluetooth
Best for: cassette tape listening
No doubt many of us will have a collection of stashed away cassettes somewhere in our house. Well now’s the time to unearth them with this retro-style music player that allows you to listen to all those great tunes without the hassle of big machines and wires.
The cassette player connects to your wireless headphones via Bluetooth but it does also have an earphone jack if that’s preferred. It also features easy to use volume control and auto reverse, meaning you don’t have to manually flip your cassette over once the fist side has finished playing.
Buy now £30.59, Amazon