This Zippo-sized MP3 player packs as much into its small frame as possible. Four gigs of media storage, an FM tuner, voice and radio recording, a bright OLED screen and a handy clip waiting to grasp the nearest lapel or waistband. The interface and menus are dead simple, and so is grabbing music from your PC — just drag and drop. The freebie earphones, though ugly, belt out the sound.

Apple iPod shuffle
$50 (1 GB) 
Amazing 15-hour battery life (Apple claims only 12 hours), but the lack of a screen takes it down a notch.
Samsung YP-S2 Pebble
$39 (1 GB) 
Irksome controls leave you wondering how to turn it on. When it does boot up, volume is underwhelming.
Coby MP-565
$50 (2 GB) 
A stiff clip and short battery life make this 2-gig player the runt of the litter.
