Cowon S9

At 3.3in across the diagonal, this screen is slightly smaller than the iPod Touch’s, though it’s actually the same width. However, the 16:9 screen ratio will show off your movies very nicely. It’s got a slightly less-detailed 480 x 272 pixel screen but can display up to 16 million colours with its AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diode) technology, providing extremely rich colour.

While the Cowon S9 displays video beautifully, its interface isn’t as easy to use as the iPod Touch’s. Nevertheless, anyone who uses Windows will find it convenient because it hooks up to Windows Media Player and can play Windows Media Video, DivX and Xvid compressed movies.

On the whole, this is a good pocketable option for those who don’t want to get involved with the tyranny of iTunes, especially if you’re after a top-class screen to show video to its fullest potential. It’s only the comparitively fiddly interface that makes for a less satisfying overall experience.

Want to discuss this review of Cowon S9?
Voice your opinions about this and other products on our Readers Recommend forum