Sudo Music Player Revives iPod Classic and Zune Look, Opens $50 Deposits for 2027 Launch
A new portable music player called the Sudo mixes iPod Classic and Zune styling with USB-C, microSD support and streaming apps, and is taking $50 deposits ahead of a launch no earlier than October 2027.
The device offers 64GB of internal storage and supports microSD cards up to 1TB. It connects to Bluetooth and wired headphones, and includes both a 3.5 mm audio jack and a USB-C port for charging. Its makers say the player delivers 20 hours of playback per battery charge, with music available either offline or streamed directly through an integrated, purpose-built Sudo OS.
The hardware dimensions place it firmly in classic MP3 player territory: 103.5 mm by 58.6 mm by 8.5 mm, or 4.1 in by 2.3 in by 0.3 in. A clickwheel occupies the lower half of the front panel, echoing the iPod Classic, while a 2.73-inch touchscreen sits above it, a layout TechRadar compared to the Zune.
Deposits of $50, equivalent to roughly £38 or AU$72, are being accepted from customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. The final price is expected to come in under $250, or about £189 and AU$359, when the Sudo goes on sale. Deposits can be cancelled at any point before then. Buyers will be able to choose among four colors: Silver, Basalt, Forest and Tangerine.
Several specifications remain unsettled, which TechRadar attributed to the product still being finalized. One of the creators behind the Sudo has been answering questions on Reddit, saying that additional hardware and software details are still to come, that the casing will be made of aluminum, and that an OLED display instead of an LCD panel is still under consideration.
Commenters in that Reddit thread raised concerns about vaporware, given the gap between the deposit program and the projected launch date. Even so, TechRadar reported that the general sentiment around the Sudo was positive, while noting that it will be some time before anyone can try the device hands-on.
The Sudo joins a small group of recent products aimed at listeners who want a dedicated music player rather than a phone, a category that has been largely dormant since the decline of the iPod and Microsoft's Zune. TechRadar is owned by Future plc, which also publishes other technology titles.