Paul Thurrott's SuperSite for Windows: Zune HD vs. iPod touch: The Definitive Comparison

Zune HD vs. iPod touch: The Definitive Comparison

In preparing my review of the Zune HD, I've found that comparisons with Apple's best-selling iPod touch are inevitable. In fact, they're frequent. Again and again, I've found myself accessing Apple's tech specs for the iPod touch and Microsoft's tech specs for the Zune HD. Why not, I thought, combine them? You know, like two great tastes that go together?

Thus this handy reference chart. With your help, I'm happy to update it with anything relevant, and I'd like to keep it as up-to-date and complete as possible. One thing I will point out right away: I did not--and will not--include the 8 GB iPod touch in this chart. That model is a relic from last year and is only still being sold so Apple can keep a toe in the low-end of the market. But the 8 GB iPod touch does not include the processing capabilities found in this year's models, and I don't consider it a real part of the iPod touch line. (It would be like including information about the also out-of-date Zune 16 or 120.)

So let me know if you see any mistakes or any missing information.

Feature

Zune HD

iPod touch

Availability

US only

Worldwide

Price/capacity

$220 - 16 GB
$290 - 32 GB

$300 - 32 GB
$400 - 64 GB

Available colors

Black
Platinum
Red
Green
Blue

Black

Case customization

Custom colors, case designs via Zune Originals (online)

Text engraving from Apple Store (online)

Size

52.7 mm x 102.1 mm x 8.9 mm

61.8 mm x 110 mm x 8.5 mm

Weight

2.6 ounces

4.05 ounces

Battery life

Music: up to 33 hours
Video: up to 8.5 hours

Music: up to 30 hours
Video: up to 6 hours

Charge time (A/C adapter)

2 hours

4 hours

Charge time (USB/PC)

3 hours

4 hours

Screen

3.3 inch, 16:9 OLED display
480 x 272

3.5 inch, LCD display
480 x 320

Multi-touch capable

Yes

Accelerometer

Yes

CPU

NVIDIA Tegra

Samsung ARM

Video output

720p HD (requires optional AV Dock)

480p SD (standard definition, requires optional cables or dock) (576p SD internationally)

Features unique on-screen UI when connected to TV

Yes

n/a

Radio

FM and HD Radio receivers

n/a

Bluetooth

Yes

Wi-Fi

Yes (802.11b/g)

Wireless sync between PC and device

Yes

Wireless access to online store

Yes

Content available from online store

Music, podcasts, TV shows, movies, applications

Music, podcasts, TV shows, movies, audiobooks, applications

Number of available apps

over 75,000

Subscription music service

Zune Pass, $14.99/month

n/a

Audio format support

MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, WMA Lossless, AAC, Audible

MP3, AAC, Protected AAC, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV, Audible

Video format support

H.264, MPEG-4, WMV, DVR-MS (transcoded)

H.264, MPEG-4

Speaker(s)

n/a

App: Photo viewing

Yes

App: Web browser

Yes

App: Email

No*
(* can read/send email from web-based services in web browser.)

Yes

App: Calendar

Yes

App: Contacts

Yes

App: Clock

Yes

App: Calculator

Yes

App: You Tube

Yes

App: Voice recording

Yes

App: Stocks

Yes

App: Notes

Yes

--Paul Thurrott
September 15, 2009

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Zune HD vs. iPod touch: The Definitive Comparison

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