Alternatives to the 4G iPod Nano

(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)

No doubt about it: the Apple iPod Nano is an excellent MP3 player. It's ultraslim, generally easy to use, and has a high-quality feel and appealing extras such as a tilt sensor and a smart playlist feature called Genius. However, like all MP3 players, it's not perfect. Sound quality isn't great, there's still no user-definable EQ, and adding voice recording and an FM tuner requires that you drop more of your hard-earned cash. Luckily, if you're not convinced you want to hop on the Nano bandwagon, there's a handful of worthy alternatives, and most of those listed below beat out the Nano in audio fidelity. Of course, the important thing is selecting the best MP3 player for your needs. If the Nano doesn't suit you, one of these players should certainly do the trick.

• Cowon D2: In the premium flash MP3 player category, you have the Cowon D2, which offers an ample touch screen, stellar audio quality, a smorgasbord of features, support for OGG and FLAC audio formats, and a fantastic battery life: 50 hours for music and 10 hours for video.
• Creative Zen Mozaic: The Creative Zen offers a cool, customizable user interface; a funky design; great sound quality; and useful features such as bookmarking, on-the-go playlists with naming, and a built-in FM tuner and voice recorder--all for less than $100 (for the 4GB version).
• Microsoft Zune: You can't have a list of iPod alternatives without mentioning the Zune. This worthy contender serves up excellent sound quality, great podcast support, and an innovative user interface that still manages to be intuitive. Plus, you can sync music from your computer and share songs over Wi-Fi.
• Samsung S3: The S3 is perfectly poised to take the Nano on in the style department. This supersleek player features a glossy paint job, glowing touch-sensitive controls, and a fun, animated interface. The bargain price ($79.99 for 4GB), boatload of sound enhancement options, and great sound quality don't hurt either.
• SanDisk Sansa Fuze: Bargain-hunters will appreciate this pick--you can find the 8GB Fuze for about $100 online. It's compact, easy to use, and packed with features such as Rhapsody Channels support and a microSD card slot capable of accepting high capacity cards.
• Sony NWZ-S710F: This Editors' Choice award-winning Walkman is among the most stellar we've ever laid ears on. The NWZ-S710F delivers a perfect storm of on-the-go features, including music, photo, and video playback; FM radio; subscription music support; remarkable battery life (32 hours for audio); heavenly sound quality; and a feat only Sony could pull off: active noise-canceling in-ear headphones included in the box.

Check out a side-by-side comparison of the players.

[rocwoof]

Don't expect "glossy paint" or other such finishes to impress all of us - the smudges they collect in short order are extremely tacky. A matte finish would be a much more appealing feature to me in comparison.

[Fil0403]

IMHO the new iPod Nano is better than any of these.

[Tech Diva XXX]

Not if the sound doesn't measure up as CNET claims. It has not in the past concerning iPods. I have several DAPs including Apple, Creative, Sony and Samsung. EXCELLENT sound on the others. iPod has acceptable sound. You need good earphones and testing of the equalizer settings to enhance the sound. But the equalizer pre-settings suck a bit, they really need a customizable equalizer BADLY. No FM tuner is just lame.

Did you know Sony had the shake/shuffle feature before Apple, on it's phones? So that's really nothing new. Genius playlist? That's what my playlists are to begin with, the same type of music on the list. I have voice recording on my Creative Zen V Plus, which is now at least a 3 yr. old player. The only thing new for me is the design of the 4G Nano. I do like it, but need to test the sound quality first. I don't hate iPods, but I know they really are NOT the best like many people think they are.

[xbrando7]

I love the new iPod nano, but unlike most mp3 players it lacks one of the most simplest wonderful features, AN FM RADIO FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!! Why haven't they listened to us yet!!!!! So unless you have a Mac like me(which i love by the way), one of these is definitely a worthy alternative.

[Jasmineflower]

Of the players listed above, the SanDisk, the Cowon, and the Sony have all been tested on Macs in UMS mode and worked a treat - check 'em out!

[rodrinehart]

I despise iTunes software, both as a music player on my PC, and the other software it tries to install. My two gripes with the nano itself are the lack of FM tuner and the fact you can't use it to share music to other PCs from it. I dislike anything with any level of DRM.

[MastaShake1138]

CNET/Crave does these all the time. "Alternatives to the iPod(x)" and for some reason, only the iPod.

You know what they should do? They should change all of these blogs' and stories' articles to "Buy Anything But the iPod for God's Sake!" because we're biased!

The sound quality isn't great? Honestly? I'd say, since it's an MP3 player, that's it's gotta be at least good, or else people would notice. I really want to know why CNET is so intent on finding as many problems as they can with iPods. It's getting a bit ridiculous.

I mean, I can understand that fanboys are ridiculous, but the iPod has to be at least a decent player. Give consumers some credit.

[timber2005]

You should have read some of the comments below the iPod blogs... lots of people against it, so IMO this is to appeal to THOSE people.

[rnaoncfixd]

To be honest, I have no idea why anyone want's an FM radio when there are podcasts. Also, I'm not sure what other radio stations are like in your area, but in mine, they are terrible. They have a playlist of about 60 songs and they pretty much go on repeat for the rest of the day.

The first mp3 player with XM radio will get my vote however. Until then, the iPod retains its class and innovative design.