All in all, the 80GB Zune is a decent choice as an 80GB MP3 player. It sounds great, its interface isn't a hindrance, and its pricing is right in line with the competition. Accessories and features such as premium headphones and an FM tuner give it at least one area where it's a step up from an iPod Classic, and if you're interested in wireless syncing, this could be the player for you.

The Archos 5 is a beautifully designed portable video player with a stunning screen and very good audio and video playback.

If you prefer something extremely lightweight that integrates with a lot of third-party speakers and accessories, the fourth-generation 16GB iPod Nanos may be a better choice. All of these devices are available for about the same price as the Zune, so unless you're a big fan of Zune's software and the Zune Marketplace, you can probably find a better value elsewhere.

The iRiver Lplayer is an impressive portable media player. It offers a host of features, has a good quality screen and comes at a low price. Just a few niggling interface and control issues detract from what is otherwise a strong iPod nano competitor.

A substandard MP3 player with support included for video files, its tiny screen and poor audio quality leave the Linophir BC-688 flailing in the wake of the competition.

At this end of the market, you won't find another portable media player as full-featured as the Xinc Ultra. However usability needs serious work from both a hardware and software perspective.

Another impressive portable media player, the Samsung YP-S3 suffers from a sluggish interface but is otherwise a good unit that offers a bevy of features in a slim package.

We love the functionality of this player, but its design isn't particularly good. We much prefer the bigger Zen to the Zen Mozaic.

A fairly impressive portable media player, the Sony Walkman NWZ-E436F doesn't do anything incredible and it has a few niggling issues but its combination of good quality video playback and intuitive interface make it a viable choice.

The Apacer Audio Steno AU840 isn't the worst media player we have ever reviewed, but it certainly doesn't compare with the higher end units on the market.

The Sandisk Sansa Fuze is another solid entry into the flash-based media player market. It has a nice array of features and delivers excellent audio, although the lack of gapless playback was annoying at times.

For videos, music, photos and more, you can't beat the Zen. It's one of the most versatile players on the market, it's well built and it'll give you many hours of enjoyment.