The cassette is back, and FiiO wants to sell you the player
Some news is so cool that I feel I just have to share it. And this is an example of that.
Everyone has picked up on the fact that vinyl is back, and has been for a long time. But have you picked up on the fact that the cassette is back? This ancient analogue medium where you have to flip the tape over to change sides, rewind it when you are done, and press play and record at the same time if you want to record something?
Some artists actually do release cassettes in limited runs, even in 2026.
“What?” you are maybe thinking?
I am not kidding, the cassette is back.
Tame Impala sold Deadbeat on cassette, exclusive to their own webstore. Sold out, naturally. / Screenshot: Tame Impala
And it is not just niche releases for collectors. Platekompaniet, the Norwegian record store chain, has an entire cassette section where Sabrina Carpenter, Ghost, Taylor Swift, David Bowie, Burzum and the Stranger Things soundtrack sit side by side.
A Norwegian webstore, 2026. Yes, you are seeing that right. Cassettes! / Screenshot: Platekompaniet
Even though I am personally a fan of old iPods, big teak speakers, vintage hi-fi and audio gear from the 80s and 90s, I do not have a cassette player lying around. And I am guessing there are more of us who do not. And that, dear reader, is where this news story comes in.
Because FiiO is launching a new cassette player at the end of 2026, an analogue cassette player that can also stream audio over Bluetooth. So here they are taking over the legacy of Sony’s Walkman. I almost have to pinch myself.
FiiO CP11
The CP11 is an ultra thin cassette player that, judging by the renders published at the end of August, looks incredibly cool.
Hello, i am CP11，New cassette player of 2026！DO you like me? #cassette #cassetteplayer #fiio #music pic.twitter.com/sCRoTn89Ph
— FiiO Willson (@FiioWillson) August 21, 2026
We have the colours cream, turquoise green and red. Judging by the images it looks like CNC milled aluminium, although the material is not confirmed yet. I love how brushed CNC in green looks. The colour lineup is not nailed down either, by the way, and the colours we end up getting may change from these renders.
The CP11 also charges over USB-C, and based on their previous portable cassette player, the CP13, which is rated at over 13 hours of battery life, we can assume the new model will run for roughly as long, with somewhat reduced battery life if you use Bluetooth.
One more detail from the renders: on the top there is a blue and an orange button sitting next to the usual ones. And if you look closely, you notice there are two 3.5 mm ports on the side. The blue button is probably Bluetooth, but what is the orange one? A record button? If we assume it is, the two 3.5 mm ports make sense, because then you also have a microphone input.
FiiO has said nothing about recording, so this is wild speculation and wishful thinking. But it is not unthinkable that at the end of 2026 you can record straight to cassette. I dig it!
“Diane…” Dale Cooper talked into a microcassette recorder through all of Twin Peaks. This could be you. / Screenshot: Twin Peaks
We know nothing about the price either. But the CP13 sits at around $100, and the CP11 is meant to sit below it in the lineup, so that is where expectations should be. FiiO says it is aiming for a launch at the end of 2026.
About FiiO
FiiO is a brand I know, and to me they are known for making good quality hi-fi. They are perhaps especially known for making DACs and portable audio gear, aimed at further improving the sound coming out of your digital devices. FiiO is from China, but they come across as a quality brand with good build quality at a relatively low price.
I want the turquoise green one
I do not own a cassette player. But I do own one cassette, which I bought at a secondhand shop and figured I would use as a prop or a background for photos.
I am excited that innovation is happening in what you could call niche products like this, and that brands like FiiO are willing to make something for the people who want exactly that kind of product.
Am I going to buy this one? No, but I am excited anyway! If you are interested, keep an eye on FiiO’s website or their social channels.
