The best MP3 players of 2024

Pros

Cons

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 18GB of memory, and if that's not enough, you can expand up to 32GB with an SSD card. 

Sony says it uses artificial intelligence to enhance the quality of compressed digital music files, uses S-Master HX technology to reduce distortion, and employs a reflow solder to improve sound localization. 

Also: Sony has a new Walkman. That might be a bigger deal than you realize

The player also has High-Resolution Audio, which captures and reproduces digital audio at a higher rate than CD to get you closer to the original studio recording. You can access apps like Spotify or Apple Music via Wi-Fi, or connect it to a PC to access your music collection.

Reddit users praise the long battery life and say that the Walkman's quality is such a step up from a smartphone that it's worth the buy.

Sony NW-A306 specs: Storage: 18GB (expandable up to 32GB with SD) | Battery: Up to 36 hours | Display: 3.6-inch tocuhscreen | Media types: PCM, AAC, WMA, JPEG, and MP3

Pros

Cons

If you want to spend less than $35 on an MP3 player, this AGPTEK A02X player is a solid option. It has a 1.8-inch display and room for 32GB of storage, with support up to 128GB via a memory card.

This player has Bluetooth 5.3 capability so you can pair it with your favorite wireless headphones. It does have AUX support, but you'll need a separate male to male AUX cable. 

You can listen to music or AM/FM radio, plus it has audiobook support as well as voice recording capabilities. Verified customers praise the device's battery life of up to 40 hours and the clear sound quality.

AGPTEK A02X 32GB MP3 Player specs: Storage: 8GB plus a microSD slot | Battery: Up to 40 hours | Display: 1.8-inch | Media types: MP3/APE/WAV/FLAC/WMA/DRM/ACELP.

Pros

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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. 

Reddit users recommend using cable headphone to get the best sound out of it, but note that even the Bluetooth sound via LDAC is much better compared to a smartphone.

Fiio M11S specs: Storage: 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage | Battery: 13 hours | Display: 5.15-inch bezel-less (1440 x 720 ) touchscreen | Media types: WAV, FLAC, WMA, MP3, OGG, APE, AAC, ALAC, AIFF, DFF, DSF, DXD