Apex Digital Inc. is the leading provider of DVD players in North America. Apex DVD players are available in more than 40 different versions. Apex portable DVD players range as follows:

• Apex Model PD 450, 150-250 $
• Apex Digital PD-500, 150-250 $
• Apex Digital PD-510, 150-250 $
• Apex Digital PD-650S, 260 $, very popular (Special Features: 6.5" 16:9 Wide screen TFT LCD, MP3 Playback / WMA Playback, Kodak Picture CD / JPEG Playback, Video Status Display Adjustable Brightness & Color Control, Remote Control, AC/DC Adapters & Battery Included, Battery Life per charge: Over 2 hours continuous playback. Connections: S-Video Jack, Composite Video Jack, Stereo Headphone Jack, Optical Digital Audio Output, Stereo Audio Jack Input / Output Selector Switch)
• Apex Digital PD 660S, 179 $
• Apex Digital PD-840, not for sale yet (features: 8.4”? TFT LCD 16:9 Screen, AFF - Active Full screen Function, Progressive Scan, MP3 Playback, Kodak Picture CD / JPEG Playback, Audio CD/CD-R/CD-RW Playback, Variable High-Speed Scan, Video Status Display, Remote Control, AC/DC Adapters & NiMh Battery Included Battery Life per charge: Up to 2.5 hours. Connections: S-Video Jack, Composite Video Jack, Coaxial Digital Audio Out, Variable Audio Out, AC/DC Jack, 2 Headphone Jacks).

The price-performance relation is good. They are considered cheap portable DVD players; nevertheless, the features and qualities provided are satisfactory.

An Apex portable DVD player review points out that some technical and functioning problems might occur:

1. the laser reader is susceptible to let you down. If you are announced that there is "no disk" to read, that means such is the case. The image "freezes" and all you have to do is purchase another device;
2. you might have to deal with an annoying static noise;
3. there are models which have only three buttons: play, stop and pause; this is an inconvenient, as for any other option you need the remote control always at hand;
4. there are consumers complaining of poor repair support;
5. some models have the "open" button placed in the corner and it can be pressed very easily by accident, while the movie is running. Pushing the disk back won't be a problem but it seems that the player isn't able to remember where it stopped.

Beside these issues, there are also "good points":

1. some models allow you to charge the battery while watching the movie. Of course, this operation will slow down the playing. On the other hand, battery life is pretty good (almost two movies before a recharge);
2. a car charger comes along with the portable DVD player as ordered;
3. an Apex portable DVD player is cheap and convenient for those looking for a short or medium-term device for their long vacations or business trips.

See a list of Apex DVD Players from Amazon.com