MP3 players are making a comeback – I tested 15 to find the best

Ditch the subscriptions and algorithms of the music streamers with our pick of the best modern digital audio players

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An MP3 player? In 2025? Am I going to be covering Betamax and MiniDisc players next?

No, this isn’t a retro piece from the Filter. You may be reading this at least three years after Apple decided the iPod business was too niche to be worth bothering with, but MP3 players – or digital audio players, as they should more accurately be called – are seeing a small resurgence, despite the domination of Spotify, Apple Music and the like.

Best MP3 player overall:
Activo P1

Best budget MP3 player:
Snowsky Echo Mini