Best MP3 Players: Touchscreen, Hi-Res DAP and Simple Picks

For most people the 80GB touchscreen player is the best all round pick here, because its listing covers Wi-Fi streaming with Spotify, Amazon Music and Audible, Bluetooth and hi-res lossless audio on a 4.02 inch screen. If you care most about sound quality, the HIFI WALKER H2 lists an ESS DAC with DSD and FLAC support, and if you want something simple the AGPTEK A02PL is rated for up to 65 hours of playback. Match the player to whether you want to stream, store a lossless library, or just load and play your own files.

A budget MP3 player like the AGPTEK A02PL or the GizmoGlee is built to load and play your own files simply, and their listings keep the feature set small. A hi-res DAP like the HIFI WALKER H2 is aimed at sound quality, and its listing names an ESS DAC with DSD and FLAC lossless support, a line out and a USB DAC mode. The 80GB touchscreen player sits in between, adding Wi-Fi streaming and a screen. Decide whether you want simplicity, lossless sound, or streaming, and pick from that group.

Several of these players list Bluetooth. The 80GB touchscreen player, the HIFI WALKER H2, the 128GB player and the sports 64GB model all name Bluetooth, with the sports model and the 128GB player listing Bluetooth 5.3 and the AiMoonsa listing Bluetooth 5.2. The AGPTEK A02PL and the screen-free GizmoGlee do not state Bluetooth in their listings, so if wireless earbuds matter, choose one of the Bluetooth models and confirm it on the product page.

Some of these players list an expandable microSD slot and some do not. The HIFI WALKER H2 lists support for cards up to 512GB and includes a 64GB card, and the sports 64GB model lists expansion up to 128GB. The 80GB touchscreen player, the 128GB player and the AGPTEK A02PL do not state an expandable slot in their listings, so you would rely on their built-in storage. Check the product page if a card slot is important to you.

Streaming is where the 80GB touchscreen player stands apart, since its listing names Wi-Fi support for Spotify, Amazon Music and Audible. The other players here are built around local files you load yourself, and their listings do not mention streaming apps. If you want to stream services without your phone, the touchscreen player is the one in this guide designed for it, while the rest focus on playing music stored on the device or a card.

The sports 64GB model is the one framed for running and workouts, with its listing naming HiFi sound for sports runners, Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless earbuds and a card slot up to 128GB. Lighter, simpler players like the AGPTEK A02PL or the GizmoGlee are also easy to carry, though their listings do not mention sports features. None of these listings state a clip, armband or water resistance, so if you need those, confirm them on the product page before buying.

It depends on your library and whether you stream. The players here range from a 4GB card on the GizmoGlee, through 64GB on the AGPTEK A02PL, HIFI WALKER H2 and sports model, up to 80GB on the touchscreen player and 128GB on the largest. If you keep a big local library, lean toward the 128GB player or a model with an expandable card slot like the HIFI WALKER H2, which lists support up to 512GB. If you mostly stream, the 80GB touchscreen player gives room for both apps and local files.

Format support is spelled out most clearly on the HIFI WALKER H2, whose listing names DSD and FLAC lossless playback through an ESS DAC. The 80GB touchscreen player lists hi-res lossless audio alongside its streaming apps. The other players are described as MP3 and music players without a full format list, so where a listing does not name the formats, we do not assume them. If a specific format matters, check the current product page for that model.