Swan.my.id - Sony’s new premium Walkman lineup brings together three digital music players with Android 16, touchscreens and video-streaming capability. The range stretches from a $1,899 model to a gold-plated flagship priced at $5,899, giving buyers distinct choices in materials and size.
The announcement also shows how far the Walkman has moved from its cassette-player roots. Sony continues to sell the brand, but these latest devices are designed for digital music and apps rather than tapes.
What the Sony Walkman lineup offers
All three players combine music playback with a touchscreen interface and access to available apps. Android 16 gives the devices a modern software platform, while video streaming adds a use beyond listening to downloaded or stored music.
That change matters because a premium music player no longer has to serve only one purpose. Users can browse a music collection, play tracks and stream content from compatible apps on the device. However, the specific streaming services and their availability depend on the apps offered for the players.
Sony’s latest range follows the NW-ZX707 and NW-A306, which arrived in January 2023. The new models therefore refresh the company’s high-end portable-player selection after several years, while retaining the Walkman name for a very different kind of device.
Three models, three price points
The range begins with the NW-ZX900, priced at $1,899, or about Rp 34.2 million. It has a 5-inch touchscreen and a body finish that is less elaborate than those of the more expensive models. Still, it includes a number of premium audio features, according to the product details.
Above it sits the NW-WM1AM3 at $2,999, roughly Rp 54.1 million. Its 5.5-inch touchscreen matches the flagship’s display size, but its body uses black aluminum and a gold-plated rear section. That places it between the more restrained ZX900 and the costliest device in both price and visible finish.
The top model, the NW-WM1ZM3, costs $5,899, approximately Rp 106 million. Its 5.5-inch screen is the same size as the NW-WM1AM3’s, so the premium does not come from a larger display. Instead, the standout difference is its construction: an oxygen-free copper chassis covered with gold plating, plus gold-plated screws.
The prices create a wide gap between the least expensive and most expensive options. The flagship costs more than three times the ZX900’s listed price, while both WM1 models share a 5.5-inch display. As a result, buyers comparing the range should look beyond screen size and consider the materials and price tier that suit them.
Why the flagship uses gold-plated copper
Sony uses oxygen-free copper, a material known for high purity and electrical conductivity, as the main chassis material in the NW-WM1ZM3. The company positions that construction as part of the device’s premium audio design. Gold plating and matching screws also give the player a distinctive finish.
Those material choices help explain the flagship’s place at the top of the range, but they do not establish how much better it sounds in everyday use. The available specifications describe the construction; they do not provide a listening comparison between the three models. Buyers should therefore treat the gold and copper as clear design and build distinctions, not as a guaranteed measure of audible improvement.
The NW-WM1AM3 takes a different approach with its aluminum body, black exterior and gold-plated back. Meanwhile, Sony gives the ZX900 a less ornate finish while retaining selected premium audio features. In practice, the lineup offers a visible progression in materials without changing the basic role of each device as a portable digital player.
Touchscreens bring streaming to the Walkman
Screen size separates the ZX900 from the other two players. Its display measures 5 inches, compared with 5.5 inches on both WM1 models. Each touchscreen lets users navigate music and control playback, while the Android platform supports app-based use.
Video streaming marks a notable departure from the Walkman’s traditional focus on audio. The feature means owners can use the screen for streamed video as well as music, although the product information does not specify supported services, video formats or viewing limits. It is best understood as an additional function rather than a replacement for the devices’ music-player identity.
Android 16 also makes the new Walkmans feel closer to compact connected devices than to simple dedicated players. At the same time, the available details do not set out battery life, storage capacity or network specifications. Those details would help prospective buyers assess how well each model fits long listening sessions or frequent streaming.
How to choose between the three
For shoppers focused on the lowest price in this premium range, the NW-ZX900 is the starting point. Its smaller screen and more modest finish distinguish it from the WM1 models, but it still offers a touchscreen and premium audio features. The listed price remains substantial, so it is not positioned as a budget music player.
The NW-WM1AM3 occupies the middle tier. It offers the larger 5.5-inch screen and a mix of aluminum and gold-plated details, without the flagship’s gold-covered copper chassis. Buyers who want the bigger display and a distinctive finish can compare its $2,999 price with the flagship’s much higher cost.
The NW-WM1ZM3 is aimed at customers who value its materials and top-tier position. Its $5,899 price makes it a major commitment, and its screen is no larger than the WM1AM3’s. The key differences described are the copper-and-gold construction and the premium detailing.
A changing role for a familiar name
Sony’s Walkman was widely associated with portable cassette listening during the 1980s and 1990s. The brand did not disappear when cassette players gave way to digital devices; instead, its hardware evolved into dedicated digital music players. The company’s latest trio continues that shift by adding current software and video streaming to a line built around premium audio.
The result is a product family with a clear spread of prices, screen sizes and finishes. The ZX900 offers the entry point, the WM1AM3 adds a larger screen and mixed materials, and the WM1ZM3 crowns the range with gold-plated copper. For anyone considering one, the most useful comparison is not simply which model costs the most, but whether its particular construction and features justify the difference for their own use.
