15 Cool Portable Hi-Fi Players That Came Out This Year (So Far)
Apple no longer makes an iPod. The good news? Hi-fi brands have stepped up to fill the void.
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The iPod is long dead. Apple hasn't released a new one (7th-generation iPod touch) since 2019, and that last model was officially discontinued in 2022. Its logic? People just play music on the iPhone instead.
The problem? Wireless audio still doesn't sound as good as wired audio. And most of today's smartphones don't have great built-in DACs, so even with wired headphones, they don't sound that great. Plus, smartphones are full of distractions, making it more likely that you'll doomscroll Instagram than pay full attention to your music.
The good news? More and more hi-fi companies are coming out with new portable hi-fi players designed to fill the void the iPod left. Not only that, given the renewed interest in physical media, particularly CDs and cassette tapes, you can buy a new-age Walkman or Discman, too.
Below, we've rounded up some of our favorite new portable hi-fi player releases. All have been announced in 2026.
The Best New Portable Hi-Fi Players of 2026 (January-August)
Astell&Kern PD20
The Astell&Kern PD20 is a beautifully designed, portable hi-fi player that blends premium design (and materials) with high-resolution playback capabilities. It's unique because it's the company's first model to administer a hearing test and then adjust its equalizer settings based on your hearing. According to the press release, this Personal Sound system "analyzes individual hearing characteristics and compensates independently for left and right ears to create a uniquely tailored listening profile." Basically, it promises to deliver a more personal audio experience than other portable hi-fi players. read more
iBasso DX340 (Titanium)
In early 2025, iBasso introduced the DX340 , a new flagship portable hi-fi player targeting on-the-go audiophiles seeking a premium device for high-fidelity audio that their smartphones couldn't deliver. It is priced at $1,999. This limited-edition version comes in titanium — specifically, a CNC-milled body — and promises to look and feel more premium than the standard model, which has a stainless steel body with black accents. It's $200 more expensive. read more
Fiio M33 R2R
The Fiio M33 R2R is the brand's mid-range portable hi-fi player — it sits below its flagship player, the M27, which costs $1,800. The M33 R2R features a 24-bit R2R resistor array, modern hardware and is capable of playing hi-res audio files up to 24-bit/384kHz. Its built-in amplifier delivers a total output of 2200 mW, enabling it to drive a wide range of headphones. According to the brand, it's "designed for listeners who demand uncompromising sound quality, flexibility and performance." read more
Fosi Audio Merak CD Player
The Merak is the company's first venture into CD players. And despite looking like a new-age portable CD player (which seems to be quite the rage right now), the Merak is very much designed as a fixed desktop component. It lacks a built-in battery. In addition to working like a desktop CD player, the Merak also functions as an all-in-one digital transport, DAC and headphone amplifier. According to the brand, it offers "a versatile and high-performance solution for both casual listeners and dedicated hi-fi enthusiasts." read more
Astell&Kern A&ultima SP4000 (Copper Edition)
This is a special-edition version of Astell&Kern's flagship portable hi-fi player , the 2025-released SP4000. Instead of the standard stainless steel body, it is made out of 99.98% pure copper, giving it a new look and new sonic characteristics. According to the brand, the copper edition model "delivers deep, authoritative bass, a rich and articulate midrange, and treble that decays with natural ease, all presented as a seamless, emotionally engaging whole." Aside from the finish, it has all the same internals and specs as its stainless steel siblings. read more
Gadhouse Miko Cassette Player
The Miko is the affordable audio brand's first foray into portable cassette tape players. And, despite its retro-inspired design, it's very much a new-age Walkman. It has the analog feel of the players from the '90s and early 2000s, but it also has a rechargeable battery and even supports Bluetooth, so you can use your wireless headphones. read more
We Are Rewind WE-001 (Discogs Edition)
We Are Rewind teamed up with Discogs and Recording The Masters to release a special-edition version of its WE-001. Like before, it's a portable cassette tape player with new-age features, such as Bluetooth connectivity and USB-C charging, but it comes in a new matte black finish with the Discogs logo front and center. Additionally, it comes bundled with RTM's C60 Blank Cassette tape, so you can record your own mixtapes. Only 150 of these bundles will be sold. read more
Shanling EC Play
The Shanling EC Play is a new-age Discman built in the same vein as the brand's other portable speakers. According to the brand, it "combines the nostalgia of CDs with modern wireless and high-resolution audio features." Its main "modern" feature is support for two-way Bluetooth. So if you don't want to use wired headphones, it can stream music to your wireless headphones or a Bluetooth speaker. read more
We Are Rewind WE-001 (Pink Floyd Edition)
The WE-001 is a modern Walkman. It's a portable cassette tape player with a premium build and new-age features, like a rechargeable battery and built-in Bluetooth (so you can use your wireless headphones). Now, We Are Rewind has released a special edition version that pays homage to Pink Floyd and their legendary The Dark Side of the Moon album, which was released in 1973 and is one of the most popular cassette tape releases of all time. Notably, this edition comes with a remastered 50th anniversary cassette tape of the album that, according to the brand, "restores the full sonic richness of a timeless masterpiece." read more
Astell&Kern SP4000T
The Astell&Kern SP4000T is the next evolution of the company's flagship portable hi-fi player. As the "T" indicates, its main upgrade is the integration of four vacuum tubes. Specifically, the SP4000T features Raytheon JAN6418 MIL-Spec vintage vacuum tubes in a quad configuration. It also features a new Triple Tube Mode that lets listeners choose from up to 54 combinations of tube and amp current settings, allowing them to fully customize their sound. At the time of writing, pricing hasn't been announced, but you can expect it to go for north of $4,290, which was the current SP4000 is going for. read more
Shanling M0 Pura
Shanling's M0 Pura is a fourth-generation model of the company's iPod Nano-sized player. It shares a similar ultra-compact design as its predecessor, the 2024-released M0s, but boasts updated components and new features to better cater to modern audiophiles. Designed to be affordable and distraction-free, the hi-fi player lacks support for streaming apps. Instead, all music storage is handled by a microSD card. It's meant to handle digitized CDs, ripped vinyl and digital downloads (say, from your old iTunes library). read more
Cayin CP6
The Cayin CP6 is a modern, portable CD player with a rechargeable battery and built-in Bluetooth (and LDAC support). Positioned as a more premium option, the CP6 is equipped with Raytheon JAN6418 vacuum tubes, allowing users to switch between three listening (or timbre) modes. It features a high-resolution DAC, a Class A headphone amplifier and two headphone jacks: 3.5mm single-ended and 4.4mm balanced. This lets listeners use a wide range of wired headphones and tweak the audio to sound best. read more
Astell&Kern PD5
The Astell&Kern PD5 is the successor to the A&norma SR35 and the company's new entry-level portable hi-fi player. It packs an octa-core processor and runs on an Android-based operating system, giving you quick access to your favorite streaming services. It features an eight-DAC audio architecture (which is twice as many DACs as its predecessor) and supports bit-perfect playback up to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD256. As of August 2026, exact price and availability info have not be released. read more
Fiio Snowsky Echo Nano
Fiio's Snowsky Echo Nano is a portable hi-fi player that, according to the brand, "reimagines the iconic 2000s era MP3 player." It doesn't run any apps, so you won't find Spotify or Apple Music on it. Instead, it supports a microSD card (up to 256GB) and provides a distraction-free way of listening to your digital music library. It features a Cirrus Logic CS43131 DAC and can play high-resolution audio, with native DSD decoding alongside support for WAV, FLAC, APE, MP3, M4A and OGG formats. read more
Fiio CP11
The Fiio CP11 is a portable cassette tape player with a lightweight and pocketable design. The company describes it as having "an all-new ultra-thin mechanism, higher-quality magnetic head, brushless motor, brand-new motor servo drive and circuit design, plus Bluetooth transmission functionality." Price information has not yet been revealed (though it's likely in the $100 ballpark), but Fiio aims to release it by the end of 2026. read more
About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol's editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.
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