Here you'll find a detailed comparison of the Zune vs iPod Nano making it very easy to spot each players strengths and weaknesses.
The Zune 4/8/16 and the iPod Nano are very similar so when choosing your next media player make sure to look at them both.
In my opinion, dollar for dollar the Zune provides more value than the iPod due to lower cost and more features.
| Features |
Zune 4/8/16 |
iPod Nano |
Overall |
Who wins? |
| Size |
3.6 inch x 1.6 inch x 0.33 inch
| 3.6 inch x 1.5 inch x 0.24 inch
| They are both roughly the same size in height and width, but the iPod is a little thinner. Also the iPod's shape is slightly rounded versus the box like shape of the Zune make it a little prettier to the eye.
| iPod
|
| Weight |
1.7 ounces |
1.3 ounces |
The iPod is notably lighter than the Zune although at these weights both will be unnoticeable in your pocket. |
iPod |
| Capacity |
4, 8 or 16 GB |
8 or 16 GB |
The Zune gives one additional option as a 4GB version. |
Zune |
| Price |
$99, $139 or $179 |
$149 or $199 |
The Zune is cheaper and since it offers a 4GB version it is able to offer a model for less than $100. |
Zune |
| Colors |
4 GB - 4 colors, 8GB - 5 colors, 16GB - 1 color |
9 colors |
The iPod has many more colors to select from and they look far prettier than what is currently available for the Zune. |
iPod |
| Screen |
1.8 inch color LCD, 320 x 240 resolution |
2 inch color LCD, 320 x 240 resolution |
The screen on the iPod is slightly larger than the one on the Zune although a 0.2 inch diagonal difference is hardly noticeable to the eyes, so I'm calling this one a draw. |
Draw |
| 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 Nano does not have WI-FI support and all Zune models support WI-FI. |
Zune |
| Battery Life |
24 hours music, 4 hours video, 3 hours to charge |
24 hours music, 4 hours video, 3 hours to charge |
Both players have similar battery life and charge times. |
Draw |
| 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 "Maze" |
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 |
