Labs

There's so much more to flash memory-based MP3 players than there used to be. Features such as video and touchscreens are becoming more commonplace, capacities are up to 16GB, and with many players now equipped with memory expansion slots, they're challenging the lower-end hard disk players for storage, too.

If all these premium players just sound too expensive, however, it's still worth taking a look at SanDisk's e Series of MP3 players. They might be long in the tooth now, but they still offer fantastic value for money at just £64 for the 6GB e270. The menu system isn't pretty, but the mechanical clickwheel works almost as well as the nano's touch-sensitive one. It's also packed with features from video support to memory expansion. Battery life is good at up to 20 hours, and the only downside is that sound quality isn't the best. Pair it with a sympathetic pair of headphones, however, and you have yourself a bargain MP3 player.