Remember MP3 players? Long before we had everything we needed on our phones, we had to have a portable player to listen to our music. In the history of portable audio players, there were Sony Walkmans, followed by CD players, and finally, the MP3 player dominated the early 2000s.

It may surprise you that MP3 players (also known as digital audio players or DAPs) are still very much around. The MP3 players in 2023 sync to streaming services like Spotify, sport color and touchscreen displays, and offer expansive storage options.

Also: The best Bluetooth speakers

rounded up the top MP3 players you can buy through evaluating storage, battery life, media type, and price to deliver this curated list of picks. My top choice for best MP3 player overall is theSony NWE394/B 8GB Walkman  thanks to its compact design, price, and playlist customization, but I've rounded up the best MP3 players on the market today from other brands like Astell & Kern, FIIO, and more that are worth ditching your smartphone for.   

The best MP3 players of 2023

Sony NWE394/B 8GB Walkman

Best MP3 player overall

Sony/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Small and compact
• Decently priced
• Create and listen to your own playlists

Cons

• Can be a bit tricky to use with a Mac
• Not suitable for listening to podcasts

More Details

Sony NWE394/B features: Storage: 4GB, 8GB, or 16GBBattery:Up to 35 hoursDisplay:1.77-inch (128 x 160) color LCDMedia types:PCM, AAC, WMA, JPEG, and MP3

Sony Walkman players may look a little different than you're used to, but this Walkman still functions the same as Walkmans of the past -- just with a modern edge. It has an LCD display with up to 16GB of memory, which equates to about 4,000 songs.  

You can easily drag and drop your files from a laptop or computer to the Sony NWE394/B, and it's also compatible with iTunes or the Windows Media Player to create your own playlists. In addition, there are 30 preset FM radio stations, a sleep timer and alarm, and included wired earbuds right out of the box. 

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Sandisk Clip Jam

Best budget MP3 player

SanDisk/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Super affordable
• Good sound quality for its price
• Expansion card for more storage

Cons

• Does not bookmark your position in a book or song

More Details

Sandisk Clip Jam features:Storage:8GB plus a microSD slotBattery:Up to 18 hoursDisplay:0.96-inch (128 x 64) White OLEDMedia types:MP3, WMA, AAC, and WAV

If you want to spend less than$35 on an MP3 player, this Sandisk Clip Jam player is a solid option. It's just 0.8 ounces and comes in fun colors like red, pink, and green. It has room for 8GB of storage, or about 2,000 songs. However, a microSD card slot allows for additional storage.

Like my top pick, this MP3 player also has a built-in FM radio tuner and included earphones. 

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Mighty Vibe Music Player

Best mini MP3 player

Mighty Vibe/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Stay Fresh feature to keep your playlists up to date
• Lightweight with a clip design

Cons

• The app could be more user-friendly
• Wired headphones definitely work better

More Details

Mighty Vibe features:Storage:8GBBattery:5 hoursDisplay:1.4 inches (Just buttons, no display)Media types:Spotify and Amazon Music

This compact MP3 player from Mighty Vibe is reminiscent of Apple's popular iPod Shuffle and works similarly but is more 2023-friendly. You use the Mighty app to sync your Spotify or Amazon Music playlists wirelessly. Mighty Vibe's Stay Fresh feature automatically syncs these playlists while you sleep, so you always have up-to-date tracks.

A clip-on design makes this MP3 player perfect for running or working out. It works with both Bluetooth headphones and wired headphones, although some users report that wired headphones sound better. 

Note: As of this writing, this product is out of stock, but check back later to see if it's available. 

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Fiio M11S

Best lossless audio MP3 player

FIIO/ Pros & Cons Pros

• Impressive and dynamic sound
• Quality-built metal chassis
• Touchscreen display

Cons

• Quick charge isn't really that quick
• Older software and limited memory

More Details

Fiio M11S features: Storage:3GB of RAM and 32GB of storageBattery:13 hoursDisplay:5.15-inch bezel-less (1440 x 720 ) touchscreenMedia types:WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, DXD

Lossless audio has risen in popularity in recent years thanks to Apple's implementation of the technology in Apple Music. This MP3 player from Fiio is perfect for lossless audio tracks thanks to a custom-made chip, which provides lower noise floor and distortion. 

The player comes with Android 10 right out of the box so that you can access the Play Store and whatever streaming app is your go-to. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 technology, and when set into Bluetooth receiver mode, it becomes a high-quality Bluetooth amplifier with better frequency response. 

View now at Amazon

What is the best MP3 player?

The best MP3 player for most people is the Sony NWE394/B 8GB Walkman, based on compatibility and price. It also has an impressively long battery life of up to 35 hours. 

MP3 player	Price	Storage	Battery life
Sony NWE394/B	$65	4GB, 8GB, or 16GB	Up to 35 hours
Sandisk Clip Jam	$35	8GB plus microSD	Up to 18 hours
Mighty Vibe	$86	8GB	5 hours
Fiio M11S	$500	32GB	13 hours

Which MP3 player is right for you?

The right MP3 player for you will depend on how much storage you need, what audio files you want to upload, if you need something simple or high-end, and what price you're willing to spend.

Below, I've broken down the options further. 

Choose this MP3 player...	If you want...
Sony NWE394/B	The best overall option when it comes to price and quality. This Sony Walkman is compact and allows you to listen to your favorite curated playlists.
Sandisk Clip Jam	A budget-friendly MP3 player. It has room for about 2,000 songs.
Mighty Vibe	A mini MP3 player that has a clip. You can sync up your Spotify or Amazon Music playlists wirelessly to listen on the go.
Fiio M11S	An MP3 player perfect for lossless audio. It has a quality metal build as well as a touchscreen display.

How did I choose these MP3 players?

When choosing the best MP3 players, I considered many factors, such as brand name and reliability, customer reviews (both good and bad), audio quality, and more. Ultimately, the following factors helped determine my top picks:

• Storage: The amount of storage in an MP3 player will ultimately determine how many songs it can hold, so we paid attention to devices with lots of storage space. For example, 16GB of memory equates to about 4,000 songs. 
• Media types: While MP3 players of course take MP3 files, we also considered devices that support additional file types, including WMA, WAV, AAC, and more. 
• Battery: The great thing about modern-day MP3 players is that they will have much better battery lives than the devices of the past. The average battery life for a good MP3 player will be about 12 hours. 
• Price: MP3 players vary greatly in price, so we made sure to include different price points for different budgets. 

How many songs does an MP3 player hold?

This all depends on the amount of storage that is on the MP3 device. The number of songs an MP3 player can hold will also depend on a song's file format and compression rate, so these numbers may vary. Here is a quick guide for reference of how many songs typical storage types can hold: 

• 4GB = 1,000 songs
• 8GB = 2,000 songs 
• 16GB = 4,000 songs 
• 32GB = 8,000 songs 
• 64GB = 16,000 songs

Is it worth it to buy an MP3 player?

In 2023, you might wonder if it's even worth buying an MP3 player when you can just listen to music on your smartphone. However, MP3 players are great for kids who want to listen to music but don't yet have a smartphone, people who like to run or hike outside, or those who simply want to listen to music without any distractions from their phones.

Do MP3 players need Wi-Fi?

No. Because MP3 players don't need Wi-Fi to work, you can use them in more situations. However, some MP3 players do have Wi-Fi connection capabilities, such as the Mighty Vibe player.

Are there alternative MP3 players worth considering?

Of course, there are plenty of other MP3 players outside of these four options. Here are some other products I think are worth looking into.

Best budget alternative

Aiworth Portable

This MP3 player is just$50 and uses Bluetooth 5.0 for faster data transfer. It can also store 32GB worth of songs.

View at Amazon

Best cult classic alternative

iPod Touch

Even though Apple discontinued the iPod Touch in 2022, you can still buy used or refurbished models if you want to relive the good ol' days. The iPod touch can also take photos and videos. 

View at Walmart

Best color display alternative

Mechen HR

A full-color 2-inch LCD display can display lyrics to whatever song you're listening to so that you can sing along. 

View at Amazon

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