MP3 gamers have slowly been changed by smartphones, but when you end up within the uncommon state of affairs of needing one, fortunately for you their near-extinct standing means decrease costs. The easy SanDisk Clip Jam is compellingly low-cost sufficient to justify shopping for it only for the fitness center. For simply $40 or £30 within the UK (converts to AU$54 in Australia) this tremendous light-weight music participant boasts a built-in clip, has a no-frills digital display screen for simple shopping and it really works with each PCs and Macs.
The Good
The SanDisk Clip Jam has a light-weight design with a built-in clip, FM radio and lengthy battery life. You’ll be able to simply copy music from a PC or Mac and the microSD slot gives an additional storage possibility in a pinch. Not like the iPod Shuffle, it has a display screen.
The Unhealthy
There is no Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. It isn’t appropriate with any streaming music providers.
The Backside Line
In case you hate iTunes, the SanDisk Clip Jam is one of the best discount music participant you should purchase.
The Clip Jam lacks the Bluetooth discovered within the Apple iPod Nano — so do not count on to make use of your wi-fi headphones or audio system. And although it is small, it isn’t as smooth because the tiny iPod Shuffle — however it’s cheaper than each Apple music gamers. Moreover, the SanDisk MP3 participant has one characteristic no Apple iPod has ever had: a microSD card growth slot. Utilizing this, you possibly can improve its built-in 8GB storage with an additional 64GB. It is no infinite cloud of streaming music, but it surely’s much more house than the Shuffle (2GB) and Nano (16GB) provide.
Better of all, you do not have to make use of iTunes to switch your music — simply drag and drop your music information. (The Clip Jam reveals up as an exterior drive when linked to your Mac or Home windows PC.). Although its sound high quality cannot examine to costly high-res music gamers, the Clip Jam sounds high-quality — except you are audiophile, you will not discover the distinction between listening to this or an iPod. Along with MP3, it is appropriate with WMA, WAV and AAC information — equivalent to those you buy from iTunes or Amazon. However it will not work with any subscription music providers, nor will it work with the previous copy-protected iTunes purchases made earlier than 2007.
The built-in clip that sturdily retains it in place whereas on a run makes it similar to the iPod Shuffle, which has an identical design. Nevertheless, apart from seems and a battery (much like the Shuffle, the Clip Jam averaged about 20 hours within the CNET Labs battery check), they do not have a lot in widespread. The Shuffle has no display screen to decide on what you wish to take heed to. The SanDisk Clip Jam, however, has a low-res display screen that allows you to tune into an FM radio station or peruse your entire music, podcasts and Audible audiobooks, in addition to the contents of the aforementioned microSD card growth slot.
Sadly, with out Wi-Fi or streaming music integration, the SanDisk Clip Jam is a sufferer of the occasions. An increasing number of persons are switching to streaming music providers, like Spotify or Apple Music, as an alternative of downloading singles or albums. With out this perform, the SanDisk MP3 participant feels antiquated. If that is of no concern, otherwise you simply wish to load a couple of of your already-downloaded favourite songs for the right working playlist, the SanDisk Clip Jam is an reasonably priced, user-friendly different to the iPod Shuffle.
Editors’ notice, June 22, 2016: This overview has been up to date so as to add particulars on the FM radio characteristic and battery life, in addition to particulars on sound high quality.
