Zune HD 32 GB Video MP3 Player (Platinum)

See all shipping options

by: MikeR (Charlotte, NC USA)
on: Thursday, 4-November-2010

This is an awesome music and video player. If you want apps and accessories, then go buy an Ipod Touch, but if you want music and video, the New Zunes are awesome. My only complaint is the memory size (but the 64 GB model was still just a little too pricey at the time of my purchase). I also have a previous generation Zune 120 GB model and the new Zune HD makes my player look like something from the 1980s. Bought this one for my wife and I am so envious. Of course the Zune desktop software is a weak point, but it is still a decent experience. We dropped our satellite radio subscription and got a Zune Pass (one subscription covers both players), so now we dont have to pay for two subscriptions to listen in both cars). I love being able to check out all kinds of music and getting to keep 10 songs a month.

by: Chad Erico (United States)
on: Tuesday, 2-November-2010

I purchased a Zune HD 16 gb because I became frustrated with the multiple Agreements from Apple and the constant emails attempting to sell me everything I can obtain on my computer/laptop.

Compared to the IPod, the Zune HD is shorter, thicker, and heavier. The display is smaller and the applications leave much to be desired. But Zune makes up for its short comings by its software.

The Zune Marketplace can be accessed on Xbox 360, PC/Laptop, Zune device, and Windows Mobile 7. I can purchase a movie on my Xbox and download it on any of the above mentioned devices.

A fifteen dollar Zune Pass allows you to sample unlimited albums for a calendar month. No longer are you limited to the misleading 30 sec samples. Included with the Zune Pass is the ability to purchase 10 songs. Unfortunately, the 10 songs do not rollover month to month. So, if you dont use them you lose them.

Another neat feature of the Zune Pass is I can listen to my content library (if its in the Zune Marketplace catalogue on any of the previously mentioned devices. For example, instead of connecting the Zune HD to my Xbox 360 through the USB port, I can access Zune Music from the dash and listen to the content.

Im not big on applications unless they are practical. My assumption is due to the incorporation of Windows Mobile 7, the application and gaming section has been expanded to revial competitors.

The screen is smaller than the last generation IPod touch, but the colors are crisp and clear. The display is said to be 720(?) HD. I just know that watching a music video, movie, or video podcast is incredibly enjoyable. The only downside is the screen is impossible to see in direct sunlight.

I like this product because it does well what it is intended to be - a media device. Be it music, video, or radio the Zune HD is quite an accomplishment.

by: Goodman (United States)
on: Monday, 1-November-2010

I ordered this because a friend has one and said I should get this when my Samsung p3 broke. All and All I love it. The UI is quick and easy to learn but is a little odd at first, unless youve owned a Zune before. The screen quality is excellent, AMOLED screen. The sound quality is great, slightly better than my P3. Not to big for pockets, unless you have small pockets, about the size of a tri-fold wallet. Long battery life, even for videos. Headphones that come with are not bad but they are not great, I myself would not use them they hurt my ears. Now the apps for the Zune are great but the only problem is that there is less than a hundred different apps. So If you are looking for a new MP3 player I would highly suggest the Zune HD.

Side note: If you get this or any other video playing mp3 player I highly recomend you get a DVD ripper. It is way cheaper than buying a digital copy that doesnt even look that good.

by: Zune HD owner (United States)
on: Friday, 29-October-2010

Well, Ive own my Zune HD for a year now and I absolutely LOVE IT!!!!
ITS A GREAT AND CHEAP ALTERNATIVE FROM THE IPOD


PROS
Great Video, Audio Quality
Great user-friendly design
Attractive exterior design
Smaller than past Zune Generations
CHEAPER THAN iPod Touch and comes in 2ND when compared to iPod Touch
Zune Marketplace is a MILLION TIMES easier to use than iTunes Software
Zune Unlimited Monthly Music Pass (1 month of Unlimited Downloads) 14.99 a month - If you get this I advise to renew your Zune Pass every 2 months because once your Zune Pass Expires the first 30/31 days, it allows you a additional 30/31 days to listen to your rented music.
YOU CAN LISTEN TO AUDIO BOOKS ON IT
FM RADIO


CONS
If your into apps, then you will be disappointed because Zune HD had less than 30 apps in its market and it DOES NOT allow 3rd Party app developers as of YET
Zune Marketplace itself still lacks tons of music that iTunes has (but YOU CAN BUY MUSIC FROM ITUNES AND PUT ON YOUR ZUNE IF NEEDED).
Zune Marketplace takes its time to update when new songs/movies, tv shows, music videos arrive
You can NOT play videos from iTunes or other sources without removing the DRM
Lacks new features that the new ipod has such as the camera

by: jr26 (United States)
on: Thursday, 28-October-2010

Without going too much in detail ill just list some of my pros/cons.

Pros:

Sound quality. I was really surprised just how good it is with a nice set of headphones.
Screen quality. With its oled screen its the best looking screen on the market.
Overall Build. Feels very well built. Im almost not afraid to drop it.
Menus/Navigation. While a slight learning curve, you will pick it up quick.
Zune software. In my opinion its much better than itunes.

Cons:

Headphone jack. I would have preferred it on the top or the side.
Volume Control. I find the button on the side difficult to push at times. The on-screen swipe doesnt always work for me.
Browser Keyboard. I find it a little tedious to get the right letters pushed.

I will not list the lack of apps as a con because this is a media player. I bought it for that reason.

Overall a very high quality. Im glad I bought it.

by: BKelley (United States)
on: Wednesday, 27-October-2010

This is a great value for what you get! There are so many different aspects of this player that make it unique from other players. I have owned Zunes over the years, but this one by far is the best one that I have gotten yet.
Pros:
-The feel of the player is very sturdy. The brushed aluminum on the back with the large screws give the player a very edgy industrial feel, and one really nice thing is the only place you will see finger prints is on the screen and that is simply because it is a touch screen.
-Device software is also very impressive. It is unlike any other software I have ever seen on a device. It is very immersive while also being very intuitive. It is simply just fun to be able to scroll throughout the menus and look at your music collection or pictures ect.
-Screen resolution is very impressive as well as the color involved. The OLED screen really does make a difference. All the colors look much deeper and richer making a move watching experience much better.
-The sound quality is also better than most other players I have listened to out there. To a normal listener there might not be a difference, but there is a slight difference and it is definitely better.
-There are also some really cool features like the HD Radio and the ability to Broadcast movies and other content onto televisions. Both of those features just make this player a lot more convenient than other players.
Cons:
There are some cons to this player just like everything else out there
-first is the internet on the player is not the best thing in the world. It is often very slow, not because of connectivity, but because of the internet explorer mobile that is being used by the device
-if you are looking for apps, you will simply have to go somewhere else. This device does not feature a wide selection of apps at all, but the ones they do have are fairly entertaining

The reason this player got five stars is because it was made to be a music player. Everything else about it is just like a cherry on top. It gives you the ability to easily go through your collection of music even if you have a few thousand songs like I do, as well as giving the listener superior sound quality over comparable products like the ITouch. Plus this is just a great value. Other comparable players could cost $70-100 more than these for features that are like this.
I would highly recommend this product.

by: BKelley (United States)
on: Wednesday, 27-October-2010

This is a great value for what you get! There are so many different aspects of this player that make it unique from other players. I have owned Zunes over the years, but this one by far is the best one that I have gotten yet.
Pros:
-The feel of the player is very sturdy. The brushed aluminum on the back with the large screws give the player a very edgy industrial feel, and one really nice thing is the only place you will see finger prints is on the screen and that is simply because it is a touch screen.
-Device software is also very impressive. It is unlike any other software I have ever seen on a device. It is very immersive while also being very intuitive. It is simply just fun to be able to scroll throughout the menus and look at your music collection or pictures ect.
-Screen resolution is very impressive as well as the color involved. The OLED screen really does make a difference. All the colors look much deeper and richer making a move watching experience much better.
-The sound quality is also better than most other players I have listened to out there. To a normal listener there might not be a difference, but there is a slight difference and it is definitely better.
-There are also some really cool features like the HD Radio and the ability to Broadcast movies and other content onto televisions. Both of those features just make this player a lot more convenient than other players.
Cons:
There are some cons to this player just like everything else out there
-first is the internet on the player is not the best thing in the world. It is often very slow, not because of connectivity, but because of the internet explorer mobile that is being used by the device
-if you are looking for apps, you will simply have to go somewhere else. This device does not feature a wide selection of apps at all, but the ones they do have are fairly entertaining

The reason this player got five stars is because it was made to be a music player. Everything else about it is just like a cherry on top. It gives you the ability to easily go through your collection of music even if you have a few thousand songs like I do, as well as giving the listener superior sound quality over comparable products like the ITouch. Plus this is just a great value. Other comparable players could cost $70-100 more than these for features that are like this.
I would highly recommend this product.

by: Donnell (United States)
on: Tuesday, 26-October-2010

OK, I love this product. there, I said it. screw Ipod. unless you want an mp3 player that has tons of apps and good internet use. But if all you want is a sick mp3 player and movie player, then go for the Zune HD. They cost less, fit in your pocket better, and the Zune software for uploading and whatnot is way cooler than itunes. The only suggestion Id make is going for the 32gb or 64gb, cuz 16gb isnt really enough space. I thought Id never use all 16 gigs, and Ive got it maxed out in two weeks after buying it...

by: Heidi Austin (United States)
on: Tuesday, 26-October-2010

Ive had my Zune HD for a few weeks and a few flights, and overall I am pleased. Audio quality is very good, and navigating and the general look and feel are excellent. Getting to play videos is harder than it should be, given that I am trying to play programs recorded via Windows Media Center and stored as DVR-MS files. This glitch is well documented but still frustrating. But as a music player, which is its main role, the Zune HD is working out well.

by: Heidi Austin (United States)
on: Tuesday, 26-October-2010

Ive had my Zune HD for a few weeks and a few flights, and overall I am pleased. Audio quality is very good, and navigating and the general look and feel are excellent. Getting to play videos is harder than it should be, given that I am trying to play programs recorded via Windows Media Center and stored as DVR-MS files. This glitch is well documented but still frustrating. But as a music player, which is its main role, the Zune HD is working out well.

by: NKHJ (United States)
on: Sunday, 24-October-2010

I love this player

just one thing.. a bit hard to organise thing in the zune software..
and the mac version of that software need to come out now, just cant wait any longer

theres one more thing
it doesnt support all the wifi network types, guess it needs more updates?

by: NKHJ (United States)
on: Sunday, 24-October-2010

I love this player

just one thing.. a bit hard to organise thing in the zune software..
and the mac version of that software need to come out now, just cant wait any longer

theres one more thing
it doesnt support all the wifi network types, guess it needs more updates?

by: Alok (United States)
on: Sunday, 24-October-2010

This is an awesome feature over all with some cons.

The pros:
can add your music or buy them
can add your videos or buy them
can add your pictures
has web browsing
has FREE applications and games (kind of a con to because not enough but I am OK with the ones I have downloaded)
price is lower than i touch
lighter than i touch

The cons:
typing is weird
I cant get the WI-FI network I want all the time (maybe it is my wireless connection)

by: Alok (United States)
on: Sunday, 24-October-2010

This is an awesome feature over all with some cons.

The pros:
can add your music or buy them
can add your videos or buy them
can add your pictures
has web browsing
has FREE applications and games (kind of a con to because not enough but I am OK with the ones I have downloaded)
price is lower than i touch
lighter than i touch

The cons:
typing is weird
I cant get the WI-FI network I want all the time (maybe it is my wireless connection)

by: Andrew C. Ferrell (United States)
on: Sunday, 24-October-2010

Used the original Zune for a long time and then got the HD its simply amazing, in my opinion way better than an Ipod or Itouch.

by: jacop (United States)
on: Saturday, 23-October-2010

Pro:
Built in hd radio
Nice screen
Con:
Very few apps and games
No feedback from Microsoft about what improvements are coming. If something you want is broken you are left to hope it will get fixed in the fall or spring update.
Other negative: There are rumors the Zune might become just software, and abandon the hardware soon.

by: MellowCheez (South Carolina,USA)
on: Saturday, 23-October-2010

By now you have read most of the popular reviews, so all I want to do is reiterate that you should buy a Zune HD if you are an audiophile....which I am, and appreciate Microsoft for providing me an outlet. A Zune pass is a must!

by: Cos (Naperville, IL United States)
on: Saturday, 23-October-2010

I recently made the commitment to start working out more and I purchased the Zune HD to help me get through my cardio :)

As far as Sound Quality, Build Quality, OS, Battery Life, HD Radio, this unit brings all that I wanted in a MP3 Player. I have an EVO, so I am not interested in making calls, playing games, etc. I wanted a Great MP3 player and this fits the bill. I am completely happy with it.

I like the Zune Software as far as finding the songs and artists I want to listen to, it is extremely easy. Granted the Zune service is $15.00/mo, but you get 10 song credits each month.

If you want to play games, do more than just listen to music and movies, this is not the device you want, youre better off with the IPOD.

My only complaint is the fact that I have not found a way to port the digital copies that come with some of my blu-ray movies to the Zune.

by: Doug (United States)
on: Friday, 22-October-2010

I have had this Zune for about a month now, and so far it is a nice device. Ill talk about the categories for the ratings that I put.

Software: The UI (user interface) is absolutely flawless! I would at least expect that for Microsoft, considering they are a software company but it has exceeded my expectation. Its like you are zooming into different levels, which is in my opinion better cosmetically than the Ipods Interface. It has two different sections on the main screen as you can see in the pictures. If you didnt know already, the left side has a Now Playing section, your Pins section, which is like a favorites section on a computer, so you can save your favorite apps, songs, movies, etc. It also has a History section, where it shows things you have recently done/viewed, and lastly, the New section, where you get to view the media that you have recently synced to your Zune.

Screen Quality: Absolutely amazing! I tried it in day time, and I havent had much trouble with it. However, when it does get sunny you do need to put the screen brightness on high because it is an OLED screen. But the tegra graphics card, and the video quality on this beast is stunning. If you are a movie freak, or if you have a couple movies that you absolutely love, get the dock for it!

Apps: Okay iPod fanboys, yes, the Zune HD doesnt have thousands of apps because only Microsoft has made them so far, and only a few third party people have created some. BUT, the apps that I have are very useful. Calculator, MSN Weather, MSN Money (Stocks), and AUDIOSURF! Best app ever! You get to load a song from your collection and play a game to it! It is kind of like guitar hero, but you tilt the Zune and you have to hit square boxes and avoid the pyramid looking ones! Also has a racing game, solitare, a space game, pretty fun, and also a facebook and twitter app for all you tweeters and facebookers out there.

Battery life/Headphone Quality: Of course when you get a device like this, the headphones wont be all that great. At least, in my opinion they arent that good because 1) I listen to songs with a lot of base in it, bands like ABR, Impending Doom, Disturbed, etc, so I just got different headphones. (If your looking for very nice headphones that give you good base, look at the MEElectronics M9-BK Hi-Fi Sound-Isolating In-Ear Headphones, they are really nice, and only 20$) and 2) I have smaller ears so they dont fit too nicely, but thats not Microsofts fault lol. The battery is pretty good, It lasts me all day during most of school and then at night before I go to bed, so thats about 4-5 hours of music and I have maybe a third of battery life left. I dont know if thats exact, but it isnt like a smart phone, so dont worry about charging it every day.

Internet Browser: Ah, the infamous Internet Explorer browser, this is where my hopes kinda fell with Microsoft here. In my opinion they need to make a new browser, but thats a different story. It is fine for browsing, it typically goes into the mobile format for websites, but you can still click to go to the full page. IT DOES NOT SUPPORT FLASH. Neither does apple, but they have their own version of it, which made me mad that Microsoft didnt try to do that either. I like to watch youtube videos so thats why it has a three for me. It is also slower than the iPods internet browser.

Sound Quality: Very excellent sound quality! It also means you have to get good headphones as well for it to be pretty psychedelic anyway, so find good ones that are right for you! Dont always blame it on the device!

Awesomeness: Hahaha, what a random rating option, of course, for me, overall I think it is an amazing device! Tegra nVidea Video card for that HD video output, looks pretty sweet by the way, HD RADIO! WOOT! You can even tag the songs you get so that you can down them right onto the device! (The download requires wi-fi access) I have downloaded probably 20 songs just from the radio because I like one song from a band but not the rest.

Zune Pass: Heres the general thing: $15 a month gets you unlimited song streaming, and ten free song credits per month. The music files are DRM, which means that after your subscription has ended, you cannot play the songs that are under the DRM content. The ten song credits that you get per month are there so that they become NON-DRM mp3 files so you can keep them forever. For a music lover like me I think that is a great idea.

Overall: Very good device all around, does what I mainly wanted it to do: Play good quality music! The other stuff is good as well, and I believe this is the best device Microsoft came out with besides Windows 7 and The 360 slim. I would recommend this hands down!

by: RachelS (United States)
on: Friday, 22-October-2010

Works like its supposed to. Looks a little cheap but you definitely get what you paid for. Perfect for someone looking to spend little money but still get a decent charger pack.