Spec to spec: Zune HD versus iPod Touch
The Zune HD and 3G iPod Touch are compared spec-to-spec in a graph.
If the MP3 player market was a fault line, we'd have a boatload of busy seismographs on our hands. Certainly, two of the most exciting releases of the past couple weeks are the new iPod Touch and the Zune HD. Now, if you're curious how the two devices compare with one another, you could always read the deluge of articles available on CNET and around the Web, but we can certainly see how that might be a bit overwhelming. Soon enough, we'll pit the two players head-to-head in a knock-down, drag-out brawl (aka Prizefight). In the meantime, we've created a purely technical spec-to-spec comparison chart to tide you over.
| Zune HD | iPod Touch | |
| Capacity | 16GB/32GB | 8GB/32GB/64GB |
| Price | $219/$289 | $199/$299/$399 |
| Colors | Platinum, black, red, green, blue | Black/silver |
| Dimensions | 4x2.1x0.4 inches | 4.3x2.4x0.33 inches |
| Weight | 2.6 ounces | 4 ounces |
| Audio battery life | 33 hours (est.) | 30 hours (est.) |
| Video battery life | 8.5 hours (est.) | 6 hours (est.) |
| Screen type | Glass-covered full-color OLED display | Glass-covered full-color LED screen |
| Screen size | 3.3 inches | 3.5 inches |
| Screen resolution | 480x272 pixels | 480x320 pixels |
| Software | Zune Software and Marketplace | iTunes |
| Online music | Yes, 5-million DRM-free tracks available (MP3) | Yes, more than 11-million DRM-free tracks available (AAC) |
| Subscription music | Yes, $14.99/month | No |
| Online video | Yes, TV shows, movies, music videos, and vodcasts | Yes, TV shows, movies, music videos, and vodcasts |
| Video rental | Yes, movie rentals for 320 Microsoft points (about $3.99) | Yes, movie rentals for $2.99 (library titles) and $3.99 (new releases) |
| Wireless | 802.11b/g, Web browser, Wi-Fi downloading, Wi-Fi syncing | 802.11b/g, Web browser, Wi-Fi downloading, A2DP Bluetooth |
| Text input | Onscreen QWERTY keypad; multitouch | Onscreen QWERTY keypad; multitouch |
| PIM functions | None | Syncs calendar, contacts, tasks, and notes |
| Audio formats | MP3, WMA, WMA DRM, WMA Pro, WMA Lossless, AAC | MP3, AAC, AAC+, MP3, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV |
| Photo formats | JPEG | JPEG |
| Video formats | WMV, HD WMV, MPEG-4, H.264, DVR-MS, HD MPEG-4 (with auto transcode) | H.264, MPEG-4 |
| Video output | HDMI or composite (accessory needed) | 480p and 576p component TV out (accessory needed) |
| Podcast support | Yes | Yes |
| Audiobook support | Audible 4, Overdrive | Audible 2, 3, 4 |
| EQ options | None, accoustic, classical, electronic, hip-hop, jazz, pop, rock | Flat, acoustic, bass booster, bass reducer, classical, dance, deep, electronic, hip-hop, jazz, latin, loudness, lounge, piano, R&B, rock, small speakers, spoken word, treble booster, treble reducer, vocal booster |
| FM radio | Yes, with HD Radio and preset slots | No |
| Recording options | No | Voice recording, line-in recording (accessory needed) |
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