Editors' Top MP3 Players
updated June 5, 2006

Portable video players (a.k.a. PVPs or portable media players) are the video equivalent of portable MP3 players. In fact, they are MP3 players at heart but with the ability to play back video on a larger color screen. PVPs come in all sizes and shapes, and some have more features than others. For example, the compact Archos Gmini 402 does not record video or audio, but it's the same size as an iPod, while the Archos AV700 has a mammoth body and screen, as well as excellent recording features. Some, such as the bulky Creative Zen PMC, have amazingly intuitive interfaces while PVPs such as the Archos PMA430 are a little more complicated but come with early-adopter features, including a touch-screen interface and built-in Wi-Fi. -- James Kim, senior editor

Editors' Top MP3 players:

Portable video players (PVP)

Portable video players (PVP)

MP3 Players	Editors' rating	Price	Summary
Archos AV500 Mobile DVR (30GB)	8.3 Excellent	$380	The well-appointed Archos AV500 puts wide-screen video in your pocket, but we're still waiting for a point-and-click way to get video into the device. Specs: Digital AV recorder , 4.9 in x 0.7 in x 3 in , LCD 4 in - Color , MP3 , WAV , WMA , Protected WMA (DRM) , AVI , WMV , MPEG-4 , MPEG-4 SP , 9 oz

Toshiba Gigabeat MES30VW (30GB, white)	8.3 Excellent	$245	Many prospective MP3/PVP buyers have been waiting patiently for this compact, easy-to-use, one-stop shop for media files--looks like the Toshiba Gigabeat S was worth the wait. Specs: Portable media center , 2.4 in x 0.6 in x 3.9 in , LCD 2.4 in - Color , MP3 , WAV , WMA , 5.3 oz

Archos Gmini 402 (20GB)	8.0 Excellent	Email me when product is available	Archos's supercompact Gmini 402 portable video player adds DRM-protected media to its long list of features. Specs: Digital AV recorder , 4.2 in x 2.4 in x 0.7 in , LCD 2.2 in - Color , PCM , WAV , WMA , ADPCM , Protected WMA (DRM) , DivX , XviD , MPEG-4 SP , 5.6 oz

Archos Gmini 402 Camcorder (20GB) Released: 11/11/2005	8.0 Excellent	$314	The Archos Gmini 402 Camcorder looks more attractive than ever, now that it's added a camcorder and a still camera to its long list of music and video features. Specs: Digital AV recorder , 4.2 in x 2.4 in x 0.7 in , LCD 2.2 in - Color , PCM , WAV , WMA , ADPCM , Protected WMA (DRM) , MPEG-4 SP , 5.6 oz

Creative Zen Vision (30GB, White)	7.7 Very good	Email me when product is available	The Creative Zen Vision, a dazzling but occasionally frustrating personal media player, handles video and music with aplomb, all for a tantalizingly low price. Specs: Portable media center , 4.9 in x 0.8 in x 2.9 in , LCD 3.7 in - Color , MP3 , WMA , Protected WMA (DRM) , WMV , XviD , MPEG-1 , MPEG-2 , DivX 4.0 , DivX 5.0 , MPEG-4 SP , Motion JPEG , 8.4 oz

Archos Pocket Video Recorder AV420 Released: 06/30/2004	7.7 Very good	$154-$387 from 2 stores	Archos's now classic AV420 laid the foundation for modern PVPs and PVRs. Specs: Digital AV recorder , 4.9 in x 3.1 in x 0.8 in , LCD 3.5 in - Color , MP3 , PCM , WAV , WMA , ADPCM , XviD , DivX 4.0 , DivX 5.0 , MPEG-4 SP , 9.9 oz

Cowon A2 (30GB)	8.0 Excellent	Email me when product is available	The Cowon A2 is a sleek portable video player with a bright, wide-screen color LCD, as well as full multimedia recording and playback capabilities, but it's not the most efficient device. Plus, it's in desperate need of Windows Media DRM 10 (Janus) compatibility. Specs: Digital AV recorder , 5.2 in x 0.9 in x 3.1 in , TFT 4 in - Color , ASF , MP3 , WAV , WMA , AC-3 , Ogg Vorbis , AVI , WMV , XviD , DivX 4.0 , DivX 5.0 , DivX 3.11 , MPEG-4 SP , 10.5 oz

Creative Zen Portable Media Center Released: 01/08/2004	7.0 Very good	Email me when product is available	Eight months after its announcement, the Creative Zen PMC is finally here. Despite its bulk, the player is solid, but it's the Microsoft Portable Media Center software that deserves most of the praise. Specs: Portable media center , 5.7 in x 1.1 in x 3.2 in , LCD 3.8 in - Color , MP3 , WMA , WMV , 12 oz

Archos Pocket Media Assistant PMA430 Released: 01/07/2005	7.3 Very good	Email me when product is available	Sticker shock and minor problems notwithstanding, Archos has crafted the most capable, enviable PVP we've seen yet with the PMA430. Specs: Digital AV recorder , 4.9 in x 3.1 in x 0.8 in , TFT 3.5 in - Color , MP3 , PCM , WAV , WMA , MPEG-4 SP , 9.9 oz

RCA Lyra X3000 (20GB)	6.7 Good	Email me when product is available	If you're looking for a good way to record and watch video using a compact device, the RCA Lyra X3000 is a solid choice; however, serious music addicts may want to use something else as their primary portable audio device, due to the device's 20GB capacity, its poor audio battery life, and a few navigation foibles. Specs: Digital AV recorder , TFT 3.6 in - Color , MP3 , WAV , WMA , Audible , Protected WMA (DRM) , AVI , WMV , XviD , MPEG-1 , MPEG-2 , MPEG-4 , DivX 4.0 , DivX 5.0 , MPEG-4 SP

iRiver PMC-120 Released: 10/01/2004	7.0 Very good	Email me when product is available	Although the PMC-120 is a much better device than its Linux-based brother, the PMP-120, it's not the best Portable Media Center device available. Specs: Portable media center , TFT 3.5 in - Color