Should one buy an MP3 player?

Is anyone still buying an MP3 player now? At one time, everyone owned an MP3 player. For now, however, people only listen to music with their smartphones.

The problem is, the MP3 player still exists and serves the original function of playing music. So is buying an MP3 player still worth it?

In this article, TipsMake.com looks at the pros and cons of using an MP3 player and helps you decide if it's worth buying an MP3 player.

A brief history of MP3 players

Before discussing the pros and cons of using an MP3 player in detail, let's learn a bit about the history of these small devices. The story of an MP3 player focuses on making music more accessible.

Although MP3 players have been around since Apple first entered the field, the launch of the iPod in 2001 saw the device's strong development.

During the heyday in the early 21st century, the mobility and the ability to hold a large number of songs changed the way people listened to music. People no longer have to carry around a piece of hardware with their music collection on many CDs (or cassettes or vinyl records) everywhere to listen to music.

As with most technologies, MP3 players only hold the No. 1 position for a short time. Their attractiveness diminished due to the rapid development of smartphones. Suddenly there appeared devices that could play music and do more than that, making the MP3 player obsolete.

However, for now, you can still buy an MP3 player. The only question is, should you do it?

Benefits of MP3 players

Although it doesn't have all the features of a smartphone, the MP3 player still boasts some benefits. MP3 players only focus on playing music and this may be helpful for some people. Owning a dedicated MP3 player can also free your smartphone for other tasks.

A simpler technology means higher mobility

When you think about a smartphone and for what purpose you need it, the list can grow quickly. Due to everyone's diverse needs, certain design features can't change drastically on a smartphone. Smartphone designers have to predict very wide use cases for everyday device users.

For example, you need a certain screen size on your phone to take advantage of video gaming or mobile gaming. Design decisions must ensure that they support a certain size of software. If you've ever played a game on a TV with a non-standard size, you'll have the problem of making some things not appear on the screen.

Due to situations like these, the need for comparable features on a smartphone could limit a company from doing any risky work. In contrast, an MP3 player is a more specialized device. Because of its greater diversity, MP3 players come in a variety of sizes.

A great example of this comes in the form of an MP3 player worn on the ear. As a fusion of earbud and MP3 player, the devices do their job well and don't take up too much space. Although you have more limited space for songs, they eliminate the common hassle of traveling.

The design of these devices is not too bulky and only takes up space like any standard headphones, which makes them a great choice. If you've ever jogged with a smartphone in a jacket pocket or pants pocket, you can clearly see how annoying the weight of a bigger device will be. If you need to consider some other design options to compare, refer to some of the best MP3 players.

MP3 player prides itself on excellent battery life

Besides many sleek design options, the MP3 player also has the advantage of battery life. For people with smartphones, it's likely that things like extra batteries, charging stations or car chargers are inseparable, just so they can keep up with their busy daily life. If you feel you need to reduce the time you plug your smartphone in to a power source, you can benefit from removing at least one task from your device.

You can listen to FM radio on demand

For anyone who likes to listen to the radio, there will be many devices that support additional access points. Although you can always access the radio online on your smartphone or tablet, owning an MP3 player with built-in FM player will allow you to listen to the radio without data. Mobile or WiFi.

Cons of MP3 players

When it comes to the downside of owning an MP3 player, there are many reasons why you are convinced. However, the main reason comes from two simple reasons.

You must own another device

Compared to past technology, the 'all-in-one' trend has greatly reduced user demand. Your smartphone puts most of what you need in your pocket. They allow you to call and text your friends, listen to music, watch movies and even work.

If you don't actively avoid a smartphone feature, it's hard to justify buying an MP3 player.

Better streaming service

Just like to watch local content, streaming services have a lot to offer. If you subscribe to a streaming service like Spotify or Pandora, you can easily find any music you want to listen to.

Anyone who tries to maintain a music library will know that they have to keep up to date on their devices with new song releases. There are also manual file transfers, song syncing, device updates, and so on. Meanwhile streaming services fix all these problems.

Final conclusion about the MP3 player

So should you still buy an MP3 player? The answer is no. Unless you have a specific need for a standalone device to play music locally, or, for whatever reason, you don't own a smartphone.

However, for most people, a smartphone is the best option. And you can use the money saved by buying an MP3 player to buy a better phone. Refer more: Top 10 best smartphones 2019.

Wish you find yourself a suitable choice!