Best MP3 Players for 2026

If you don't want to use your phone to listen to music, you can still find plenty of what were once called MP3 players. These digital audio players can be tiny, simple devices or larger, almost phone-like ones that run Android. With the latter, you can even install streaming apps like Spotify and Apple Music. Personally, I use these devices while hiking and for international travel, including on planes. You can also just use an old phone. Here are the best options in 2026.

The M0s is an inexpensive hi-res audio player that allows you to enjoy your downloaded music without the distraction or annoyance of an internet connection. The M0s feels well made and has a surprisingly nice design for something small and inexpensive. It's easy enough to put all your music, even high-res lossless audio formats up to 384 kHz at 32-bit, on a high-capacity microSD card so you don't lose quality on the music playback. Its interface is simple and it has plenty of power for big headphones.

The HiBy R4 is a serious music player, with high-end DACs, amp and a customized Android interface. It's probably more than most people need, but it's great for anyone looking for better audio on the go. The version pictured here and what I reviewed is the special edition HiBy R4 x Evangelion whose design was inspired by the anime of the same name. The standard R4 is largely similar, and is available in more toned-down colors.