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Sony NW-A306 Walkman 32GB Hi-Res Portable Digital Music Player with Android, up to 36 Hour Battery, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth and USB Type-C – Black NW-A306/B, Black

3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars 351 ratings

$300.00 with 14 percent savings
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Purchase options and add-ons

Brand Sony
Model Name NWA306/B
Special Feature Hi Res Audio
Connectivity Technology Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB
Memory Storage Capacity 32 GB
Color Black
Screen Size 3.6 Inches
Compatible Devices Headphone, Smartphone
Media Type SD Card
Included Components Player, USB Type-C Cable

About this item

  • Wi-Fi compatible for direct download and streaming
  • Made with a rigid aluminum frame and gold solder inside a precisely engineered chassis
  • Up to 36 hours of 44.1KHz FLAC playback
  • Supported by Android
  • Connect to a PC to access your music collection
  • Lightweight and designed for pockets
  • NW-A300 series high-quality PCM conversion

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Important information

Visible screen diagonal

4" / 10 cm

Top Brand: Sony

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From the manufacturer

NW-A306

NW-A306

Experience music as the artist intended

Walkman A Series Digital Music Player

Hi-Res Audio

Hi-Res Audio

Take your digital music collection to another level with High-Resolution Audio. By capturing and reproducing digital audio at a higher rate than CD (24-bit/96kHz and beyond), High-Resolution Audio allows you to get closer to the original studio recording.

High-end components

High-end components

Made with a rigid aluminum frame and gold solder inside a precisely engineered chassis to deliver clear, stable sound and solid bass.

Wi-Fi compatible

Wi-Fi compatible

Supported by Android and compatible with Wi-Fi, the NW-A306 offers you even more ways to listen to your music. Enjoy your favorite streaming and music apps right on your Walkman or connect to a PC to access your music collection.

Long battery life

Long battery life

With a long battery life, you can immerse yourself in more of your music, with up to 36 hours of 44.1KHz FLAC playback, up to 32 hours of 96kHz FLAC High-Resolution Audio playback, or even up to 26 hours with a music service app.

3.6" (diag.) display and Walkman Home Screen

3.6" (diag.) display and Walkman Home Screen

The 3.6 inch (diag.) display gives you easier access to your music without compromising comfort. With the Walkman Home Screen, you can customize the home display to suit your needs.

Stunning new design

Stunning new design

An eye-catching rippled wave design covers the rear of the unit, which looks stylish and provides better grip.

DSD playback

DSD playback

Experience the natural sound and intense detail of DSD audio formats up to 11.2MHz, thanks to the NW-A300 series' high-quality PCM conversion.

Hi-Res Audio wireless

Hi-Res Audio wireless

Enjoy High-Resolution Audio quality without wires thanks to LDAC, our premium wireless codec.

360 Reality Audio

360 Reality Audio

Immerse yourself in sound all around you with 360 Reality Audio. As real as if you were there at a live concert.

USB Type-C port

USB Type-C port

The NW-A300 series features a USB Type-C port for quick charging and easy connectivity with a range of devices.

Expandable storage

Expandable storage

With a 32GB integrated memory and an SD card slot, the NW-A300 series Walkman lets you take even the biggest music collections on the go.

DSEE Ultimate

DSEE Ultimate

Using Edge-AI (Artificial Intelligence), DSEE Ultimate (Digital Sound Enhancement Engine) upscales compressed digital music files in real time.

Bluetooth and aptX HD

Bluetooth and aptX HD

Connect wirelessly with Bluetooth and you’re ready to go. aptX HD audio compatibility is available.

Cassette tape UI

Cassette tape UI

As a playful nod to the portable music revolution, the NW-A300 series features a special cassette tape user interface and screensaver.

What's in the box

  • Player
  • USB Type-C Cable
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    Sony NW-A306 Walkman 32GB Hi-Res Portable Digital Music Player with Android, up to 36 Hour Battery, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth and USB Type-C – Black NW-A306/B, Black


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    Product Description

    Enjoy a high-quality sound from this stylish and compact music player that lets you download and stream more of the music you love. With full Wi-Fi® compatibility, a long-lasting battery and a stylish and sleek design, you can play and find new music wherever you want to go.

    Product guides and documents

    Customer reviews

    3.6 out of 5 stars
    351 global ratings

    Review this product

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    Customers say

    Customers appreciate the build quality and music playback of the mp3 player. However, they mention issues with slow performance like booting up, a clunky screen, and buttons that are not responsive. There are mixed opinions on sound quality, functionality, battery life, ease of use, and Bluetooth connectivity.

    AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

    21 customers mention "Build quality"17 positive4 negative

    Customers appreciate the mp3 player's build quality. They say it feels solid and well-constructed. The hardware and operating system are described as responsive.

    "...operating system, long battery life, high quality hardware, and durability. This does not fit the bill for the price Sony is asking for...." Read more

    "...This Walkman is a solid device. It is a little pricey but for the quality, it's hard to beat unless you move up in price...." Read more

    "...to say about this item, save for the fact it's very cute, and it is well built...." Read more

    "...The device also feels solid and well put together and It also doubles as a USB DAC making other devices sound quality way better if you're into that..." Read more

    18 customers mention "Music playback"13 positive5 negative

    Customers like the music playback on the mp3 player. They say it's easy to transfer music files from their computer to the device, runs any music app from the Play Store, and has good battery life. The setup is simple, and transferring the music is as simple as dragging and dropping files on the device. It supports all major music files like MP3, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, WAV, and can import iTunes library. Streaming apps download easily and operate smoothly.

    "...No complaints. There is a built in EQ in the native player app as well as other sound filters...." Read more

    "...FLAC files play and can be advanced on any album/playlist/track smoothly...." Read more

    "...The device also supports all major music files like MP3, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, WAV and MQA(lmao) just to name a few off the top of my head...." Read more

    "...The only other knock I have against it is not able to listen to songs on it through my car stereo when it is connected...." Read more

    55 customers mention "Sound quality"36 positive19 negative

    Customers have mixed opinions about the sound quality of the mp3 player. Some find it great and responsive, with good volume and ability to play high-resolution music. Others mention issues with low sound output, volume limitation, loud volume warning, and toned down volume curve in the mid-volume range.

    "...On the road, I just want everything to be there. A nice, tight thump when the bass drum kicks, clean midrange that isn't harsh and extended highs...." Read more

    "...I just wanted a music player with fast startup, high quality audio, fast and responsive operating system, long battery life, high quality hardware,..." Read more

    "...The wired connection from the 3.5mm jack to my stereo sounds excellent. No complaints...." Read more

    "...The volume curve is a bit toned down in the mid volume range, but its easily overcome by either bumping all your EQ settings or just listening on a..." Read more

    36 customers mention "Functionality"17 positive19 negative

    Customers have mixed opinions about the functionality of the mp3 player. Some say the apps work well overall, the sound is great, and the aluminum enclosure works well for adding music streaming services. Others mention it makes the device unusable in almost any situation, there is huge lag, and it barely works because of huge lag.

    "...files, connect to any of my Bluetooth devices except for a crappy google dongle...." Read more

    "...I mainly use them in the car with a portable USB DAC. The apps work well "overall" - barring cell phone reliability...." Read more

    "...ranging from TVs, Playstations, earbuds, etc, this is the most meh device I've seen go for this money...." Read more

    "...The touch screen works fine but could be a bit more responsive. I do like that I can lock the screen with a passcode...." Read more

    24 customers mention "Ease of use"13 positive11 negative

    Customers have different experiences with the mp3 player's ease of use. Some find it simple and easy to operate, with a great interface and responsiveness. Others find the controls confusing and cumbersome to use, with a klunky software interface that makes it difficult to delete files.

    "...It's not very complicated. And we won't even get into the 'you can't tell the difference between an mp3 and a DSD file in the car' rubbish...." Read more

    "...because the software that it suggest to use to upload music to it really sucks bad...." Read more

    "...player with fast startup, high quality audio, fast and responsive operating system, long battery life, high quality hardware, and durability...." Read more

    "...drive a pair of Sennheiser 58X Jubilee headphones and they are very easy to drive. I doubt this player could handle any high impedance headphones...." Read more

    22 customers mention "Battery life"12 positive10 negative

    Customers have different opinions about the battery life of the mp3 player. Some say it has good battery life, lasting over 8 hours on an airplane. Others mention subpar battery life, slow operating system, and that the Android function drains the battery.

    "...high quality audio, fast and responsive operating system, long battery life, high quality hardware, and durability...." Read more

    "...it for extended periods of time with a Bluetooth Headset the battery will be depleted. How long?..." Read more

    "...that went belly-up The battery life is great and, it lasts much longer then its predecessor. The biggest issue is the slow startup time...." Read more

    "...I just don't understand the corporate greed. The Android aspect is a battery killer. Be warned." Read more

    20 customers mention "Bluetooth connectivity"11 positive9 negative

    Customers have mixed opinions about the Bluetooth connectivity of the mp3 player. Some say it connects to bluetooth devices without any issues, has WiFi connectivity to maintain system updates, and pairs nicely with Sony wireless earbuds. The quality of the Bluetooth connection is pretty decent, well in excess of 50 feet outdoors. However, others mention that the connectivity is almost useless and tedious to have the Bluetooth headphones connected every time it is turned on.

    "...The quality of the Bluetooth connection is pretty decent, well in excess of 50 feet outdoors...." Read more

    "...It might pop up a 'Poor Connection' error or it will just pause what you're playing and then start to buffer...." Read more

    "...It pairs nicely with my Sony wireless earbuds. Makes it easy to do my walks without the cord interference...." Read more

    "...since I have limited hearing anyway and the bluetooth connectivity is almost useless! I'm going to try a software update and see what happens!..." Read more

    25 customers mention "Slackness"0 positive25 negative

    Customers have issues with the mp3 player's performance. They mention it's slow and laggy, the screen is clunky and not very responsive, the touch screen and buttons are very slow, and the device takes minutes to boot up when powered down.

    "...Can go to 120 in-car. - Can be a little slow to react. But not as bad as some of the reviews say. -..." Read more

    "...It takes over 1 minute to boot and another 10 seconds for the music player app to load...." Read more

    "...The Android OS may be a little sluggish compared to what one would find on smartphones, but I’m going to avoid using extraneous apps as much as..." Read more

    "...The biggest issue is the slow startup time. It takes a couple of minutes to turn on and connect to the internet. Overall it is a great device. ." Read more

    A Powerful and Affordable Little DAP for Anyone Still Looking for a Dedicated Music Player
    5 out of 5 stars
    A Powerful and Affordable Little DAP for Anyone Still Looking for a Dedicated Music Player
    When Apple removed the headphone jack from their newer phones other phone manufacturers began to follow suit. It ushered a new era of how we listened to music today by using Spotify/Tidal/Apple ect. as our primary music provider. For some it was a convenient change. No longer did you have to dedicate precious storage space for music and you had almost complete access to a massive library of music from around the world at your fingertips.Sony's a306 Walkman feels like a product made in a era where it shouldn't exist and yet its one of my favorite devices that I take with me almost everywhere. It's small pocketable form factor makes it easy to tuck away in your pocket during a workout or jog session. The device also feels solid and well put together and It also doubles as a USB DAC making other devices sound quality way better if you're into that type of thing. The device also supports all major music files like MP3, AAC, FLAC, ALAC, WAV and MQA(lmao) just to name a few off the top of my head.The a306 does have a few issues. If you have US firmware your device will sometimes nag you for having your music too loud and will lower the volume once but after shooing the notification away your free to crank your music back up to 11 but every once in a while the notification returns making this safety feature a headache for most. The device also has difficulties driving larger power hungry over ear headphones but if you use IEMs or Bluetooth headphones you should be fine. There's also a search bar widget that cannot be removed from the device's home page but because the device is an android device you do have access to the Google Play Store and I was able to change the launcher that allowed me to swap the search bar with controls for the music player and the Sony Music Player software itself is just ok. It allows you to access the music files on your device but it lacks some sorting options that urks me wrong (The software sorts albums alphabetically while I would perfer that albums be sorted by Release Year, But still you can sort Artist by Album Artist so some thought about organization was consider I just wish they did more.) Nothing special about it imo but if it really bugs you, again you have access to the Google Play Store to find a new one to that better suits your style. Actually access to the Google Play Store gives this device a fair bit of customization that allows you to make this device truly feel yours.Now your probably wondering as to why even have this device when I can just use my phone and while sure you can just use a phone with bluetooth headphones and spotify premium for music. There are also cheaper alternatives like buying a second hand ipod and modifying them to give them more storage and customize cases that Apple never intended for their products are also a valid option for anyone looking for an MP3 player on the cheap but For someone like me who still buys music (CDs, Vinyls, Digital ect.) and have been doing so for years and wants to enjoy my music to the highest possible quality. My personal music collection is fairly large (about 8000 files and still adding more daily) and there are just some music from band that no longer exist that I have that I will never be able to listen on Spotify or elsewhere and being able to listen to them without the need to listen to commercials or having to pay 10.99 a month is a freedom I refuse to throw away. This little device makes that possible.Update 1/30/24: Having used this device for a few months now I still use it regularly and it is still my go to device for music listening to my digital files. Sony recently allowed the device to be update to Android 12 which is nice. The loud volume warning while I understand is necessary due to US law, I wish there was a way to just tick an option on the device "Yeah i know loud music will damage my ears. You dont have to remind me every week." was a thing. The last annoyance has to do with the way Sony configured its buttons for Next, Play/Pause and Rewind. I wish Sony had swap the Rewind/Next buttons to make it feel like nearly every other electronic device with physical buttons but I've gotten use to it but if Sony added an option to swap these buttons around in a menu I would change it in a heart beat.
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    Top reviews from the United States

    • Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2024
      I have, for decades, owned Android devices and never one thing labeled Apple. Not even an iPod. So reading the reviews and seeing people complain that this Sony WM is Android-based is what led me to purchase one. Having first bought a Shanling, I couldn't even get it to recognize the same 1TB memory that is working fine in the Sony. So I returned the Shanling without hesitation...
      I have used Roon ARC since release and before that, PlexAmp while on the go. I mainly use them in the car with a portable USB DAC. The apps work well "overall" - barring cell phone reliability. ARC runs into minor issues nearly once a day. It might pop up a 'Poor Connection' error or it will just pause what you're playing and then start to buffer. Can become very annoying... This is especially true in heavy traffic because I prefer all of my music files to be in their native format and resolution. So CD rips - 16/44.1 wav, SACDs DSD 1x (dsf) and hi-rez downloads, DVD-As and Bluray audio at their native bit rates and sampling rates. So this takes some bandwidth off my cellular provider and they fail miserably at times. PlexAmp is far more reliable but you're only getting mp3 quality. They transcode everything, as far as I can tell, when on cellular data. Such a shame...
      And so began my search for a capable but reasonably priced DAP. I am a hi-fi home audio guy, so I pick my battles. On the road, I just want everything to be there. A nice, tight thump when the bass drum kicks, clean midrange that isn't harsh and extended highs. I know I will never get the imaging and 'air' that my expensive home system provides, so I don't fret. It's not very complicated. And we won't even get into the 'you can't tell the difference between an mp3 and a DSD file in the car' rubbish.
      Before I get into the good and the bad, I will say that the complaints about Sony's Music app are very spot on. What a piece of horse dung. It is ugly, poorly implemented and slow as all heck. When I first mounted my memory card, I had to figure out how to get things onto it. And Sony said you had to add their Music app for Windows 11 to do this. Fine, I did it. Then I started moving files over (8800+ songs) and Sony was taking an eternity! It would have literally taken between 3 and 4 whole days to transfer all of them. I did not want to leave my gaming PC running for that long. My GPU alone would probably make my electric bill sky high this month! So I figured I would remove the Micro SD and put it in my old, slow-as-heck card reader and transfer the music that way. And slow it was. But it still happened sometime while I was sleeping. I would guess 8-10 hours compared to 48-72 for the Sony. That is just unacceptable. Anyway, here are some of the good and bad about it so far:

      The Good:
      - Android OS
      - Google Play Store
      - Compact chassis
      - Good function/button location (once you get used to them)
      - All the connections you should need - including Micro SD slot up to 2TB
      - USB C charge/transfer port
      - Sound Quality from top to bottom is good. Clear, extended highs, clean midrange and kick drums well,
      kick.
      - Sound great through car speakers or my IEMs.
      - programmable auto-off

      The Bad:
      - Volume, volume, volume. Where is it?? It is limited on IEMs. Sounds plenty loud in car
      stereo though, and that is the main reason for buying it. Can go to 120 in-car.
      - Can be a little slow to react. But not as bad as some of the reviews say.
      - Sony Music App - really, just get rid of it and use VLC player. You'll thank me.
      Can't think of anything else at the moment but will update if/when I find more. I can say it's a good buy if you love Android OS.
      66 people found this helpful
      Report
    • Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2024
      Hardware and OS are very snappy and responsive. However, if you're looking for a music player, look elsewhere.

      It takes over 1 minute to boot and another 10 seconds for the music player app to load. This is a full blown Android smart device like a phone but without phone features. Depending on certain features or desire to install productive apps like Tasker, you need to log in with your Google account.

      The volume automatically adjusts itself back to 50 out of 120 upon boot.

      I just wanted a music player with fast startup, high quality audio, fast and responsive operating system, long battery life, high quality hardware, and durability. This does not fit the bill for the price Sony is asking for. Returning device after 2 days of function testing.
      49 people found this helpful
      Report
    • Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024
      I’ve literally spent months reading reviews of all manner of digital audio players and eventually settled on the Sony NW A306 which is the current entry level “budget” Walkman.

      I was sorely tempted by fancier audio players which cost four to five times what this one does. But in most cases those are built with a lot of power to drive expensive high impedance headphones. This isn’t really my use case.

      I’m more interested in using it as a source for other components: Bluetooth speakers, wired connection to the living room stereo hi-fi, and ultimately my insane PA system for when it’s time to rock all the acres. I haven’t tested the last one yet, but it’s coming 🙂

      The quality of the Bluetooth connection is pretty decent, well in excess of 50 feet outdoors. Less inside but good enough for streaming to an amp in the next room.

      The wired connection from the 3.5mm jack to my stereo sounds excellent. No complaints. There is a built in EQ in the native player app as well as other sound filters. I haven’t played with these very much but it’s nice to know they’re there.

      The Android OS may be a little sluggish compared to what one would find on smartphones, but I’m going to avoid using extraneous apps as much as possible. I will experiment with a few streaming platforms and network WiFi features (nugs dot net, Tidal, Roon, etc…) but I’m not too worried if the results aren’t ideal. I still have my phone if needed.

      If you pick up this model, make sure the firmware is up to date. Supposedly there was a low bass response issue with the original software. Also, those sold in the US and Europe have a capped volume level- a safety regulation thing. If you want the full power version look for a Japanese import. You’ll have a louder player but will likely forego any warranty protection. I almost went this route but decided against. Again, I’m not interested in driving headphones and figured my components can push the volume as loud as needed. So far this has been the case.

      For my purposes I feel this little player offers fantastic bang for the buck.
      Customer image
      5.0 out of 5 stars
      A very competent source device…

      Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024
      I’ve literally spent months reading reviews of all manner of digital audio players and eventually settled on the Sony NW A306 which is the current entry level “budget” Walkman.

      I was sorely tempted by fancier audio players which cost four to five times what this one does. But in most cases those are built with a lot of power to drive expensive high impedance headphones. This isn’t really my use case.

      I’m more interested in using it as a source for other components: Bluetooth speakers, wired connection to the living room stereo hi-fi, and ultimately my insane PA system for when it’s time to rock all the acres. I haven’t tested the last one yet, but it’s coming 🙂

      The quality of the Bluetooth connection is pretty decent, well in excess of 50 feet outdoors. Less inside but good enough for streaming to an amp in the next room.

      The wired connection from the 3.5mm jack to my stereo sounds excellent. No complaints. There is a built in EQ in the native player app as well as other sound filters. I haven’t played with these very much but it’s nice to know they’re there.

      The Android OS may be a little sluggish compared to what one would find on smartphones, but I’m going to avoid using extraneous apps as much as possible. I will experiment with a few streaming platforms and network WiFi features (nugs dot net, Tidal, Roon, etc…) but I’m not too worried if the results aren’t ideal. I still have my phone if needed.

      If you pick up this model, make sure the firmware is up to date. Supposedly there was a low bass response issue with the original software. Also, those sold in the US and Europe have a capped volume level- a safety regulation thing. If you want the full power version look for a Japanese import. You’ll have a louder player but will likely forego any warranty protection. I almost went this route but decided against. Again, I’m not interested in driving headphones and figured my components can push the volume as loud as needed. So far this has been the case.

      For my purposes I feel this little player offers fantastic bang for the buck.
      Images in this review
      Customer image
      8 people found this helpful
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    • Reviewed in the United States on June 5, 2023
      I bought this to replace my NW-105 Walkman that went belly-up The battery life is great and, it lasts much longer then its predecessor. The biggest issue is the slow startup time. It takes a couple of minutes to turn on and connect to the internet. Overall it is a great device. .
      6 people found this helpful
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    • Hector
      5.0 out of 5 stars Pequeño pero con muy buen sonido
      Reviewed in Mexico on November 20, 2024
      Probé varios DACs y el dap hiby R6, este se los lleva por mucho, mientras balance en general con el audio, buen bajo!!! Lo uso con unos IEM sennheiser 100
    • Kostas
      5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome device
      Reviewed in Canada on June 15, 2024
      As a weekend audiophile, I'm 100% satisfied with the device. I previously owned Fiio M3pro which was ok, but lagged like a 2000s smartphone. Sony's sound is significantly better, well known tunes sound like the first time. Android allows to use streaming servises which also sound amazing. Seems like most cons in the feedbacks are exaggerated. It does lag at times, but not enough to bother. It does heat during charging, library update, software update, but never when used as a player, not an android device. Considering its music playback features, I definitely recommend it.
    • Amazoncustomer
      5.0 out of 5 stars Runs on Android 13! ( with latest firmware update)
      Reviewed in India on August 12, 2024
      Mine came with Android 13 out of the box. Nonetheless, felt little laggy in response, but not a deal breaker.

      Little greedy on the battery consumption side with bluetooth and wifi on.

      Matches well with my Sennheiser Momentum 3. The bass is just to be felt, beyond explanation.

      Bought plainly for nostalgic reasons. I already own Sony NW-A55. In my personal opinion, look and feel and build quality of NW-A55 was much more elegant and better.
      The real differentiator with NW-A306 is the rolling cassette screen saver, that is just irresistible. It's so peaceful, so mind soothing to look at it while music being played. There's something magical about it. What's more, it changes skin with different songs with different source quality. The song title is printed automatically on the cassette label area.
      Just to be noted, the screensaver works only when the physically stored songs are played via the already installed Sony Music player App. Will not work with streaming music.

      If price was little lower ( around 20k), this would be an easy recommend. The problem these days is it's hard to squeeze value from any one music product as there are so many alternatives and options, bluetooth powered speakers, stereo amps, hi-fi headsets and hi res streaming via your smartphone, that ROI is helplessly low. We buy more, but fail to settle on just one good quality thing.
    • disco Drive*
      3.0 out of 5 stars Small compact - slow to boot, control buttons too close together
      Reviewed in Australia on November 24, 2024
      Very slow boot up -close to 40+ seconds. Wish I bought next bigger model

      Small compact buttons close together on RHS - OK for a small hand that I dont have

      Nice features and well made - but too compact for my use.
    • Hector Iratzio Gutierrez Valencia
      5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente reproductor
      Reviewed in Mexico on August 1, 2024
      Muy buen reproductor excelente calidad en la música podría mejorar la batería y sobre todo el almacenamiento interno ya para estas épocas 32 gigas es muy poco Considero que podría mínimo tener 128