Bilby vs an old iPod vs a cheap MP3 player
Before the Bilby, most parents try one of two things: the old iPod in the kitchen drawer, or a cheap MP3 player off the internet. Both can work. Here is how they compare, including where they beat ours.
Checked 1 October 2026. Second-hand iPod prices vary a lot, so we have not quoted one. Sources are at the bottom.
TL;DR
Bilby
Runs Android, so Spotify, Apple Music and the rest install like they would on a phone. Or load your own files. Headphone jack, Bluetooth and two speakers. US$100.
Old iPod touch
Free if you have one, and a lovely screen. But Apple stopped making it in 2022 and it can’t update past iOS 15, so apps will drop it over time.
Cheap MP3 player
Often under US$40. Simple, long battery, nothing to lock down. No streaming at all, so every song gets loaded from a computer.
Side by side
Same points, same order, for each one.
Bilby
- Price — US$100, shipping and duties included
- Streaming — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Tidal
- Own files — Yes. MP3, FLAC, APE, WAV and AAC, dragged across over USB-C
- Storage — 16 GB, plus a microSD slot
- Headphones — 3.5 mm jack and Bluetooth, plus two speakers
- Battery — About 10 to 16 hours offline, 4 to 6 hours streaming
- Controls — Android. Lock it to music with a free app like AppBlock
- Updates — A current device, sold new
- Weak spot — Ten minutes of setup before you hand it over
iPod touch (7th gen)
- Price — Free if you own one, second-hand otherwise
- Streaming — Depends on the app. It is stuck on iOS 15, and apps drop old iOS versions over time
- Own files — Yes, synced from a computer
- Storage — 32, 128 or 256 GB, no card slot
- Headphones — 3.5 mm jack and Bluetooth
- Battery — Depends on how worn the battery is. Most are several years old now
- Controls — Apple Screen Time, which is good
- Updates — None. Discontinued in May 2022
- Weak spot — Ageing batteries, and apps that will eventually stop working
Cheap MP3 player
- Price — Often under US$40
- Streaming — No
- Own files — Yes, usually MP3 and a handful of other formats
- Storage — Varies. Many take a microSD card
- Headphones — Usually a 3.5 mm jack, and many add Bluetooth
- Battery — Often long, with no WiFi or big screen to power
- Controls — Nothing to lock down. It only plays what you put on it
- Updates — Rarely matters. There is little to update
- Weak spot — No streaming, and fiddly menus on the cheapest ones
Which one should you buy?
Use the old iPod if…
It is already in the drawer, the battery still holds a charge, and your kid is happy with the music you sync to it. Free beats everything. Just expect streaming apps to stop working on it at some point.
Get a cheap MP3 player if…
Your music lives in files on your computer and you don’t want streaming at all. Nothing to set up, nothing to lock down, and cheap enough that losing it isn’t a disaster.
Get the Bilby if…
Your kid wants the songs their friends are listening to, and you already pay for Spotify or Apple Music. You want a headphone jack, speakers and a battery that lasts a road trip, from something still being made today.
When the Bilby is the wrong choice
Two cases where you are better off with something else:
You don't use streaming
If all your music is in files on your computer, a cheap MP3 player does the job for a fraction of the price. You would be paying for WiFi and apps you won’t use.
You have a working iPod
Use it. When the battery gives out or the apps stop working, come back and have a look.
Questions parents ask
Can an old iPod touch still run Spotify?
It depends on the app version and on iOS 15 support, which keeps shrinking. Some older iPods can’t install current versions at all. Check on your own device before you plan around it.
Can a cheap MP3 player play Spotify?
Not really. Spotify downloads are locked inside the Spotify app, so they won’t play on a basic MP3 player. You need a device that runs the app.
Does the Bilby need WiFi?
Only for streaming and installing apps. Your own music files play with WiFi switched off, which is also when the battery lasts longest.
Does Apple Music work on the Bilby?
Yes. The Bilby runs Android, not iOS, and Apple Music has an Android app. You sign in with your Apple account.
Music first? Get the Bilby.
player, USB-C cable and case included. 90-day free returns.
Sources, checked 1 October 2026: iPod touch (7th generation) for discontinuation, storage and iOS support; Kidslox guide to MP3 players for kids for typical basic player prices. iPod is a trademark of Apple Inc. We are not affiliated with Apple. If we have a fact wrong, tell us and we will fix it.
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