So, Microsoft Corporation just announced the Fall ’09 release of the Zune HD, Zune’s newest and best answer to iPod, which has of course dominated the mp3 multi-function device market since…well, forever.
With the Zune franchise, Microsoft has tried its best not to follow in the path of Apple, focusing on a few different emphases.
Here’s a quick comparison between the newest Zune HD vs. iPod Touch…
| Comparison | Zune HD | iPod touch | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes | draw |
| Screen Size | 3.3 | 3.5 | iPod touch |
| Screen Resolution | 480p | 480p | draw |
| HD Video Out | Yes | No | Zune HD |
| Built-in Radio Tuner | Yes (HD radio) | No | Zune HD |
| Built-in Application Store | No | Yes | iPod touch |
| Wi-Fi connect | Yes | Yes | draw |
| Web Browsing | Yes | Yes | draw |
Ok, here’s the deal. I’m not a fashionably sold-out Mac lover, but neither am I a stubborn PC cult-geek. So let’s just leave all the prejudices and emotions out of the equation and try to see which of these devices is better.
Zune HD Video vs iPod Touch Video
In my opinion, this is the biggest advantage the Zune HD will have over the iPod Touch. Although the 3.3″ screen on the device itself will not display HD (why would it need to? Its 480p function transcends the human eye’s ability to see pixels anyway), the ability to hook it up to an HD TV and watch content in 720p is way cool. Since the soon-to-be overhauled Zune platform is integrated with Microsoft’s Xbox, and Xbox Live is integrated with Netflix, maybe Zune users will be able to rent and download HD movies from Netflix to their Zunes, without having to mess with file conversion? That would be cool.
HD Radio
Zune marketing continues to highlight the Zune HD‘s radio-tuning ability (which they’ve had since the original Zune) as its break-out functionality over the non-radio iPod. The internal tuner has gotten a little cooler now with HD radio (although this technology is understandably less mainstream than HD video), and a feature that lets users “tag” the song playing, so that they can easily buy it later, which is neat. But is it just me, or does “radio” sound pretty mid-20th century? Microsoft is going up against the Apple iPod monster, and half of its marketing game plan is “let’s say ‘radio’ a lot?”
The Social
The Social is another heavily-marketed feature of the Zune franchise. It pulls data from each user’s device (if allowed), and shares your listening tastes with the Zune-using community online, as well as providing a forum for discussions.
The App Store
Apple offers the App Store built-in to the iPhone and Touch. The store allows cheap access to over 35,000 different programs to customize the functionality of the device. You want to find out what song you are hearing in the elevator? “There’s an App for that.” (hold up your Touch to the speaker, let it listen, and it’ll identify the song for you.) As there is for finding nearby businesses without typing in any clunky and unnecessary data like your address, or finding out if a shelf is level, or what direction you are heading. The App store is uber-popular as a software solution to ultimate multi-functionality with ability for constant updates and progress without a hardware upgrade. I think Microsoft would do well to swallow their pride and imitate the App Store in some way for the Zune HD.
Price Comparison
The Zune HD 16GB sells for $155, compared to the iPod Touch 16GB that sells for $269…$114 bucks cheaper!
The Zune HD 32GB sells for $196, compared to the iPod Touch 32GB that sells for $268…$72 bucks cheaper!
The Zune HD 64GB sells for $258, compared to the iPod Touch 64GB that sells for $340…$82 bucks cheaper!
*starting prices
The Zune HD 16GB will sell for $219, compare that to the 16GB iPod Touch which sells for $290…$71 bucks cheaper!
The Zune HD 32GB MP3 will sell for $289, compare that to the 32GB iPod Touch which sells for $370…$81 bucks cheaper!
Thanks for reading!
Looking forward to seeing the Zune HD in action!
I wouldn’t be ruling out the app store for zune quite yet,Amazon put a page up about the zune, then quickly took it down after they put some things up that microsoft claimed “wasn’t true”. One of which was an applications function. This will probably not go as deep as the ipod, but hey you never know…
great site by the way.
Shg,
You might be right…with the integration of the Zune and the xbox 360 dashboard, it’s very possible that we could see an app store.
Thanks for visiting!
Zune HD is going to be awesome. I’ve been waiting for this for so long!!!!
Looks promising. Can’t wait to try it out!
The storage will equal that of the ipod touch. There will be a 16 & a 32 Gb device. There is also talk of a 64Gb device.
Bob,
Yes we are all excited about having a true competitor to the iPod!
Andy,
I agree with you…it’s going to get really interesting as we near the Fall 2009 launch!
Alec,
Great points! I think the 64GB would be a huge success for those who look to carry a lot of HD video with them.
You didn’t include a lot of things. For example: zune pass, online video and music store, etc. This is sort of biased, it seems.
Anonymous,
This post needs to be updated as it was created a few days after the Zune HD was released. I will try to get it updated with the added specs.
Oh man, I’ve been a Zune consumer since first gen.
And I must say I have loved it over ipods ever since. When I pod first came out, I had the first and second generations and they definitely were not reliable. So I moved onto zune and i was very happy. The only reason i moved to 2nd gen zune was because Mine was stolen. Now I’m onto 2 years of problemless zune-ing and i love it.
Can’t wait for the Zune HD.
I just wish people would give Microsoft a chance and stop autobuying into Apple.
Rismaticattack,
Thanks for sharing…I also agree that most people just buy an iPod without ever comparing the two…that will just leave more Zune HD’s for the rest of us!
zune hd is going to be awesome! i can’t wait to buy one
if microsoft releases some kind of development kit for the zune hd (meaning for applications, besides i dont even know if XNA Game Studio supports touch), and creates a centralized location for distributing them (aka app store) the zune hd would easily be better than the ipod touch…selling it for a lower price would not hurt either
i seriously cannot wait for the hd. i have a red zune 80, which i love. its probably the only electronic i have that i can take care of because i love it so much. went through five ipods within a year though. 3 internal and 2 external problems. i hope they include an app store so those apple fanboys shut their mouths. i love macs but apple…you can keep those ipods and iphones. i dont want them. lets go microsoft. make this thing awesome! hopefully they integrate zune 4.0 with winmo. one more device i can use
I was disappointed by this comparison, as the table at the top is VERY inacurate. I’ll explain;
You list both as having a screen resolution of 480p, which is completely incorrect. 480p is 720×480. The iPod Touch is 480×320, while the Zune is 480×272. The Touch has the technically higher resolution, but that’s a 4×3 res streatched to 16:9, which can make the image appear less sharp. The Zune HD’s OLED should be clearer. However, neither is up to par with 480p yet, however, the Zune HD does do true 720p output via an HDMI dock.
As for the built-in application store, the Zune HD does have it, and it’s called the Zune Marketplace (which goes live on the Xbox on August 12th). The Xbox version will initially have only videos and music. However, when the Zune HD launches, eitehr the Zune Marketplace or the Windows Live Marketplace will be storing the apps for Zune HD/
Just 2 things i would put into the loop 1 the hd has OLED screen which is way better than the barberic lcds that need back light. That means when your outside or in a bright area you will be able to see your screen and have rich deep colors and real black. And the other was the browser, Microsoft wants the browser to be a full functioning browser with flash it wont on release date but still has the possibility of that. That would be a plus one over the touch’s browser
The touch just got touched.
the touch just got touchéd
actually the only way i would be impressed of even consider buying a Zune HD is if it came in 80 or even 120 gig models
lets wait for the unveiling of the new ipod touch in september 09 to make our final judgments.
Im not sure If I should wait until next year, Will Microsoft add more features to the zune HD? or should I just get the Zune HD that is coming out this september?
wait and see. i’m sure people on youtube will make videos comparing the hd and touch. look at those videos and decide for yourselves.
Zune features better battery life due to the OLED.
Zune features fm radio
Zune features HD radio
Zune features marketplace for 15$ unlimited(basically itunes)
Zune features HD output
Zune features Xbox syncing
Itouch features slightly larger display
Itouch features thousands of apps
Itouch now features bluetooth
Those are the most important differences.
they both have accelerometers
they both have multi touch screens
problem is i think ipods break more
ive owned 4 ipods all which have had some problem(only one was a touch)
Ive owned one zune which was the original and to this day it hasn’t had a problem except for the zune crash of 2k9
Hey i am against the ipod corporation but i have to admit the hd video output has no appeal to me, first of all you need to have a HD tv secound you need to buy a special dock sold seperatly and third you have to download/buy hd programs. I still will prob buy the Zune because it has so much more then i touch. p.s. the built in application section is completly biast because zune is set up differently its app store would be equivalent to the zune marketplace.
does anybody know when the itouch 3g is going to be able to be bought in the UK????
Bt i cannot decide which to buy between the Itouch3g and the Zune HD
zune hd rules ipod !!!!!!!!!!!!! everyone on this site choose zune
cant wait!!!!
some one died in the stupid fire ipod touch cant have gps…. ie it doesnt have a reciever to locate the ipod… the ipod touch has no radio tuner and bluetooth is useless for the ipod because of its a ipod not a phone… and the thought of syncing my music library over bluetooth scares me…. syncing estimated finish time 3years 267days 10 hours…. oh yeah
i am pretty sure nvidias tegra chip is much faster than the ipod touches processor and uses more battery
, not for sure on this one but am i willing to bet money on it i am pretty sure nvidias tegra chip is much faster than the ipod touches processor and uses more battery 
, not for sure on this one but am i willing to bet money on it
The Zune HD has, in my opinion, a better touch screen than the itouch, a faster processor, and a nicer display with more vibrant colors. With more apps, the Zune HD will rule supreme over the itouch. Of course, this is just my opinion.
I really don’t know much about the zune at all. But I have the ipod touch 16 GB and it’s really pissing me off so I’m looking to switch. Something about not having the freedom to share music between computers and devices just doesn’t sit right with me. Also, the fact that I can not see where my free space is going to on my ipod irritates me. So, i’m looking into the zune. However, zune has a lot to measure up to if im going to give up on apple. But, i have an open mind with a strict wallet.
zune rules!!!!
is zune gonna be able to stream youtube videos sometime? if so, if i bought a zune right now, will i be able to upgrade my zune by just downloading the new zoftware
After all the reading and comparing of the Zune vs iPOD Touch devices I’ve done recently, I’ve come to the conclusion that both are good depending on what your looking for. My basic needs are for listening to music while at work, checking messages from e-mail & facebook, fantasy sports, and a 3rd music source for my DJing gigs. I do like the idea being able to download music from more sources with the Zune. The other Apps aren’t that important.
With this being said, what do you recommend I go with?
>_> really whoever said that the itouch’s processor is faster the a nvidia tegra should probaly go jump in to a firey pit of lava first lets see it says NVIDIA nver doubt that name ever and the tegra is amazing lil chipset im sorry but that processor is ten times better then any ipod of existence the only way ipod would get better is if they ask ati but ati wont help apple or i hope not that would suk i hate apples anywayz microsoft ftw and the most famous question of them all can your MAC benchmark crysis or even run the menu LOL
i’ve had so many problems with ipod ! first one was an ipod, which had an hardrive issue after barely one year. Then i bought the ipod touch 3g, harddrive broke after barely one year too! seriously considering switching over to zune
The OLED screen just blows the iTouch’s screen “out of the water”. If only my parents would get me a Zune Hd…
Okay, the nVidia Tegra is amazing, but I will admit that the iPod Touch has great apps. However, the Tegra allows for 3D, as well as better memory allocation. The only problem forseeable for the Zune is that it restarts the OS after games that are XNA. And for those of you bitching about how the iPod has this great app store, the iPod has also been around longer, so of course it will. The Zune forums have huge amounts of gaming and other applications for the platform. Also, there will also be firmware updates. When, and yes, I said when, the Zune gets flash and Java support, I say the iPod will die out. Until then, the Zune is cheaper, more streamlined, and damn right it’s sexy!
I have just received my Zune HD from Microsoft and would like to know where are a good set of links for tutorials and APPS. I did find that it works better with Win 7 OS and had problems with XP Pro. I really like that I can take music to and from my Zune which the Ipod can not. My daughters are jealous!
looks alright
i hope its as good as it sounds!
Really informative blog.Thanks for sharing comparison between Zune HD and iPod Touch…Keep it up.
I was thinking that the Zune seems just a tad more people customizable than a Itouch but if they want to really compete against the Apple’s Itouch then they should create an App Store as well. People want to be able to do this and have fun widgets. They should just put their own signature look on it. I love the Zune HD and I’m def. thinking of getting one.
Well idk witch I’m ganna get!! My frend had an Ipod touch and she loved it but my dad had a zune hd and he liked it so!!! I guess that there both pretty good but it depends on what ur lookin for!!!!
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I have Zune and its the best but i also like the ipod to, because you can take pictures but i LOVE my Zune.
idk im just looking for the one with the most or best apps or games
I’m kinda leaning towards zune hd i can see its the underdog here
I think that cod 5 beats out both of these.
I also think that the cod 5 apps for ipod is well worth the dough. And the zune doesn’t have cod 5 apps for it so its not as good.
cod 5 sucks
mw3 all the way
Okay. So I own an iPod touch and a friend of mine owns a zune hd. Both of the devices are great, but apps is a major difference. Apples Ipod is good for heavy gamer, app users, and web browsers. The Zune he on the other hand is for mild gamers, app users, and web browsers. The zune is a great device for people who want a music player with some features they may use every now and then. But the iPod touch is awesome for music too but if you aren’t too into apps and games why spend the extra 100 bucks?!