Here you'll find a detailed comparison between the Zune vs iPod Classic making it very easy to spot each players strengths and weaknessess.
The Zune 80/120 and the iPod Classic are very similar so when choosing your next media player make sure to look at them both.
But since you asked nicely, I'm happy to share my opinion...
The Zune 120 has a larger screen size, a huge plus for video. And the extra features that are missing from the iPod Classic make it a no brainer to go with the Zune.
Don't believe me? After you finish reading this page, I think you'll agree.
| Feature |
Zune 80/120 |
iPod Classic |
Overall |
Who Wins? |
| Size |
2.4 inch x 4.3 inch x 0.5 inch |
2.4 inch x 4.1 inch x 0.41 inch |
The iPod is slightly shorter and thinner than the Zune. While I'm giving the edge to the iPod it's not so clear cut as you can see later when comparing the screens. |
iPod |
| Weight |
4.5 ounces |
4.9 ounces |
The Zune is lighter than the iPod. Also notice that this version of player is 3 times heavier than it's flash memory based counterpart. This is something to pay attention to if you plan to be lugging it around in your pocket. |
Zune |
| Capacity |
80 or 120 GB |
120 GB |
The Zune gives one additional option as an 80GB version. |
Zune |
| Price |
$229 or $249 |
$249 |
The Zune gives you a cheaper alternative with the 80GB model. 80GB is going to more than enough for many users. |
Zune |
| Colors |
Black or Red |
Black or Silver |
Both have two decent colors to choose from. |
Draw |
| Screen |
3.2 inch color LCD, 320 x 240 resolution |
2.5 inch color LCD, 320 x 240 resolution |
The Zune has a significantly larger screen. Very important if you plan to watch a lot of video. |
Zune |
| Navigation |
Zune Pad |
Click Wheel |
Both the Zune Pad and Click Wheel make it possible for easy one handed navigation through your media library. |
Draw |
| Music Formats |
MP3, WMA, AAC |
MP3, AAC, WAV, AIFF |
MP3, WMA and AAC are the most common formats so I'm given Zune the edge here. The iPod supports WAV and AIFF both of which are excellent , however since these are uncompressed formats in my opinion they have limited use on a portable music player where space is at a premium. |
Zune |
| Lossless Music Format |
WMA lossless |
Apple Lossless |
For audiophiles both players support a compressed lossless format. |
Draw |
| Video Format |
WMV, MPEG-4, H.264, DVR-MS |
MPEG-4, H.264 |
Zune supports more formats and is a better option for video if you own a PC. In addition, it can play video you record from Windows Media Center. |
Zune |
| Video to TV |
No dock needed |
Dock needed |
You can use the Zune's AV jack to send video to your TV. For an iPod you'll need to buy an optional AV dock. |
Zune |
| Photo Format |
JPEG |
JPEG, GIF, BMP, PNG, PSD, TIFF |
iPod supports more formats. Files in any other format besides JPEG will have to be converted before they can be viewed on the Zune. |
iPod |
| FM Tuner |
Yes |
No |
Not much to say here. The iPod does not have an FM radio tuner. In addition, the Zune can display the song information if the station is broadcasting using RDBS. Zune also allows you to buy a song that you are currently listen to on the radio. |
Zune |
| WI-FI |
Yes |
No |
The iPod Classic does not have WI-FI support and all Zune models support WI-FI. |
Zune |
| Battery Life |
30 hours music, 4 hours video, 3 hours to charge |
36 hours music, 6 hours video, 4 hours to charge |
The iPod has a better battery life. |
iPod |
| Accelerometer |
No |
Yes |
Accelerometer on the iPod makes it more interesting. For example shaking it can shuffle the songs. |
iPod |
| Games |
Yes - includes "Hexic" and "Texas Hold 'Em" |
Yes - includes "Vortex", "iQuiz" and "Klondike" |
Accelerometer support on the iPod makes games more fun. Although Zune allows you to compete wirelessly with other players so it's kind of a draw. |
Draw |
| Wireless sharing |
Yes |
No |
You can share music and photos wirelessly between Zunes. |
Zune |
| Audio book Support |
Yes |
Yes |
Both players support Audible and Overdrive audio books. |
Draw |
| Podcast support |
Yes |
Yes |
Both players have excellent podcast support through Zune Marketplace and iTunes. |
Draw |
| Game Console Compatibility |
Xbox 360 |
None |
Zune allows you to connect to your Xbox 360 and stream a soundtrack for your game playing. |
Zune |
| Music Discoverability |
Excellent |
Poor |
The Zune has been designed to facilitate discovery and sharing of new music - from wireless interaction with other Zunes to the Zune Social to the Zune Pass subscription - it's incredibly easy to discover and share music with the Zune. |
Zune |
| Language Support |
3 Languages - English, French, Spanish |
More than 20 Languages |
The iPod has superior language support which will allow for better worldwide adoption compared to the Zune. If you are ok with English then this will not be important to you. |
iPod |
