Archos AV 500 (30GB)

In a portable video player, you want as much screen with as little fat as possible. On this front, the nine-ounce AV 500 delivers in spades, with a stunning four-inch, 480 x 272-pixel widescreen display. The AV 500 is dressed to impress, with solid construction, direct recording of TV with a built-in scheduler, and a long list of supported file formats.

The included TV pod docking station hooks up to the back of your cable or satellite box for recording, and it includes A/V outputs for watching what you’ve recorded on a TV. With a maximum playback resolution of 720 x 480 pixels at 30 frames per second, the AV 500 can easily double as a DVR. However, the included remote control is awkward at best.

When you’re on the go, the AV 500’s 16:9 aspect ratio screen is perfect for watching widescreen television shows and other recorded video. We were especially impressed with the device’s 5 hours and 22 minutes of battery life, good enough for first place.

Despite the fact that it’s the most expensive device here, the Archos AV 500 provides the most bang for your buck. Put it at the top of your wish list.