New Release Announcement: Rockbox Version 4.0 Now Available

Announced on April Fool's Day, the famous MP3 firmware Rockbox allegedly unveiled its new version 4.0. However, contra to typical pranks, it appears that the traditional software has indeed been updated in this instance.

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2025 June 3 . 6:30 AM

2 min read

April Fools' Day, traditionally a day for debuting new software, was the date suspected for the... — April Fools' Day, traditionally a day for debuting new software, was the date suspected for the release of Rockbox 4.0, a renowned MP3 firmware. However, unlike common misconceptions, an actual update did indeed occur...

New Release Announcement: Rockbox Version 4.0 Now Available

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Hackin' Those Old School Music Players: Rockbox 4.0 Still Kickin' it

You know that feeling when you stumble upon something classic and timeless? That's exactly what happened when we heard the buzz about Rockbox 4.0 hitting the streets... or rather, the digital airwaves. This bad boy's been absent for a while, but like a fine wine, it's aged beautifully. Kudos to the OG, Rockbox, for sticking around! We first talked about Rockbox here way back when, around the turn of the millennium. Seems like just yesterday, doesn't it?

Remember the days when hacking Personal Media Players (PMPs) was all the rage? Yeah, we do too. We tracked down Rockbox contributing legend, Solomon Peachy, to get the lowdown on what modern hardware is compatible with Rockbox 4.0. Although Solomon didn't spill the beans on specific models, he did nudge us towards the AIGO EROS Q / EROS K. Seems like it's the only compatible hardware still being manufactured and sold. If you can't find one of those, you'll have to hit up eBay or other secondhand markets for compatible hardware. Check out the Rockbox Wiki for the complete supported hardware list.

These days, smartphones and streaming services have pretty much taken over the single-purpose PMP market. If you're thinking about installing Rockbox 4.0 on something, drop a comment and let us know!

Fun Facts: Rockbox 4.0 Hardware Compatibility

Here's a quick rundown of the current and secondhand hardware that Rockbox 4.0 supports, as generally recommended by the community:

SanDisk Sansa series models, such as the Sansa c200, e200, Clip, Fuze, and Express, are well-supported. You can still find many of these models as secondhand devices.
Apple iPods, like the iPod Video (5th/5.5G) and iPod Classic (6th/7th Gen), are also supported. These are commonly found as secondhand devices.
iRiver H-series players, including the iRiver H100 and H300, are supported.
Archos players, such as the Archos Recorder and AV series, are supported.
Cowon iAudio players, like the iAudio X5 and M5, are supported.
Additional brands and models like the Toshiba Gigabeat F and G are supported in older builds.
FiiO players (not all models) and DIY builds on Raspberry Pi or similar platforms have limited or experimental support.

Keep in mind that this table reflects the general consensus and practical use by Rockbox contributors and users. Always verify device compatibility with the latest Rockbox installation manual before purchasing hardware. Happy hacking!

In the realm of hardware, the AIGO EROS Q / EROS K seems to be the current option for those willing to install Rockbox 4.0, as it's the only compatible device still being manufactured and sold.
As the market for single-purpose gadgets like Personal Media Players (PMPs) has been largely replaced by smartphones and streaming services, we're eager to hear from readers about their experiences trying to install Rockbox 4.0 on different devices.