SanDisk Sansa Fuze MP3 Player Review - Fuze vs. Nano
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The SanDisk Sansa Fuze is in direct competition with the third generation iPod Nano. So what better way to figure out which player is better than a head-to-head comparison? I'll compare some of the key aspects of each player so that you can get a feeling for whether or not the Sansa Fuze is a worthy competitor to the iPod Nano.
Design
In terms of overall size, the redesigned third generation Nano and the Sansa Fuze are almost identical. The Nano is a bit wider, while the Fuze is a bit taller, but they are both about the same thickness. The Nano's 2 inch LCD display has a slight advantage over the Fuze's 1.9 inch screen, but that's barely noticeable. The Nano is a better player for watching video, though, because of its 204 pixels/inch resolution and wider format compatibility. Many people didn't like the new design of the iPod Nano, but I did – even if it did make it look a little “chunky.” In terms of overall design, I would (reluctantly) give the Nano a very slight advantage.
Winner: Nano
Features
While I like the fact that the Nano offers video games, excellent video quality, and the “iPhone-like” cover-flow navigator, this player is still missing some key features. The main features that you won't find in the Nano, but you will find in the Fuze are: FM radio, SD memory expansion, custom equalizer, native support for WMA, and subscription music services. So although I like the Nano's cool GUI better than the Fuze's boring menus, I would have to give the Fuze's feature-set a (surprisingly) slight advantage over the Nano's.
Winner: Fuze
Sound Quality/Performance
Sound quality seems to be about equal in these two players – both are about average in this department. Neither player will blow you away with their respective sound qualities, but most people will be satisfied with either player's sound. The one advantage the Fuze has over the Nano is a custom EQ, which the Nano does not have, although it does have 20 preset EQs. Also equal between these two competitors is battery life. Both of them offer solid battery life: approximately 24 hours for music and 5 hours for video.
Winner: Draw
Price
The easy winner when it comes to price is the Sansa Fuze. The 8GB Fuze carries a “wallet-friendly” $130 price tag, while the 8 GB Nano costs about $70 more, at $199.
Winner: Fuze
Conclusion
All things considered, I would have to give the underdog Fuze the victory over the iPod Nano. Both of these players are very good in most respects, but the Fuze is definitely a better overall value. The one area that the Nano excels is its awesome video capabilities. So if video is your thing, you may opt for the Nano, but at $199, you can find a better video player with a bigger screen. Overall, I would give the SanDisk Sansa Fuze a 7.5 out of 10 and would recommend it to anyone looking for a no-nonsense, easy to use MP3 player.
Sources: CNet and PCMag
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