Top Alternatives to Apple iPod Touch 2025: Budget and Premium Models Tested by Experts

Searching for the best iPod Touch alternatives in 2025? Explore our expert-tested budget and premium models that deliver high-quality music on-the-go.

Introduction to iPod Alternatives

The Apple iPod Touch was once a top-tier portable music player. However, with the continuous evolution of the iPhone, many users have shifted their preference to iPhones instead of iPods. When Apple officially ceased production of the iPod, which had been around for 21 years, few were surprised by its inevitable phase-out.

So, what do you do if you want to enjoy high-quality music while being on the move? Luckily, there are plenty of options available that cater to your needs: from specialized portable music players supporting high-resolution files to smartphones that attempt to do it all. Moreover, many of these modern alternatives can offer even more features to fill the gap left by the iPod Touch.

The following guide lists the best portable players (both high-resolution digital audio players and smartphone alternatives) tested by our expert team across various price ranges. Each one offers its unique features, design, and performance to suit your requirements.

Quick Summary of Top Picks

• Best overall alternative to iPod Touch: Astell & Kern A&norma SR35. This remarkable device is everything you could expect or wish for from a portable music player of this caliber.
• Best budget alternative to iPod Touch: Sony NW-A306. Despite some drawbacks, this affordable player delivers a mature, balanced performance at a great price.
• Best high-end alternative to iPod Touch: Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000. This premium player is perfect for those with a large budget, offering detailed, authoritative sound in a beautifully designed, well-equipped casing.
• Best smartphone alternative to iPod Touch: Apple iPhone 16 Pro. The current version 16 Pro is a brilliant all-around smartphone that will delight fans of Apple’s smooth operation.
• Best budget smartphone alternative to iPod Touch: Sony Xperia 10 V. The Xperia 10 V proves that you don't have to spend a fortune to get a great smartphone alternative to the old iPod.

1. Astell & Kern A&norma SR35 – Best Overall iPod Touch Alternative

Technical Specifications:

• Memory: 64 GB (expandable up to 1 TB via microSD)
• Max File Support: 32-bit/384 kHz, DSD256, MQA
• Headphone Outputs: 3.5mm, 4.4mm, and 2.5mm
• Battery Life: 20 hours
• Dimensions: 10.8 x 6.4 x 1.6 cm
• Weight: 184 g

Pros:

• New benchmark for sound quality
• Well-equipped functionality
• Smart, compact design

Cons:

• Battery life could be better
• Price isn’t exactly "entry-level"

The SR35 raises the bar for portable music players, sitting a notch above budget-friendly options like the Sony NW-A306. It boasts a myriad of features, including three headphone outputs, native playback technology for DSD256, and PCM support, making it a formidable player.

This five-star device has a rhythmic drive that keeps you tapping your feet to upbeat tracks and the clarity to draw you into quieter, intimate pieces. The overall sound is pleasant with a tonal balance that leans slightly towards richness, blending power and elegance.

In our summarized review: “The SR35 easily stacks up against all music it plays, delivering a commendable amount of dynamic expression and ultimately more detail than we had previously experienced from a player at this price point.” Happy listening days await!

2. Sony NW-A306 – Best Budget iPod Touch Alternative

Technical Specifications:

• Memory: 32 GB (expandable up to 2 TB via microSDXC)
• Max File Support: 32-bit/384 kHz, DSD256, MQA
• Headphone Outputs: 3.5mm
• Battery Life: Approximately 32 hours
• Dimensions: 9.8 x 5.7 x 1.2 cm
• Weight: 113 g

Pros:

• Clean, detailed, and coherent sound
• Pocket-sized
• Excellent support for high-resolution audio
• Supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Cons:

• Android OS feels bulky and takes up space
• Interface may seem clunky
• Internal storage for music is only half of what's available

The new NW-A306 is the perfect budget alternative to iPod Touch. It’s compact enough to fit in your palm and pocket, and we love the textured back panel for a secure grip without sacrificing style.

While its connections are minimalistic, they are effective: a USB-C cable for charging and file transfer, and a 3.5mm headphone jack for great sound quality with various headphones. The player’s internal memory is limited, but you can expand it via the microSD slot.

The NW-A306 is feature-packed, supporting high-resolution files extensively and allowing you to download your favorite music streaming apps, while also supporting LDAC and aptX codecs via Bluetooth.

This sleek player is versatile enough to handle various music genres, even distinguishing quality differences in files while keeping the sound comfortable for longer listening sessions. Although it could use a bit more dynamism in tracks that demand it, the NW-A306 is a neat and compact player worth considering, especially if your budget doesn’t stretch to the pricier Astell & Kern models.

3. Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000 – Best High-End iPod Touch Alternative

Technical Specifications:

• Memory: 256 GB (expandable up to 1 TB via microSD)
• Max File Support: 32-bit/384 kHz, DSD256, MQA
• Headphone Outputs: 3.5mm, balanced 2.5mm, Pentaconn 4.4mm
• Battery Life: 10 hours
• Dimensions: 13.7 x 7.7 x 2 cm
• Weight: 493 g

Pros:

• Detailed and authoritative sound
• Well-equipped design
• Stunning casing

Cons:

• Heavier for a portable device
• Operation can feel a bit clunky at times

The Astell & Kern A&ultima SP3000 isn’t for those seeking an iPod touch’s features, but rather a serious player with serious price tags. If you're serious about portable high-quality sound, the flagship SP3000 should be on your radar.

With Bluetooth, you can seamlessly connect wireless headphones. Supporting high-resolution files up to 32-bit/768 kHz, PCM, DSD512, and MQA, the SP3000 takes sound quality to the next level.

This premium player shines in delivering an exceptional audio experience, combining tangible musical insight while skillfully reproducing dynamic contrasts and rhythmic patterns. The detail level is superb, with powerful, bouncy bass ensuring a full-bodied, rich sound.

If you have the funds and appreciate sound quality, we wholeheartedly recommend the A&ultima SP3000. As our review states, “The SP3000 is the best portable music player we’ve ever heard, and the best rarely comes cheap.”

4. Apple iPhone 16 Pro – Best Smartphone Alternative to iPod Touch

Technical Specifications:

• Memory: 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB
• Max File Support: 24-bit/192 kHz (via external DAC); ALAC
• Headphone Outputs: USB-C output
• Battery Life: 27 hours of video, 85 hours of audio
• Weight: 199 g
• Dimensions: 150 x 72 x 8.3 mm

Pros:

• Attractive, textured sound in headphones
• Dynamic speaker performance
• Smooth iOS platform

Cons:

• Does not break the mold for Apple
• Camera control button feels out of place

If you loved the iPod Touch for its smooth, thoughtfully designed iOS platform paired with one of the most user-friendly operating systems, your next logical step may be to find a suitable iPhone and stream music.

We find that iPhones generally provide the best sound among smartphones, although you can't store or play high-resolution FLAC files on an iPhone. Apple Music offers lossless and high-resolution files, but you’ll need third-party apps and a DAC for wired headphones connected to that DAC.

Nevertheless, the iPhone is an excellent device for streaming music from various services, with sound quality that is evident across the board. While it works best with Apple Music, we’ve had no issues using the iPhone to stream from a variety of services.

Performance on the 16 Pro remains stellar, and when connecting to wired headphones using our standard USB-C to 3.5mm adapter, we found Apple had enhanced the sound to be even more appealing than before.

The iPhone 16 Pro is a solid recommendation if you want the latest flagship smartphone from Apple that excels in both film-watching and music-listening experiences.

5. Sony Xperia 10 V – Best Budget Smartphone Alternative to iPod Touch

Technical Specifications:

• Memory: 128 GB
• Max File Support: 24-bit/192 kHz, LDAC
• Headphone Outputs: 3.5mm
• Battery Life: 34 hours of video playback
• Dimensions: 155 x 68 x 8.3 mm
• Weight: 159 g

Pros:

• Reliable support for hi-res files
• LDAC Bluetooth support
• Includes 3.5mm headphone jack

Cons:

• Slightly underpowered
• Vibration through the phone receiver
• Dedicated PMPS provide better hi-res file support

The Sony Xperia 10 V previously held a What Hi-Fi? award and is an excellent entry point if you're looking for a smartphone to use as an iPod alternative, thanks to impressive sound quality and versatility.

Importantly, it’s one of the few smartphones still featuring a 3.5mm headphone jack, allowing you to connect wired headphones and enjoy music with superior quality and reliability compared to wireless alternatives. The built-in DAC supports high-resolution files up to 24-bit/192 kHz PCM, and LDAC Bluetooth codec enables higher-quality audio through compatible wireless headphones.

We found that the Xperia 10 V sounds much more dynamic than many phones at the same or even higher price points, especially using the 3.5mm headphone jack. Impressive Bluetooth playback is also present, along with the great Sony 360 Reality Audio feature for immersive music experiences from Tidal, Amazon Music, and Deezer.

The built-in stereo speakers sound much better than in the older Xperia 10 IV, providing richer sound with enhanced bass.

The Xperia wraps up its budget entertainment array with a 6.1-inch OLED display featuring a 21:9 aspect ratio, which, combined with the device's excellent sound capabilities, ensures an immersive, detail-rich listening experience at this price.

Consider Also

• Fiio M23: Easy to use, with an open sound and plenty of detail, the Fiio M23 is an impressive portable player packed with features, available at a reasonable price. Rivaling Astell & Kern SR35 in musicality and dynamics, it’s still a worthy choice.
• Fiio M11S: Looking for a more affordable way to get full high-resolution support for your music? The M11S combines intuitive Android integration with many other features.
• iPhone 15 Pro Max: Though slightly older, there’s no reason not to consider the excellent iPhone 15 Pro Max, which offers dynamic sound with AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, and FLAC support.
• Sony Xperia 10 VI: The Xperia 10 VI is a five-star choice for music and movie lovers on a budget, offering detailed imaging and a rich, immersive sound.

How to Choose the Best iPod Touch Alternative?

All portable music players listed in this guide have decent storage capacity, but keep in mind that some can be expanded with a microSD card, allowing you to house a whole library of high-resolution melodies. If you're using a smartphone, remember that its internal storage can quickly fill up with the operating system, photos, games, videos, and more, so choose wisely.

Regarding resolution, many music players often support high-resolution files of 24-bit/192 kHz or higher, and some support DSD decoding and MQA playback. Some can even act as a digital-to-analog converter to enhance sound on your laptop.

You can also download your favorite music streaming apps to many players, ensuring sound quality surpasses that of a smartphone. While you can load all necessary music apps onto a smartphone, whether they support the 3.5mm headphone jack depends on the model.

You’ll also want to set aside a budget for a decent pair of headphones or perhaps even a digital-to-analog converter, but if done right, you’ll end up with a powerful portable system.

Lastly, think about whether you want a player solely for music or if you want myriad other functions, like an alarm clock, calendar, video, maps, and everything modern smartphones offer. If you're looking for a multitasking smartphone, it's a reasonable choice in terms of value for money, but typically you’ll get better sound quality from a player designed primarily for music playback.

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