More than 40 years after the original, Sony launches a new WALKMAN

Sony is capitalizing on its love of all things retro with a new Walkman, more than 40 years after the original cassette version went on sale.

The Walkman NW-A306 allows users to access the internet to download and stream music from services such as Spotify and YouTube.

It features a 3.6-inch touchscreen along with physical controls on the side, allowing users to change volume or change tracks without even taking it out of their pocket.

But the new device costs £349 – more than some smartphones on the market – and it can’t make calls or send texts.

Sony has launched a new Walkman (right), more than 40 years after the original cassette version (left) first went on sale

The Walkman NW-A306 allows users to access the internet to download and stream music from services such as Spotify and YouTube

The NW-A306 runs on Android and offers access to a few basic apps including the main music apps and the Google Chrome browser.

It comes 44 years after Sony released the first Walkman, the TPS-L2, which went on sale in Japan on July 1, 1979.

“Enjoy high-quality sound from this stylish and compact music player that lets you download and stream more of your favorite music,” Sony says of the new device.

“With full Wi-Fi compatibility, a longer-lasting battery, and a sleek and sleek design, you can play and find new music anywhere.”

As well as being able to access the internet, the “stylish and compact” new player can also be connected to a PC, so users can also transfer music from the computer to the device the old-fashioned way with a USB-C cable that comes with the crate.

The NW-A306 also uses AI (artificial intelligence) to “upscale” compressed digital music files to higher quality.

Physical controls on the side mean users can adjust the volume or change tracks without having to take them out of their pocket

The NW-A306 also uses AI (Artificial Intelligence) to upscale compressed digital music files to a higher quality

The metal-bodied blue-and-silver Walkman TPS-L2, the world’s first low-cost personal cassette player, was launched in Japan in July 1979 and sold for around 33,000 yen (US$150).

Sony claims this is a device for true music lovers as it offers sound quality not found on most flagship smartphones.

Now smartphone manufacturers are much more focused on cameras and picture quality, often to the neglect of sound.

The sound quality also depends heavily on the accompanying headphones that an owner opts for.

Sony’s new Walkman doesn’t come with headphones, although the company offers a range of wireless, in-ear and head-band options that are compatible.

The NW-A306 has a battery life of up to 36 hours, runs Android 12 operating system and is available in two colors, blue and black.

It also makes retro lovers happy by keeping the headphone jack, which is fast becoming a rarer feature.

Smartphone makers like Apple and Samsung have largely ditched the headphone jack in favor of wireless headphones that connect via Bluetooth.

Sony’s new Walkman doesn’t come with headphones, although the company does offer a range of wireless, in-ear and head-band earphones that are compatible

The NW-A306 also has a battery life of up to 36 hours, runs Android 12 operating system and is available in two colors, blue and black

Sony already has a list of various Walkman products on its website, including some that only offer music file transfers and no internet access – so no music streaming.

Those offering music streaming have some amazing “premium” price tags, including one that costs £3,299.

At £349, Sony claims the NW-A306 is affordable, although several smartphones with more features are around the same price.

Sony’s new device follows Apple’s announcement last year that it was discontinuing the iPod, the company’s line of portable media players.

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