{
  "id": 3599712,
  "title": "iPod nostalgia is at an all-time high, so meet two new cheap, adorable tiny hi-res music players that invoke the best of the music-player era (bring your own white wired earbuds)",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/ipod-nostalgia-is-at-an-all-time-high-so-meet-two-new-cheap-adorable",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-26T22:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TechRadar",
    "slug": "techradar",
    "url": "https://www.techradar.com/audio/portable-media-players/ipod-nostalgia-is-at-an-all-time-high-so-meet-two-new-cheap-adorable-tiny-hi-res-music-players-that-invoke-the-best-of-the-music-player-era-bring-your-own-white-wired-earbuds"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two new, affordable, and adorable music players have emerged, bringing back fond memories of the iPod era. These devices, from Fiio and Shanling, have captured the nostalgia of users seeking a distraction-free listening experience without relying on streaming services.\n\nThe Fiio Echo Nano, introduced in August 2026, is priced at $49.99 / £54.99, making it a more budget-friendly option compared to its Apple counterpart, the first-gen iPod Shuffle. This mechanical-looking MP3 player features a physical scroll wheel for navigation and an 0.91-inch display to view selections. With a built-in DAC and support for a 256GB microSD card, users can store up to 256GB of music. The Echo Nano boasts a seven-hour battery life and can function as a USB DAC when connected to a PC or smartphone. Available in various colors, this device weighs just 33.5g, and users can control it via a smartphone app.\n\nOn the other hand, the Shanling Q2, unveiled late August 2026, is priced higher at $269 (about £200, AU$400). Boasting a thicker design reminiscent of the third-gen iPod nano, the Q2 supports popular file formats such as FLAC, WAV, ALAC, and DSF. With four built-in DAC chips, the device handles music up to 768kHz/32-bit and DSD512. Featuring two headphone jacks (4.4mm balanced and 3.5mm), the Q2 offers a capacity for up to 2TB of music via microSD card (sold separately). With 13.5 hours of battery life, this device weighs 82g and includes a smartphone app for control, albeit potentially straying from the dedicated player experience. Ultimately, the choice between these two devices depends on personal preferences for form factor and features.",
  "summary": "Fiio and Shanling release iPod doppelgängers with perks Apple's music players didn't have, perfect for the wired headphones revival.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}