The Best MP3 Players of 2024

The humble MP3 player never disappeared. Not only are they still around, but they've grown up and gained impressive new features, including support for Bluetooth headphones and lossless audio formats.

What to Look for in an MP3 Player in 2024

First, let's answer the obvious question: Why not just listen to music on your phone? There are several reasons, but at the higher end of the scale, MP3 players pack far better audio components than even the best phone.

On the budget end, they can go places where you might be afraid to risk breaking or losing your phone—and plenty of them are smaller than the standard smartphone, to boot.

Even if you have one of the increasingly rare phones with a headphone jack, these can't drive headphones or a high-end MP3 player. The headphone amplifier built into a quality MP3 player will have the power to drive more sensitive headphones, plus the sound quality will often be miles better.

While we frequently call them MP3 players, these portable playback machines can handle many more formats than just MP3 files. Many higher-end players and some budget models support hi-res audio formats and lossless audio files like FLAC and ALAC. Some even support more advanced audio formats like DSD.

An important aspect you'll need to consider when shopping for a player is the headphones you'll use with it. Any player can drive a standard set of earbuds, but a higher-end digital audio player can drive more power-hungry headphones.

The above doesn't matter if you intend to listen with wireless earbuds or a portable speaker. On the other hand, this requires Bluetooth. Many players offer Bluetooth support, but not all of them do.

Most of the reasons for buying an MP3 player involve playing your own music files, but occasionally, you'll want to stream too. Some players—usually higher-end models—work with streaming services. That said, even in pricier players, sometimes an FM radio is all you get in addition to your own digital music collection.

If you haven’t used a portable audio player recently, you may still think of them as simply something you use to listen to music on a run. While you can still use them that way, the digital audio player has evolved considerably since the days of the humble MP3 player. Players like the Sony NW-ZX707 Walkman pack the fidelity and power to serve as the centerpiece of your home audio setup.

To start, take a look at the audio specifications. This Walkman model features up to 384kHz / 32-bit playback for PCM files and up to 11.2MHz DSD native playback, meaning it can handle any hi-res audio you throw at it. Looking at the output, you get a 4.4mm balanced connection, which offers lower noise and better separation between left and right signals than a standard connection.

Don’t worry—you also get a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, so you’ll be able to use your favorite headphones, no matter how they connect. The NW-ZX707 also supports Bluetooth, complete with Sony’s LDAC codec, which provides better wireless signal quality than the standard Bluetooth SBC codec. However, you’ll still want a wired connection for the best possible sound quality.

While the onboard audio capabilities are the real star of the show here, Sony’s recent Walkman models run Android, and the NW-ZX707 is no different. This means you can load up Tidal, Apple Music, Spotify, or any other streaming service of your choice and play songs from the Walkman as conveniently as you would your phone.

Looking at battery life, Sony claims a maximum of up to 25 hours of playback time listening to 44.1kHz FLAC files or up to 23 hours of playback time listening at 96kHz. While higher sample rates impact battery life somewhat, it’s minimal overall.

One other plus of the NW-ZX707 Walkman is the styling. While some other high-end players look strange, the Walkman keeps Sony’s iconic minimalist styling, and you won’t forget which is the right way to hold it.

Best MP3 Player Overall

Sony NW-ZX707

Sony's NW-ZX707 Walkman combines the style and ease of use of the brand's most iconic product with the power and fidelity you need to power your entire music listening existence. With faultless audio quality and a seamless Android-powered user interface, it's a joy to use too.
 

$898 at Amazon

Don’t let the word “budget” fool you in this category. Affordable MP3 players have come a long way, and you can expect a lot more from this player than a tinny-sounding way to carry around a few songs. Compared to budget players from even a few years ago, the SHANLING M0s is positively high-fidelity.

Starting with the rough audio specs, the M0s supports up to 384kHz / 32-bit PCM audio, just like the much more expensive Walkman. DSD support isn’t quite as robust, supporting the 5.6MHz DSD128 standard. Still, with a signal-to-noise ratio of 119dB and up to 60mW of output power at 32 ohms, this is fairly impressive, especially given the price.

While plugging in a set of wired headphones is the best way to enjoy the audio fidelity here, it isn’t always the most convenient option. This player doesn’t just support Bluetooth for connecting your headphones, though. It supports two-way Bluetooth 5.0, meaning you can also use the Shanling M0s as a Bluetooth receiver for your home stereo or another amplifier.

The player has a relatively meager 32GB onboard storage capacity, but fortunately, you’re not limited to this. You can expand the onboard storage with a microSD card, and the player supports cards up to 2TB in size, so you have plenty of room to add days' worth of music to the player.

For a slight upgrade, the SHANLING M0 Pro offers a few bonuses for a higher price. First, the onboard DAC is upgraded, and the headphone amp is more powerful. Secondly, this model is compatible with the balanced cable adapter that SHANLING sells, letting you plug balanced connections into the player.

Best Budget MP3 Player

SHANLING M0s

While the SHANLING M0s is affordable, it's certainly not cheap in terms of missing features. You get hi-res audio and a ton of useful features, all at a friendly price. For a little more, you can even get a better DAC and more powerful headphone output.
 

$90 at Amazon

Best MP3 Player with Bluetooth: FiiO M11S

FiiO may not have been the most recognizable name in the audio world a few years ago, but while it isn’t as well known as bigger names, the brand has shown it deserves to be taken seriously. If you need proof, look no further than the FiiO M11S, which was nearly good enough to grab the top spot on this list.

Audio-wise, the specs here are impressive: 384Khz / 32-bit PCM playback and 11.2MHz DSD256 support, powered by a dual-DAC design using a pair of ES9038Q2M chips. There’s plenty of output power, too, with a single-ended output of 167mW at 32 ohms and a balanced power output of 670mW.

You get 2.5mm, 3.5mm, and 4.4mm balanced outputs for your choice of connections, and that’s just the wired connectivity. The player also features two-way LDAC Bluetooth plus USB-C audio support, letting the player pull double duty as a portable DAC, adding even more utility to the M11S.

FiiO has also equipped the M11S with a positively gigantic 5,300mAh battery, considering there is no cellular connection to constantly keep active here. That said, a Snapdragon 660 chipset powers the player, so it’s nice to have plenty of battery power on tap to keep things rolling.

While this is an Android device, FiiO has enabled SRC global bypass, making bit-perfect playback easier to achieve than on Android devices.

Best MP3 Player with Bluetooth

FiiO M11S

The FiiO M11S gives even players twice its price a run for their money, offering audio quality and a feature set that is surprising at this price. With dual DACs and a massive battery, plus support for balanced and unbalanced output, the M11S covers any audio needs you may have.

$500 at Amazon

Buying an MP3 player for kids differs from buying one for yourself in several ways. To start, you probably aren’t looking to spend hundreds on a new player for kids, and secondly, you’re probably more concerned with keeping kids safe. The AGPTEK A02 isn’t going to break the bank—it has tons of kid-friendly features, and it doesn’t connect to the internet, which is a plus for many.

Unlike many of the players we’re looking at elsewhere on this list, the AGPTEK is “only” an MP3 player. While it supports other formats, it doesn’t feature hi-res playback, but most kids aren’t going to be looking to play their collection of hi-fi jazz titles anyway. However, this means that it gets up to 40 hours of playback from its relatively tiny battery.

The player features 32GB of onboard storage, which isn’t expandable, but still holds plenty of music. On the off chance that isn’t enough, it also has a built-in FM radio function, so kids can keep the music going even after they’ve run through their favorite songs a few times.

Even older kids can be rough on headphones or lose them, so it’s handy that the AGPTEK features a built-in speaker to help make music listening a more social experience. The player features Bluetooth for connecting headphones, so kids can also connect their favorite wireless headphones.

Unlike some kid-friendly players, the AGPTEK isn’t available in candy-inspired colors, but it does come in black, blue, and pink.

Best MP3 Player for Kids

AGPTEK A02

With a price low enough that you can afford to keep a spare one handy, plus friendly social features like a built-in speaker, the AGPTEK A02 is an MP3 player perfect for kids, regardless of how old they may be.
 

$30 at Amazon

RUIZU may not be a brand you’re familiar with, but the company has been making a mark on the more value-priced end of the market for a while now. While the RUIZU 64GB Clip isn’t the company’s most original product, it fills an empty slot in the market that Sandisk’s Clip series left behind.

The product’s name's titular clip makes this particular player so well suited to workouts. Clip the player anywhere it makes sense, and you won’t need to worry nearly as much about losing it while you’re out for a run or at the gym.

This player comes with 64GB onboard storage, but it doesn’t stop there, as it also comes with a 128GB card right out of the box. This isn’t a hi-res player, so you’ll have plenty of space for music between those two storage options. If you run out, there’s always the built-in FM radio.

RUIZU also packed the Clip with handy workout features. For example, a built-in pedometer helps you keep track of your steps, while a voice recorder helps you remember any mid-run inspiration.

The screen on the RUIZU is small, at just 1.5 inches, but keep in mind that the small, lightweight nature of the Clip is what makes it so great for workouts. It weighs just 25 grams, so you’ll barely notice you have it clipped on.

Best MP3 Player for Workouts

RUIZU 64GB Clip

With a built-in clip so useful it made it into the product's name, the RUIZU 64GB Clip is the perfect music companion for a run or trip to the gym. A built-in pedometer even helps you keep track of your steps throughout the day.
 

$37 at Amazon

FAQ

How do I download music onto an MP3 player?

Plug your MP3 player into your computer via USB, and most players will appear as an external hard drive. Then you can drag and drop music files onto your player like any other files on your computer.

How do I reset my MP3 player?

This varies from player to player, but it usually involves either removing the battery for a while or pressing a button or series of buttons on the player. Check your manual or the manufacturer's website for instructions for your player.

Can I listen to services like Spotify on an MP3 player?

Some MP3 players feature Wi-Fi and support for streaming services like Spotify. This varies from player to player, so keep this in mind while shopping if this is an important feature.

Why would I use an MP3 player instead of my phone?

Most modern MP3 players aren't limited to MP3s. They play files with much higher quality than you'd typically get on your phone. You also don't have to worry about notifications when trying to relax and enjoy your music.