Android alternative for iPod Touch

I know Samsung used to make a Android-version of the iPod Touch – their Galaxy Player, but I believe it’s been discontinued. Is there anything out today that would fill the iPod Touch niche for Android?

Conversation 19 comments

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    27 March, 2017 - 1:52 pm

    <p>Would an Android phone used with WiFi be sufficient?</p>

    • vernonlvincent

      Premium Member
      28 March, 2017 - 7:56 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#93270">In reply to Chris_Kez:</a></em></blockquote><p>Probably, but I'm was interested to see if the only Android devices out in a handheld form-factor were phones. I'm looking for a gift for a young child and didn't want the parents to have to deal with a device that was a phone, even if the SIM card was removed.</p>

      • Polycrastinator

        28 March, 2017 - 10:35 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#93553">In reply to vernonlvincent:</a></em></blockquote><p>Fire Tablet? We have the 6" one for our son (4 years old), and it's worked well for us.</p>

  • ecumenical

    27 March, 2017 - 3:08 pm

    <p>How "premium" does it need to be? As little as $20 will get you a solidly-built Android phone with an SD card slot that you can connect to wifi and use for music / apps. If you specifically want something that's not a phone, though, no idea.</p><p>https://www.amazon.com/Motorola-Android-Prepaid-Minutes-Tracfone/dp/B00PWEN2ZE/ref=sr_1_1</p&gt;

  • Paul Thurrott

    Premium Member
    28 March, 2017 - 8:12 am

    <p>Any low-end or used Android phone should work nicely for this task, just leave it in Airplane mode, etc. There are some good Moto options to consider, with microSD expansion for content.</p>

  • Polycrastinator

    28 March, 2017 - 10:34 am

    <p>What's your need here? Small mobile internet device? Portable Media Player? I feel like either dedicated music players, or small tablets, have filled this niche.</p>

    • vernonlvincent

      Premium Member
      28 March, 2017 - 11:19 am

      <blockquote><a href="#93634"><em>In reply to Polycrastinator:</em></a></blockquote><blockquote><em>The need is for an iPod Touch sized device running Android. A tablet would meet the technical requirements, but not the size requirements. The parent wants something small, capable of playing games, music, and video – with Facetime-type capabilities (like Google Duo and Skype).</em></blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><blockquote><em>From the sound of things, there really isn't an Android device in this size category that isn't a phone. I wanted to avoid accidents where the child could accidentally (or intentionally, for that matter) turn off Airplane mode or otherwise get to the phone dialer, as well as messages like "No SIM card present". </em></blockquote><blockquote><br></blockquote><blockquote><em>I'm technically literate enough that stuff like this doesn't bother me – but I'm working with a family used to Apple where they don't have to do these kinds of things. Hence my wondering whether or not there was an iPod Touch type device that wasn't a tablet but ran Android.</em></blockquote><p><br></p>

  • Vuppe

    28 March, 2017 - 10:35 am

    <p>Since you're looking for something more to give to a child, FiiO still makes MP3 players based on Android. They have a range of qualities/price points&nbsp;and pretty solid reviews. </p><p><br></p><p>http://www.fiio.net/en/fiio</p&gt;

    • vernonlvincent

      Premium Member
      28 March, 2017 - 11:22 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#93636">In reply to Vuppe:</a></em></blockquote><p>That is a cool-looking device. If it was more general purpose (supported apps, games, video, etc) – it would be exactly what I was looking for. </p>

      • Vuppe

        29 March, 2017 - 11:10 am

        <blockquote><a href="#93657"><em>In reply to vernonlvincent:</em></a></blockquote><p>It sounds like you're looking for a phone without a&nbsp;sim card, then. Just buy a cheap phone with no sim and your problem is solved. As Paul suggested, there's some good Moto options like the Moto G.</p><p>With phones so cheap, there's not really a market for Android-based mp3 players anymore, so you're probably not going to find one.</p><p>If the family is used to Apple, as you mention below…why not just get them an Apple product? You're not going to make converts&nbsp;to Android in this segment. &nbsp;</p>

        • vernonlvincent

          Premium Member
          29 March, 2017 - 12:56 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#93978">In reply to Vuppe:</a></em></blockquote><p>I am, to a point, but I don't want the users to have to deal with "No SIM card" messages (among other things) whenever they restart the device, or at other moments.</p>

          • Vuppe

            29 March, 2017 - 6:20 pm

            <blockquote><a href="#94013"><em>In reply to vernonlvincent:</em></a></blockquote><p>iPod Touch seems like your best option.</p>

  • launcher330

    28 March, 2017 - 11:49 am

    <p>We just purchased 2 7" Barnes and Noble Nook tablets for $50 each for our kids. It runs stock android marshmallow, micro SD slot(which you will need), web cam, and headphone jack. We have no complaints so far. The Amazon version doesn't have the Google Play store and also has ads built in. May be too big to carry around as an mp3 player but is a good option.</p>

  • Chris_Kez

    Premium Member
    28 March, 2017 - 12:56 pm

    <p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If this is an Apple family, you might just consider picking up a used iPod Touch. You could probably get a 5th Generation model running iOS 9 for less than $150. This way they can continue to use Facetime and iMessage, and they can benefit from family sharing of apps and media (assuming there aren't too many issues due to its being limited to iOS 9). </span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">If you're concerned about the complexity of giving an Android phone to an Apple family, I can assure you it will be the </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Android </em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">part that's confusing, not the </span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">phone </em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">part. ;)</span></p>

  • vernonlvincent

    Premium Member
    29 March, 2017 - 12:59 pm

    <p>I appreciate all of the suggestions. Based on what I'm reading, there isn't a company that has an Android device like an iPod Touch in that form-factor (4-5 inches). Of course, there are tablets, but that's not the I'm looking for. I could also use a phone with the SIM card removed, but that would also entail other things (like messages indicating that no SIM card is present, or removing the phone dialer app). </p><p><br></p><p>Thank you all for your suggestions, however. They were appreciated.</p>

    • Chris_Kez

      Premium Member
      29 March, 2017 - 1:07 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#94015">In reply to vernonlvincent:</a></em></blockquote><p>You never said why an iPod Touch (or a used one) isn't an option.</p>

      • vernonlvincent

        Premium Member
        29 March, 2017 - 3:25 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#94018">In reply to Chris_Kez:</a></em></blockquote><p>The family was interested in finding an non-Apple product due to having purchased an iPod Touch via eBay only to discover that it was an older model that didn't support iOS 8 or higher and didn't have the money to purchase anything newer that would support the newer iOS versions. I was hoping to find an economical Android device that would work for them without them having to deal with quirks that a technology enthusiast can overlook or mitigate.</p>

  • jdmorris

    29 March, 2017 - 1:29 pm

    <p>Get an android phone that you otherwise like. Stick a dead SIM in it. I haven't tried that but I suspect it will eliminate the no-SIM alert. If that doesn't work, buy a Freedompop SIM when it's being discounted (often for a buck) and just turn off data usage in settings. I have tried that one and it works fine to get rid of the no-SIM alert. Just make sure you opt out of the services they give you for free the first month, so they don't charge you the next month.</p>

    • vernonlvincent

      Premium Member
      29 March, 2017 - 3:26 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#94020">In reply to jdmorris:</a></em></blockquote><p>The dead SIM idea is kinda brilliant. I may need to give that a try and see what happens. Thanks!</p>

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