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The Independent
10 hours ago
- The Independent
Best MP3 players 2025: Top portable audio players tested by our expert
You might be surprised to learn that MP3 players still exist. Not only that, but they're popular with people who take their music seriously – the kind that roll their eyes at lossy Spotify streams and keep recommending you try Tidal. MP3 players – or digital audio players, to give them their proper title – are also great for the gym and for running with, letting you continue to listen to your music and podcasts while leaving your bulky and expensive smartphone at home. For audiophiles, dedicated players pack superior digital-to-analogue converters (DACs), higher power outputs and support for lossless audio formats to deliver truly high-resolution sound that your phone simply can't match. With the right player and decent pair of headphones, the songs you love can sound new again. I'm a tech critic at The Independent, and here, I've rounded up a selection of the best MP3 and digital audio players around, from premium high-res audio players to budget-friendly options perfect for kids. My top pick? The Activo P1, which delivered impeccable sound quality and impressive specs. Whether you want to rediscover your music library without the nagging distractions of a phone or you simply want the best possible sound quality on the go, keep reading for the MP3 players that will give your playlists a new lease of life. How I tested I've spent weeks testing various digital audio players. They've been used at home, in the office, and on walks and runs. When testing with high-end players, I listened using the wireless Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones and the wired Sennheiser IE 100 in-ear monitors. This was my testing criteria: Sound quality: Listening to content across different genres (Brian Eno, Robyn, Kendrick Lamar, Arcade Fire, and many, many more) I considered sound fidelity (how accurately the players were able to reproduce the sound of what I was listening to), as well as sound detail and presentation across lows, mids and highs. Usability: I assessed ease of set up, including how easy it was to stream and sync content or manually transfer files. I also noted the battery life, ease of charging, and how I found navigating the interface. Build quality: I explored quality, size and portability. I also made a note of whether I could use them with wired and wireless earphones. Value for money: With prices for the MP3 players in this review stretching from £50 to just shy of £400, I made sure to assess to what extent their specs and quality were reflected in their price. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews Steve Hogarty is a technology journalist with more than ten years' experience testing and reviewing the latest gadgets, from smartphones and laptops to audio gear, including headphones and digital audio players. After extensive research and real-world testing, from tinkering with settings to building playlists and running with them clipped to his clothes, Steve has done the legwork to bring you his thorough, unbiased and authentic review of the MP3 players he believes are worth your money. The best MP3 players for 2025 are:
The Independent
14-07-2025
- The Independent
Ninja Crispi is still at its lowest-ever price at Amazon – it's ‘the future of air frying'
Air fryer innovations are hard to find. In the end, even the best air fryers are really glorified convection ovens; there's not that much you can do to a hot filament and a fan. However, Ninja did just that with the crispi air fryer. This unique product shrinks the usual body of an air fryer to a small handheld that sits on top of a heatproof bowl. The idea is that you can meal prep straight into a glass bowl, perfect for slipping into your bag and taking it to work. It's so compact that you could even take the whole air fryer to the office, though your colleagues may not appreciate you air frying salmon next to them. Best of all, we loved it when we put it to the test. This air fryer isn't just good in theory, but a rare appliance that can actually improve your life. It was £55 off for Amazon Prime Day, the lowest price it's been since its launch earlier this year. However, it's still on sale. You just need to be fast – this deal may not be around for long. Here's everything you need to know. The Ninja crispi got a rare seal of approval from our discerning senior tech critic, Alex Lee. In his full review of the Ninja crispi, Alex found that this air fryer makes great food. He could make 'golden and crispy chips without needing to shake them' and 'a seasoned chicken breast dish came out tender and juicy'. The other functions are mostly excellent, too. While the roast function is fine, the re-crisp mode revitalised leftover pizza, and the keep warm function is perfect for keeping roast vegetables warm while you cook. One of the reasons this air fryer cooks so well is that it uses glass bowls. It's a simple feature, but the glass means 'you can actually watch your food as it cooks and know exactly when your chips are crisped.' It's totally safe, too. Alex noted that 'the glass containers also have heat-resistant feet, so there's no risk of scorching your lovely countertops'. There's another benefit to glass, too. Many air fryers use Teflon and other non-stick materials that contain PFOAs and so-called 'forever chemicals,' which have been linked to cancer and other illnesses. A glass bowl like this has no PFOAs and is totally food-safe. But the best feature is this air fryer's convenience. Alex says: 'Once your food is cooked, you simply pull off the PowerPod lid, then pop on a storage lid when you're ready to store your food in the fridge,' which saves you from faffing around with tinfoil or air fryer liners. It's easy to store, and unlike other air fryers, it won't dominate your countertops. Now £55 cheaper than its list price, this is perhaps the best air fryer deal we've seen for Amazon Prime Day, and it's still available days after the sale has finished. But you need to be quick. This deal could end at any time.
The Independent
09-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
This Kindle has been reduced to a record low price for Amazon Prime Day
While nothing can match the feeling of a spined book in your hands, Amazon's Kindle paperwhite comes close. The retailer's latest ereader is lightweight with a higher resolution and e-ink that's easy on the eyes. The battery life is just as impressive (it's measured in weeks and months rather than mere hours), while functions like searching for keywords and a built-in light for using in the dark elevate your reading experience. But, as any bookworm will know, they don't come cheap – until Amazon Prime Day, that is. For its 2025 event, Amazon has slashed the price of the flagship Kindle by more than 25 per cent, bringing the price down to less than £118.74. To save me lugging around books on the commute and stuffing tomes in my hand luggage, I'm investing in a Kindle for on-the-go reading. Here's the deal I'm snapping up in Amazon's Prime Day sale. Considered the best ereader in our review, The Independent 's tech critic David Phelan praised the Kindle paperwhite for being 'really exceptional'. A big upgrade on the original ereaders for only a modest price increase, the screen size has shot up from 6in to 6.8in, with the same 300ppi resolution as the (now discontinued) Kindle oasis. 'The design is elegant, with the screen flush to the frame (the basic Kindle display is recessed behind the frame)', Phelan added. 'The front light has also been improved recently, to make it subtler and adjustable in terms of warmth as well as brightness.' Plus, it's waterproof, with the Kindle able to withstand submersion in 2m of water for up to an hour. 'The paperwhite is the best balance of advanced features and reasonable price of any Kindle, or any other ebook reader,' he continued. 'Unlike other Kindles, this one uses a newer type of e-ink, which offers a faster page turn and smoother transitions.' Now's the time to buy, with Amazon reducing the Kindle paperwhite to its lowest ever price this Prime Day. Amazon Prime Day is a four-day sale event for Prime members. It's usually held twice a year – once in the summer and again in October to kick-start Christmas shopping. The event features deals across top brands, from Apple to Dyson, as well as offers on its bestselling own tech, including Kindle and Echo dot smart speakers.
The Independent
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The Kindle paperwhite has been slashed in price for Amazon Prime Day
While nothing can match the feeling of a spined book in your hands, Amazon's Kindle paperwhite comes close. The retailer's latest ereader is lightweight with a higher resolution and e-ink that's easy on the eyes. The battery life is just as impressive (it's measured in weeks and months rather than mere hours) while functions like searching for keywords and a built-in light for using in the dark elevate your reading experience. But, as any bookworm will know, they don't come cheap – until Prime Day that is. For its 2025 event, Amazon has slashed the price of the flagship Kindle by more than 20 per cent, bringing the price down to less than £125. To save me lugging around books on the commute and stuffing tomes in my hand luggage, I'm investing in a Kindle for on-the-go reading. Here's the deal I'm snapping up in Amazon's Prime Day sale. Considered the best ereader in our review, The Independent 's tech critic David Phelan praised the Kindle paperwhite for being 'really exceptional'. A big upgrade on the original ereaders for only a modest price increase, the screen size has shot up from 6in to 6.8in, with the same 300ppi resolution as the (now discontinued) Kindle oasis. 'The design is elegant, with the screen flush to the frame (the basic Kindle display is recessed behind the frame)' Phelan added. 'The front light has also been improved recently, to make it subtler and adjustable in terms of warmth as well as brightness.' Plus, it's waterproof, with the Kindle able to withstand submersion in 2m of water for up to an hour. 'The paperwhite is the best balance of advanced features and reasonable price of any Kindle, or any other ebook reader,' he continued. 'Unlike other Kindles, this one uses a newer type of e-ink, which offers a faster page turn and smoother transitions.' So, if like me you've been thinking about investing in one, now's the time to buy, with Amazon reducing the Kindle paperwhite to its lowest ever price this Prime Day. Amazon Prime Day is a four-day sale event for Prime members. It's usually held twice a year – once in the summer and again in October to kick-start Christmas shopping. The event features deals across top brands, from Apple to Dyson, as well as offers on its bestselling own tech, including Kindle and Echo dot smart speakers.
The Independent
02-07-2025
- The Independent
Best portable fans to cool you down on the go
Summer has arrived: you're sweating through your shirt on the train, your fringe is stuck to your forehead, and it feels like someone's just locked you inside the sun. You could try fanning yourself with your debit card, but there are more practical solutions: portable fans. I'm not talking about the flimsy, noisy portable fans you once bought impulsively from a guy on a city break that barely moved any air and broke in a day. Instead, you can find quiet, surprisingly powerful and multipurpose handheld and wearable fans. The best can almost rival a tower fan, and one comes surprisingly close to functioning like an air conditioner or an air cooler. As a tech critic, I've spent this year's heatwave testing the best portable fans to see which ones actually deliver the breeze you need to stay cool and sweat-free. How we tested I tested each fan in the blazing sun, on the Tube, and on buses with no air conditioning. I've also tried it while walking outside in 30C heat, and while trying to sleep through muggy nights. I also used them at home during the day to see how noisy they were on work calls and whether they actually made a difference while I was working. As well as battery life, noise levels and how much cooling power they actually delivered, I looked at design and usability. Could they fold up to sit on a desk, clip to your neck, or fit in a bag without taking up loads of space? Ultimately, it had to feel effective outside. Why you can trust us Alex Lee is The Independent 's senior tech critic and has been reviewing everything to do with cooling your home down and air treatment since 2021. From the best portable air conditioners and air coolers to the best air purifiers and dehumidifiers, he's got you covered when it comes to beating the heat. The best portable fans of 2025 are:
