Archos 43 16GB Android PMP

iPod Touch worrier?

Sound offerings

Sound modification is limited to bass and treble adjusters, six preset EQ lists and a 3D expander. Still, these do their job well enough and are also available for video playback. Indeed, the 3D expander put some impressive space around Chad Kroeger's vocals on a 720p video of Nickelback's Savin' Me.

Only a 2Mp stills camera but 720p video capture is supported

Despite being a basic 2Mp fixed-focus affair, the 43's camera can record 720p video in H.264 with AAC audio – a spec straight out of the iPod Touch playbook. The results aren't up to Apple's standards though, and the recording options are basic to the point of non-existence but the results are still quite watchable.

Archos says a full charge of the 43's fixed battery is good for 12 hours of web surfing, 36hrs for music and 10hrs of video playback. I found those last two figures to be about right managing 33 and 8.5 hours while looping 256kbps MP3 and standard def H.264 files, which is near enough the same as you will get from an iPod Touch.

Verdict

At under £170 the 16GB Archos 43 has a significant price advantage over the iPod Touch, which will set you back £189 in 8GB and £249 in 32GB form. Yes, the Touch has a massively larger applications offering – and is by far the better recommendation for gamers – but if you want a device more for listening to music, watching video and browsing the web, the Archos 43 certainly has its appeal. ®

Thanks to AdvancedMP3Players for the loan of the review sample.

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