Whenever you start a discussion about MP3 players, you have to address the elephant in the room. Yes, we all know that the Apple iPod dominates this space, but that does not mean that we should ignore all the other options. Before you head out and blindly buy another iPod, maybe you should take a moment to look at the Creative ZEN X-Fi Style 8GB to see if it might work better for you. It’s meant to be an inexpensive, compact alternative to something like the iPod nano. Let’s check it out!
Features and Specifications
So, what kind of features can you expect from this pocket full of sunshine? Going through the basics, there is a 2.4-inch TFT LCD, X-Fi technology (for better audio quality), Lossless audio support, A/V output, integrated speaker, FM radio, voice notes, personal organizer, and RSS feed support.
The list of functions appears to be better than something like the Samsung YP-S3, but it’s one thing to say things on paper and another thing to actually do them well. That’s why we do these reviews, you see.
Available in capacities up to 32GB , you can choose between black, white, or red (as shown). We’re reviewing the eight-gigger, though I’d imagine the experience is similar with the other sizes too. Prices range from $79.99US for the 8GB to $169.99US for the 32GB. The 16GB sits in the middle at $99.99US.
What’s in the Box?
Cracking open the retail packaging (which is still that terrible plastic blister pack thing), you’ll find the Creative ZEN X-Fi Style itself, of course. Aside from that, you get a very basic set of ear buds, a mini-USB to USB cable, and a series of documentation. There are redemption codes for a free audiobook and 35 free songs too.
You’ll notice that the USB cable is remarkably short. This might be fine for some folks, but it could prove frustrating for others. You’ll also notice that there is no wall adapter for charging; you’ll need to get your own adapter or a charging dock if you want that.
Ports, Design, and First Impressions
Measuring 83.6mm x 48.7mm x 11.7mm and weighing 56 grams, the Creative ZEN X-Fi Style is pretty darn small. That’s not quite as tiny as an iPod shuffle, but it does come with a color display. Through that display, you can navigate through Creative’s colorful menu.
Always to be held in landscape orientation, this portable media has a five way navigator to the left of the screen, as well as a pair of two-button modules: one above and one below. On each of these modules are two little icons, indicating that the buttons are used to access the menu, go back, play/pause, and so forth.
I can appreciate the effort for added convenience, but this may be too many buttons for a device like this. Simplicity wins and that’s why people like the click wheel. Even the Microsoft Zune is simpler.
The headphone jack is located to one side of the device and next to that is the mini-USB port. This port is used both for transferring files and for charging the internal battery. On the top are the power/lock button and the microphone. The back is where you’ll find the built-in speaker.
The two tone approach for the Creative ZEN X-Fi Style really does give it a dash of style, but the cheaper-looking plastic clearly indicates that this is not a premium device. That said, the mic and embedded speaker are quite handy.
Loading Up the Content
If you want simple plug-and-play functionality, you don’t need to install any software on your computer to send content over to the Creative media player. That’s because it shows up as an external drive in Windows, just like how a USB flash drive or external hard drive would.
Drag and drop your music in the Music folder, pictures in the Pictures folder, and so on. That’s simple enough, but some people may prefer using a more conventional “sync” software package; that’s up to you. One of the more unique features of the ZEN X-Fi Style is that it is capable of synchronizing with RSS feeds. It doesn’t have Internet connectivity on its own, so it will only sync when it’s connected to your computer. Add the feed URL, hit Update All, and you’re good to go.
Audio and Video Performance
Not surprisingly, the audio performance on the Creative ZEN X-Fi Style isn’t the best when you use the included ear buds. They’re cheap and give you a “radio” level of quality; that’s why I tested with some premium earphones, as well as a set of Ultrasone DJI Headphones.
In terms of audio performance, the X-Fi engine is supposed to do all sorts of wonderful things. While I wasn’t exactly disappointed, I wasn’t blown away by the audio quality either. This was true of rap, rock, pop, and alternative. The video quality isn’t anything to write home about either. This is a color display, sure, but the resolution is a mere 320 x 240 pixels (QVGA) and it’s only 2.4-inches in size. I wouldn’t recommend watching anything too long on there, particularly anything with subtitles.
RSS and Other Extra Functions
Beyond the FM radio, music player, and video player, the ZEN X-Fi Style actually comes with a nice set of extra functions. The voice recorder “app” can be useful for making some quick notes and these audio files can be transferred over to your computer quite quickly.
The RSS feed reader sounds like it could be useful on paper, but it’s more of an exercise in frustration when you actually come to use it. The font size is too big for a screen this small, so you can barely read one sentence at a time from your favorite articles. Further still, it seems to only pull the text from the RSS feeds. So, if you subscribe to something like the Futurelooks RSS feed, you won’t be able to see any of these great product shots. That’s an important part of the RSS experience!
Final Thoughts
In the end, it’s quite clear that the Creative ZEN X-Fi Style falls quite short of the bar set by the Apple iPod. The menu interface isn’t as intuitive and the video quality is disappointing. Setting up playlists isn’t so fun either.
I wanted to enjoy some of the extra features that this player has, especially since that could give it a significant leg-up over the competition. Unfortunately, the execution leaves a lot to be desired and the RSS reader may as well not be there at all. Even so, the 8GB ZEN X-Fi Style is just $79.99 US. That’s about half the price of an 8GB iPod nano. If you’re looking for a bargain, this is a decent bet; just don’t expect it to be that great.
Pros
- Cheap price points
- Integrated speaker and mic
- Nice list of extra features
Cons
- Control scheme needs simplifying
- RSS reader is useless
- Provided ear buds are really cheap
- Just another media player
Overall Rating: 7.5/10.0
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Creative Labs ZEN X-Fi Style Portable Media Player – Photo Gallery
