Remember the iPod? Of course you do: nostalgia is so high that you still have tech journalists dusting off their iPod Classics, they’re so popular on resellers that refurb site BackMarket is actively advertising them as though they’re new, and popular audio brands are releasing doppelgangers that have even more features than the originals.
In recent weeks, both Shanling and Fiio have released products that look like iPods going through their goth stage, but they’re not just cash-ins. These are devices that could end up on our best hi-res audio players list, with features and tools Apple never gave us.
These new releases aren’t quite a surprise — and not just because Fiio released another iPod nano lookalike at the end of 2025. No, the non-smart low-tech revival is in full swing, and the proof is in the pudding.
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We’re seeing transportable SACD players, retro cassette players and blingy throwback turntables, and other such products launching with regularity. Buyers want distraction-free devices, especially ones which let them avoid streaming music, and manufacturers have delivered.
Let’s get to know the Fiio and Shanling
The Fiio Echo Nano was unveiled early in August 2026. It costs $49.99 / £54.99 (about AU$110), a fair amount cheaper than the launch price of its Apple doppelganger: the stick-thin first-gen iPod Shuffle (which is admittedly now available through resale sites for a fraction of the price).
This mechanical-looking MP3 player has a physical scroll wheel for navigation, and an 0.91-inch display to see what you’re selecting. And in true Fiio style, the real magic is on the inside — aside from a great DAC, there’s space for a 256GB microSD card. The battery life reaches seven hours, and you can even use the device as a USB DAC, if you plug it into your PC or smartphone.
The Echo Nano weighs 33.5g, and as you can see from the picture, there are loads of color options available.
If you’ve got more money burning a hole in your pocket, there’s the Shanling Q2, which bears more than a passing resemblance to the third-gen iPod nano (albeit thicker, so there’s a bit of iPod mini in there, too). It was unveiled in late August, for the sum of $269 (about £200, AU$400).
This adorable model supports in-demand file formats such as FLAC, WAV, ALAC and DSF, and has four built-in DAC chips for clarity and detail, handling music up to 768kHz/32-bit and DSD512. The device also supports Bluetooth output, via LDAC or aptX HD.
Unlike in iPods, there are two headphone jacks: a 4.4mm balanced one and a 3.5mm one. There’s capacity for up to 2TB of music via microSD card, but you’ll need to buy one separately, and there’s no storage space in the device itself.
According to Shanling, the device lasts for 13.5 hours of listening, and weighs 82g. There’s even a smartphone app which lets you control your music player from your mobile, although that’s perhaps getting away from the spirit of having a dedicated player…
I know what you’re asking: yes, the scroll wheel is a physical one that you can swipe around and around in circles, but the display is also a touchscreen if you’d rather just press on the options you’d like.
That’s a lot of specs and features, but which is best? Well, the giant price difference probably gives away which has the thicker feature list. But if you want a personal recommendation, form factor is paramount for me: if you want a gadget that’s lightweight and svelte, perhaps for low-tech days or for workouts, smaller is better than feature-rich, I think.
The best music players for all budgets
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