The first Walkman was launched in 1979, establishing Sony as a powerhouse in the audio world—a position it maintains to this day. Today, the company has unveiled three new Android-powered Walkman models designed for high-resolution audio playback and streaming.
The NW-WM1ZM3 is the flagship model, featuring a 5.5-inch TFT touchscreen, 256GB of internal storage (with microSD card support), and a gold-plated copper chassis. The main chassis is constructed from aluminum and assembled using gold-plated screws. According to Sony, this design ensures a stable ground connection, resulting in smooth audio, a wider soundstage, powerful bass, and an expansive high-frequency range.
The device incorporates internal wiring from the KIMBER KABLE system—previously featured in Sony’s DMP-Z1—to reduce noise and preserve the integrity of digital signals, delivering greater audio detail. The battery offers up to 35 hours of playback for 128kbps MP3 files, or 31 hours when streaming audio. Connectivity options include Bluetooth, a standard mini-stereo jack, and a balanced jack.
The NW-WM1AM3 shares similar specifications with the NW-WM1ZM3 but lacks the gold-plated exterior; instead, only the internal chassis is gold-plated to enhance audio quality.
Finally, the NW-ZX900 features a gold-plated copper internal chassis housed within a more angular, block-like aluminum exterior. It is equipped with a 5-inch TFT touchscreen. The battery provides up to 40 hours of playback for 128kbps MP3 files, and 35 hours when using streaming applications.
All three models support high-resolution audio via both wired connections and wireless transmission using the LDAC codec. There is a mode that modifies the audio to sound as if it were being played from a vinyl record.
The interface for adjusting various audio settings is designed to resemble the physical knobs found on classic audio hardware. All physical buttons are positioned on the right side, just like on the original Walkman. The device runs on the Android 16 operating system. The retail prices are as follows:
Sony NW-WM1ZM3 – $5,899 (~RM 24,100)
Sony NW-WM1AM3 – $2,999.99 (~RM 12,223)
Sony NW-ZX900 – $1,899.99 (~RM 7,760)
