If you thought MP3 players were no more, you’re not alone. But the best MP3 players you can buy in 2021 are now way more advanced than you might imagine – and a significant upgrade on the MP3 player you might have had in your teens.
Of course, MP3 players aren’t as popular as they used to be. Music streaming services have made music listening on the go easier than ever. What’s more, our smartphones can now hold huge amounts of music. But that doesn’t mean MP3 players are obsolete.
- SanDisk 32GB Clip Sport Go MP3 Player, Black - LED Screen and FM Radio - SDMX30-032G-G46K & 8GB Clip Jam MP3 Player, Black - microSD Card Slot and FM Radio - SDMX26-008G-G46K.
- Additionally, the SanDisk MP3 player has one feature no Apple iPod has ever had: a microSD card expansion slot. Using this, you can increase its built-in 8GB storage with an extra 64GB.
For many people, there’s still a lot to love about MP3 players. There are also plenty of devices to choose from – and no, we’re not going to recommend a bunch of old iPods to you (though the latest iPod Touch is on this list).
But why would you choose an MP3 player over your phone to play music on? Well, maybe you just don’t want to be tethered to your phone all the time. Because even though you might say you’re just using it for music, you might find yourself mindlessly scrolling Instagram without realizing it. What’s more, you might want to save your precious mobile data and battery while you’re out and about and don’t
Sep 15, 2021 Best MP3 player for 2021. But for around $30 (!), you'll get 32GB of onboard storage (with a microSD expansion slot for more) and extras including wired headphones and an armband.
These days, the best MP3 players on the market are capable of storing your music library at a much higher bitrate than your 2009 iPod Shuffle could ever dream of. That means, with a pair of great-sounding headphones too, high-quality music can travel with you wherever you go.
MP3 players have also had a big design upgrade over the last decade, which means added durability and sleeker styles to slip in your pocket. Thanks to new innovations in audio engineering, they’re also always improving on sound, with features like hi-res audio support and built-in DACs (Digital-to-Analogue Converters) becoming commonplace.
If you want to find one of the best MP3 players that you can buy in 2021, you're in the right place. We’ve selected the top choices and we’ve included everything you need to know to make the best buying decision in our guide below.
Our top picks
Onkyo has been a well-known and esteemed name in audio for years, and for good reason. The Onkyo DP-X1A may not be the most compact device on this list, but we think it's the best MP3 player you can buy, offering lots of customizability, an intuitive interface, and fantastic sound quality.
Let’s start with the design, which is pretty attractive. In general, the DP-X1A looks a little bit like a phone, but much thicker, and is completely optimized for audio use. How so? Well, for starters, it has two audio ports – one headphone jack and one balanced output for those interested in a cleaner and overall better quality sound. Additionally, the device has an easy-to-use volume wheel, as well as physical playback buttons and two microSD card slots for those with a sizable collection of music.
The player is built with a full version of Android 5.1, complete with features like Wi-Fi connectivity and the Google Play Store, which results in an MP3 Player that is to Android what the iPod Touch is to iOS. Unlike the iPod, however, the Onkyo DP-X1A is built for super-high-quality audio.
Speaking of the sound quality, it's an absolute dream. It supports a range of music formats, including FLAC, OGG, WAV, MP3, ALAC, and more. In terms of hardware, the device has two chipsets, one to power the overall device, and one to handle the DAC and amplifier – resulting in a noise-free experience.
We tested the player with multiple pairs of headphones across multiple price ranges, and were stunned with the clarity and exceptional quality of the audio. There’s a reason the Onkyo DP-X1A sits atop this list – it’s a beast in the portable audio world.
Read more: Onkyo DP-X1A Digital Audio Player review
It seems the Onkyo DP-X1A is currently sold out in the UK – for a fantastic alternative, check out the Astell & Kern model below:
The Astell & Kern A&norma SR25 is an impressive MP3 player that's designed to make your Hi-Res Audio files really sing, thanks to a new performance mode, support for balanced audio connections, and Bluetooth LDAC wireless compatibility.
With a unique, off-center design and aluminum body, it certainly looks the part, and its touch screen is bright and easy to use.
Inside the SR25 is the Dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 Master Hi-Fi level DAC, while native support for DSD256 and 32-bit/384kHz audio is more than enough to satisfy even the most discerning audiophiles.
With Wi-Fi connectivity, you have access to streaming services including Deezer and Tidal, while Bluetooth aptX ensure listening with wireless headphones needn't sound inferior to wired connections.
Apple took us all by surprise when it announced the iPod touch 7, the first upgrade to its portable music and video player since 2015.
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With “enhancements to power, capability, and communication”, the updated iPod touch is fully geared towards gaming, with the release coming just in time for the launch of Apple's gaming service, Apple Arcade.
The bigger upgrade, at least for audio enthusiasts, is the support for the Hi-Res Audio codec FLAC, as well as Apple Lossless, giving you more options than ever when it comes to accessing audiophile-quality music.
Using a Hi-Res Audio playback app for iOS called Vox, we listened to Mozart’s Requiem in D Minor. The strings had a warm and natural quality, while soprano vocal duets soared sweetly above the mix without ever sounding harsh.
In our review we also tested out the inbuilt speaker at the bottom of the iPod touch, and it packs quite a punch despite its size. It won’t do for listening to your Hi-Res music, but if just want a little background music for your gaming sessions and can’t be bothered to dig your headphones out, it works just fine.
If you need a new MP3 player, and you don't mind using Apple Music, the iPod Touch will do just fine.
Read more: iPod Touch (7th Generation) review
Astell & Kern is known for building top-notch audio devices at reasonable prices, and for that reason we think the Astell & Kern AK Jr is the best mid-range MP3 player out of the ones we've seen (and heard). In fact, after spending some time using it, we would argue that it’s a pretty serious contender against even much more expensive players.
Before diving into the player’s capabilities, you’ll notice how well-designed it is. The sleek, metallic look is very classy, and using it gives you a similar “status symbol” feel as you’ll get with the iPhone.
The AK Jr comes in at $259 / £250 / AU$399, which is a very reasonable price for a device of this calibre. For that price, you’ll get 64GB of onboard storage, though there is a microSD card slot in case you want to expand upon that storage. On top of that, it supports all major audio formats, including FLAC, WAV, MP3, AAC, AIFF, and more – and it’s able to play at sample rates of up to 192kHz.
The interface of the device is relatively easy to control, too. The home screen simply gives you options for songs, albums, artists, and so on.
Tap through using the touchscreen, and you’ll be able to select the music you want to listen to. It would be nice if that touchscreen was a little more responsive, but you get used to it. Battery life sits in at around nine hours, which isn't amazing, but not terrible either.
So how does it sound? In one word: beautiful.
Music is dynamic and crisp, with a nice and powerful sound in every aspect. The soundstage on these, when paired with a great pair of headphones, is huge – that’s to say the left and right are clearly defined, while instruments placed at the center of a mix are given plenty of room to breathe. We particularly enjoyed the guitar solo on AC/DC’s Back in Black, while Eminem’s rap on Lose Yourself cut straight through the mix – exactly the way it was supposed to.
This model is currently out of stock in the US – check out the Astell & Kern SR25 for a fantastic alternative.
Looking for the best MP3 player to take running with you? If so, you probably want something small and light – it probably doesn’t need to hold day’s worth of music, and it probably doesn’t need to offer the highest audio quality out there. Most of all, you probably don’t want to fork out a ton of cash for it.
If that’s you, in our view, the SanDisk Clip Sport Plus is the best option.
For starters, the device offers 16GB of storage, and while that may not be much for your phone, 16GB can hold a ton of songs. On top of that, despite being built for sport, it actually supports a pretty wide range of audio formats – including MP3, AAC, FLAC, WAV, and WMA.
Perhaps most important for a device like this is the battery life, and it’ll last you a good 20 hours. You’ll even get Bluetooth, which is a huge deal for many who will be using this while running or performing other activities and don’t want cables to get in the way.
The interface is relatively easy to use too. Sure, it’s a little dated, and isn’t as powerful as what you’ll find on your smartphone, but it’s still capable as a music player. It’s not touch-sensitive, though: instead, you navigate through hardware buttons that also serve as playback controls when music is playing, but we didn’t have any issues.
As for the sound, as long as you don’t expect full audiophile-level quality here (you won’t get it), we think you'll find the sound very capable. Overall it's slightly muddy with a small dip in clarity, but for most that won’t matter – especially when you're out on a run or hitting the weights at the gym.
Tips and tricks
How to choose the best MP3 player for you
So, what do you need to consider when looking for the best MP3 player? Well, the most important thing you need to think about is the audio codec your music library is in.
Anyone who uses Apple Music will probably have a music library completely filled with Apple’s proprietary AAC codec, and luckily most MP3 players will support that codec. However, if you consider yourself an audiophile, you’ll need support for lossless codecs like FLAC, WAV and ALAC, as these codecs don’t use the compression methods used on lossy codecs like AAC or MP3.
You’ll also need to consider how much music is in your, well, music collection and then how much storage you’ll need. This is especially the case when you’re using codecs like FLAC, which just devour space. The best MP3 players often have an included microSD card slot, which allows you to expand upon the included storage as your library expands – but normally only up to a certain size, normally around 512GB.
Here's the best part though: unlike smartphones, the best MP3 players are built to last, so there’s no need to go on an endless two-year upgrade-cycle like you might with a smartphone. This means it’s probably in your best interests to take some time and find the one that’s right for you, as you will probably be using it for a few years to come.
- Looking for a something to listen to on your new MP3 player? Check out our list of the best podcasts around.
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Contents
SanDisk 8GB Clip Jam MP3 Player, Black - microSD card slot and FM Radio - SDMX26-008G-G46K
Highlighted Features
- Super lightweight wearable personal music
- Deep rich sound quality with a built-in micro SD card expansion
- Play audio files in lots of formats (MP3 WMA (no DRM) AAC (DRM free iTunes) and Audible (DRM
- Up to 18 hour battery life (Based on continuous playback at 128 kbps MP3. Actual life and performance may vary upon usage and settings; battery is not
Features
Information
- Best Choice - #1 Best Mip Mp3 Players
- Checked on 19/09/2021
- Based on 34 Reviews
32GB Mp3 Player with Bluetooth 5.0 - Portable Digital Lossless Music Player for Walking Running,Super Light Metal Shell Touch Buttons with TF Card Expansion
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- The latest upgraded Bluetooth 5.0✔-👍:this Mp3 player built-in bluetooth 5.0,provide faster data transfer speed(40% increase) and more stable connection,the connection distance is also longer.In addition, power consumption will be reduced,
- Supreme lossless sound quality experience✔-💃:this bluetooth music player built-in latest DAC audio decoder chip,provides higher audio resolution, restore the original sound.Sweet treble, accurate mid-range, deep bass.Support most audio formats such
- 32GB large memory as TF card✔-💾:Compare with built-in memory,we choose 32GB TF card(Included) expansion as memory.The reason is card expansion will be more flexible,connecting to computer will also be more
- Stylish crafts with 2.5Oz✔-🏃:This music player adopt the same design concept as the latest smartphone,2.5D double-side acrylic glass,alloy frame,gorgeous appearance, excellent hand feeling.Only 2.5Oz weight,0.4 inch thick,you can hardly feel
- Multifunctional MP3 player✔-😏:This mp3 player have 2.4 inch screen,speed dial UI design,let you quickly choose the function you want,music player,FM radio,voice recorder,E-book.videos,tools.LITTLE MP3 PLAYER,GREAT
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- Best Choice - #2 Best Mip Mp3 Players
- Checked on 19/09/2021
- Based on 68 Reviews
32GB MP3 Player, mibao MP3 Player with Bluetooth 4.2, Music Player with FM Radio, Recording, 2.4' Screen, HiFi Lossless Sound, Support up to 128GB(Earphone, Sport Armband Included)
Highlighted Features
- 💾【32GB Large Memory & Up To 64GB Expansion】32GB large internal memory, store more lossless music. Can even be used as a U disk. If you are still afraid of not
- 🎼【2.4 Inch Large Screen & Double-sided Acrylic Glass】MP3 player is eqirpped with 2.4 inch high resolution colorful TFT screen, gives you a better visual experience. Use double-sided glass, more fashionable
- 🎼【Wireless Bluetooth 4.2 & HIFI Lossless Sound Quality】This MP3 player adopts upgraded Bluetooth 4.2, makes connection and transmission more stable, Whether Bluetooth headset or Bluetooth speaker, give you the most
- 🔋【 600 mAh Large Capacity & Intelligent Power Saving Technology】Equipped with a better quality lithium battery, it can bring better power storage performance, larger capacity, longer life and higher safety.
- ❣【Multi-functional MP3 Player & Excellent Service】This Multifunctional MP3 player with music play, one button to lock, voice record, FM radio, photo Browsing, E-book(Support TXT Format Only). If you get any
Features
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- Best Choice - #3 Best Mip Mp3 Players
- Checked on 19/09/2021
- Based on 80 Reviews
Echo Dot (2nd Generation) - Smart speaker with Alexa - Black
Highlighted Features
- Echo Dot is a voice-controlled speaker that uses Alexa to play music, control smart home devices, make calls, answer questions, set timers and alarms, and
- Play music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn, and
- Call or message family and friends hands-free, or drop in from the Alexa App to your Echo
- Controls lights, locks, thermostats, and more with compatible connected
- Use the built-in speaker, or for bigger sound, connect to speakers through Bluetooth or audio
- 50,000+ skills, including Jeopardy!, Lyft, Audible, and Domino's. Always getting smarter and adding new
- Hears you from across the room with 7 far-field microphones for hands-free control, even in noisy environments or while playing
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- Best Choice - #4 Best Mip Mp3 Players
- Checked on 19/09/2021
- Based on 74 Reviews
Aigital MP3 Player, 16GB Portable MP3 Music Player HiFi Lossless Sound with Built-in Speaker, FM Radio/E Book, Support up to 128GB TF Card（Include Earphones）
Highlighted Features
- 【Hi-Fi Lossless Sound 】This Music Player is equipped with a professional intelligent digital noise reduction chip that ensures high sample rates and restores sound to a near-native state. It supports
- 【Built-In 16GB Storage】The MP3 Player can store more than 3200 songs or books without a memory card. You can enjoy all the music you like. with the card slot, also
- 【Multi-Functional】It not only has a music function, but also features as well a Built-in Speaker, you can enjoy music without headphones, and supports FM Radio, Voice Recording, Picture Browsing, Video
- 【Easy to Use】The Aigital MP3 Player has a succinct main interface, it's lightweight, portable, and multi-functional, Perfect for your entertainment and learning, outdoor and gym fitness. It's a nice gift
- 【Long Time Playback】Music playing time up to 70+ hours with a 2-4hours full charge. Take your ears to travel with extremely Hi-Fi resolution audio on the real lossless
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- Best Choice - #5 Best Mip Mp3 Players
- Checked on 19/09/2021
- Based on 58 Reviews
Micca Speck G2 1080p Full-HD Ultra Portable Digital Media Player for USB Drives and SD/SDHC Cards
Highlighted Features
- Make Your TV Smarter! Enhance any TV with the ability to play videos, music, and photo slideshows! The Micca Speck G2 is amazingly compact, affordable, and simple to use. Get
- Works with TVs old and new! High Definition 1080p HDMI output for sending sharp and clear video and audio in pure digital format to HDTVs, as well as composite AV
- Supports USB flash drives and USB hard drives up to 2TB - Requires MBR partition table and FAT32 or NTFS file systems. Supports SD memory cards up to
- Auto Playback and Resume! Can be configured for automatic video playback with endless repeat and looping, and ability to resume from stopping point. Great for simple digital signage
- Video File Support: MKV, AVI, TS/TP, MP4/M4V (4GB file size limit), MOV, VOB, and M2TS files encoded with H.264/AVC, VC1, and MPEG1/2/4, up to 1920x1080, 30fps, 10mbps. Note: formats not
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- Best Choice - #6 Best Mip Mp3 Players
- Checked on 19/09/2021
- Based on 36 Reviews
SanDisk 16GB Clip Sport Plus MP3 Player, Black - Bluetooth, LCD Screen, FM Radio - SDMX28-016G-G46K
Highlighted Features
- Affordable, water-resistant MP3 player. (IEC 60529 IPX5: Tested to withstand water flow (12.5L/min) at 3 min. Must be clean and dry before
- Bluetooth wireless technology lets you go wireless for even more freedom in your
- Lightweight and durable, clips to your clothes or
- 16GB capacity stores up to 4000 songs (1GB=1,000,000,000 bytes. Actual user storage less.) (Based on 3.5 min songs @ 128kbps bitrate. Approximations: results will vary based on file attributes and
- Built-in FM Radio (FM radio functionality requires wired
Features
Best Mp3 Player With Microsd Slot
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- Best Choice - #7 Best Mip Mp3 Players
- Checked on 19/09/2021
- Based on 64 Reviews
Best Mp3 Player With Microsd Slot 2019
TIMMKOO MP3 Player with Bluetooth, 4.0' Full TouchScreen Mp4 Mp3 Player with Speaker, 8GB Portable HiFi Sound Mp3 Music Player with FM Radio, Voice Recorder, E-book, Supports up to 128GB TF Card Black
Highlighted Features
- 【VISUAL FEAST】4.0-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology. The MP3 player supports 720p, 1080p high resolution video playback. You do not need to convert file format. Full
- 【BLUETOOTH WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY FOR WIRELESS LISTENING】- Pair the Bluetooth MP3 Player with your favorite Bluetooth wireless headphones for even more freedom in your workout. (Tips:Unable to connect to cellphone via
- 【JAW-DROPPING SOUND】Enjoy High-Resolution Audio to its fullest, optimized through Digital Signal Processor (DSP) technology. you will feel fuller bass with more depth and impact, boosted voice and instrument clarity, and
- 【FAST CHARGE】Adopt 1000 mAh high-capacity lithium-ion battery and Type-C fast charging technology. You can enjoy 30 hours uninterrupted music after 40 minutes fast charging. The MP3 player comes with type-c
- 【LARGER STORAGE】8GB internal storage enables you to download movies, ebooks and music in the MP3 player. The mp3 player comes with a built-in micro TF card slot .You can expanded
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- Best Choice - #8 Best Mip Mp3 Players
- Checked on 19/09/2021
- Based on 19 Reviews
VTech Rock and Bop Music Player, Blue
Highlighted Features
- Set learning to music with the Rock and Bop Music Player by VTech; this kid-friendly music player plays ten musical learning games to introduce letters, numbers, animals, instruments, time and
- Choose from a variety of songs and play them in three music styles: classical, hip-hop and rock; 100+ songs, melodies, sounds and
- Music player features an Instrument Remix mode that lets you choose from piano, xylophone, saxophone, violin or guitar to play different melodies and experiment with
- Interacting with the screen to make music and game selections helps build fine motor skills; includes kid-safe headphones that limit the volume to protect little
- Requires 2 AAA batteries (batteries included for demo purposes only, new batteries recommended for regular use); music player is intended for ages 3 to 6
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- Best Choice - #9 Best Mip Mp3 Players
- Checked on 19/09/2021
- Based on 43 Reviews
MP3 Player, 80GB MP3 MP4 Player with Bluetooth 5.1, 2.8' Full Touch Screen Portable Bluetooth MP3 Player with Built-in Speaker, FM Radio, Recorder, HiFi Lossless Music Player, Support up to 128GB
Highlighted Features
- 【80GB Large Memory & Long Playback Time】This mp3 player not only Built-in 16gb internal storage, but also comes with 64GB TF Card for expansion Memory (INCLUDED), can be extended up
- 【 Wireless MP3 Player with Bluetooth 5.1 】This Bluetooth music player compatible well with the versions of Bluetooth 5.0/4.2/4.1/4.0/2.0, provides a faster data transfer speed and stable connection, quickly connect
- 【HiFi Lossless Sound Music Player】This Bluetooth mp3 player with speaker and professional intelligent digital noise reduction chip provides HIFI class sound quality that is close to the original. Support most
- 【2.8 Inch Full-Screen Touch MP3 Player】This full touchscreen mp3 player equipped with 2.8-inch explosion-proof glass, and a sturdy zinc alloy body, provides a comfortable grip and scratch-resistant. The high-sensitive full
- 【Multi-function MP3 Player】This Bluetooth MP3 music player supports music playback but also built-in FM radio, Recording, Video playback, Picture & file browsing, E-book reading, Alarm, Sleep timer, Screen lock and
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- Best Choice - #10 Best Mip Mp3 Players
- Checked on 19/09/2021
- Based on 39 Reviews