MP3 Players

It's not an overstatement to say that the invention of MP3 players effectively changed the way you could listen to music. Instead of lugging around a bulky collection of CDs, you're able to carry practically your entire music collection in your pocket. And, as the popularity of MP3 music players grew, competition between manufacturers led to ever-evolving designs, and a wide-range of performance features. In fact, today's MP3 players aren't just portable music players, they're multimedia players, able to play a large variety of audio and video files.

So, if you're in the market for an MP3 player, a good place to start is by determining exactly what capabilities you want.

If you own a smartphone, do you really need an MP3 player? If you listen to music while you're working out or running, you may find an MP3 player is more convenient because it's smaller, and because it often has a built-in clip to keep it out of the way of your workout. In that case, you may want to go wireless with a Bluetooth MP3 player and compatible earbuds. Plus, if you do happen to drop it while you're running the treadmill, the cost of replacing your MP3 player can be significantly less than getting a new smartphone.

Additionally, you can use headphones with your player when you want to be alone with your music, and when you want to share your playlist with friends, you can use compatible portable speakers for a backyard dance party. In many cases, you can also use your player with your car music system. Of course, you can find the headphones, cables and chargers you need here at Best Buy.

Other ways to enjoy your MP3 player include listening to audiobooks or podcasts, or even reading books since many MP3 players can double as e-book readers. You can also connect your player to your projector to provide a soundtrack for your photo slide show for an event or meeting.

Even as they've gotten more advanced and feature-packed, MP3 players have gotten smaller. In fact, you can now get one that's only a half-inch thick and weighs barely over 7 ounces. Yet, despite the small size, many of these devices still pack a storage capacity large enough to hold thousands of your favorite songs, plus movies and video, up to 128GB, and even more if you get one with an expandable storage feature. Many have built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, high resolution touch screens, equalizer controls, and even cameras. Additional features to consider include water resistance, live streaming, and add-ons such as FM radio, a voice recorder or a stopwatch.