When MP3 players first came out, they were priced at several hundred dollars and had limited features. Take the MPMan F10 as an example.  It was released in 1998 and featured 32MB of Flash storage – just enough for a few songs.  The price started off as $250 and then dropped to $200.

Thanks to the advances in technology, you can now easily find a cheap MP3 player which still has all the bells and whistles you need.  There are no “one-size-fits-all” for MP3 players because everyone has different uses for them – like listening to music while commuting or exercising. We have picked the top MP3 players of 2011 which will suit most people’s diverse needs.

SanDisk Sansa Clip Zip 4GB

Retailing at about $40, the SanDisk Sansa Clip Zip has 4GB and a compact design. It will play most audio formats and is compatible with most subscription services.  There is also a built-in FM radio and voice recorder. While this MP3 player doesn’t have the features of MP4 players, it does a great job of supplying you with music and for a very cheap price.

Apple iPod Nano 2011 8GB

When the Apple iPod Nano was first released, it retailed for about $120-$160.  Now, you can find it on sale for under $100.  This is a great deal considering all that this stylish MP3 player offers!  With 8GB of storage space, cool features like Genius Mixes and Playlists, an FM radio which has play/replay, and a pedometer, you are getting a lot for your money with this cheap MP3 player!

Philips GoGear Ariaz 16GB

With 16GB of storage space, the Philps GoGear Ariaz is the file hoarders dream while still coming in very cheap at just about $100.  The sound quality is great and you get advanced features like a 2.4 inch display screen for video playback, a battery life of up to 45 hours of music, FM radio with RDS, and lots of organizational tools.  You can also get the Philips GoGear Ariaz with less storage space for an even lower price!

SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8GB

SanDisk is known for making some of the best cheap MP3 players.  The Sansa Fuze is one of their best products of the year.  It retails at about $75-$100 and features video playback, FM radio, photo capabilities, voice recording, AAC compatibility, and a decent screen resolution.  While it may not be as fancy as an iPod, it is a great alternative considering the very low price of this cheap MP3 player.

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