Best flash video players

Small, flash-based, video-playing devices are great for taking your favourite music videos and TV shows out and about, and they don't cost the earth. There are four key things to consider when you're buying one.

First and foremost is battery life. Video will drain your player's battery four or five times faster than music. So if you really want to enjoy videos as much as music with your new purchase, keep battery life at the forefront of your mind. Four hours of playback is about average for a small player.

The second thing to consider is screen quality. No matter how good your video looks on your computer, if your new player's screen is rubbish, the video will be too.

Thirdly, you need to be aware of what file formats a player supports. MPEG-4 is fast becoming the standard for high-quality video files, but many players support multiple formats. If you're after good quality video then try to select a player that supports MPEG-4. They generally tend to perform better.

Finally, consider storage capacity. You'll want at least 2GB of space in any video device. Video files gobble memory relentlessly, so try and get the highest capacity player you can afford.

When all's said and done, seeing the player operate in person is the best way to gauge whether a particular model is right for you. But our reviews are here to point you in the right direction and help you refine your search for the most suitable player. We've picked out four of our favourite portable video genies for you to ponder over.

Editors:

4.0 stars out of 5

Users:

5 stars out of 5

iRiver Clix 2

Quite simply the finest flash-based MP3 player you can buy at the moment - the second-generation Clix is feature-packed, easy to use, stunning aesthetics and it won't break the bank. There's almost nothing we would change or try to improve. If you're looking for an iPod nano killer, look no further Read more

£139

Reviewed on 4 May 2007

Editors:

4.0 stars out of 5

Users:

4.25 stars out of 5

Sony NW-A808

The most beautiful MP3 player we've seen since the nano, with incredible video playback and superb battery life. Sadly, though, the SonicStage software still drags down usability Read more

£180

Reviewed on 22 March 2007

Editors:

4.0 stars out of 5

Users:

3.75 stars out of 5

Samsung YP-T9

A sleek, feature-packed, high-quality MP3 player with excellent battery life, Bluetooth connectivity, a great FM tuner and support for video playback Read more

£103

Reviewed on 9 March 2007

Editors:

4.0 stars out of 5

Users:

0 out of 5

Not yet rated

Creative Zen V Plus

Kids and teens will love its curvy design and simple interface, and audiobook fans will enjoy the long battery life and Audible support -- overall, an excellent, lightweight little player for the price Read more

£135

Reviewed on 7 March 2007

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