Creative Labs Zen X-Fi 2 Review (MP3 Player)

"Creative is up there with the best on the market in terms of audio quality with its X-Fi range, and this new model would certainly suit those who prioritise the viewing of video or photos on the move. These factors are its saving grace as the headline touchscreen isn’t great, and though this would have been forgiveable if common operations such as adjusting volume were catered for using dedicated controls, we can’t help but think Creative missed a trick with its first ever touchscreen player, even if it is significantly cheaper than similar rivals." Products tested: Creative Labs Zen X-Fi 2 (16 GB)

"... The new touchscreen interface is the main item of interest but unfortunately it’s the main thing that lets the player down. It’s not nearly as responsive as we expected ... After testing the sound quality of the Zen X-Fi2 it became clear that Creative has concentrated its effort here. The range of settings available to customise and enhance audio resulted in superb sound, among the best we have heard from current players. This was backed up by a colourful and clear display that did justice to videos and photos. ... The touchscreen is a hassle but the X-Fi2 has a large screen and superb audio quality."

"Pros: Sound is excellent. FLAC support. Memory card expansion. Good quality headphones. Cons: Unresponsive touchscreen. Videos lack panache. No Wi-Fi. No external volume controls." Products tested: Creative Labs Zen X-Fi 2 (16 GB)

"For: Excellent sound quality. X-Fi expand works! The price is right. microSD expansion. Good earphones bundled. Against: Touchscreen is horrible. No one-hand operation. Sluggish menu system. Plasticky design." Products tested: Creative Labs Zen X-Fi 2 (16 GB)

"... As Creative's brand-leading MP3 player, the X-Fi 2 was always going to be a decent player. Excellent sound quality is the trump card and in general the player is easy to use. ... All in all the Creative Zen X-Fi 2 is a decent MP3 player. However, with the Zii Egg on the horizon, it's hard to recommend buying this player. We prefer the original Zen X-Fi, mainly because it too offers X-Fi audio, and yet the interface is more zippy - the touchscreen doesn't really offer anything more than gimmickry. That said, if you're in the market for a new player and you're looking to spend around £100, you could do a lot worse than the X-Fi 2." Products tested: Creative Labs Zen X-Fi 2 (16 GB)

"The touchscreen isn’t perfect, but it has plenty of features and sound quality is superb." Products tested: Creative Labs Zen X-Fi 2 (32 GB)