A Philips portable DVD player – no matter which model you choose, can be a source of unparallel outdoor entertainment that can be your faithful friend for years on end. The company, known for its superior and technologically perfect products couple with impeccable customer support, is also a popular name in the cheap portable DVD players segment, making portable DVDs a household item, like several of their other products.

One of the most popular models in the portable DVD segment is the DCP951-37 Philips portable DVD player with iPod docking facility. This device has a 9 inch LCD 16:9 ratio screen and the primary differentiating factor of this model with other models in the same genre is the in-built iPod docking port for playback and recharging. Not only does this model function as a stand-alone digital frame, it also supports CD, VCD, DVD, DVD+R/RW, DVD-R/RW, MP3, WMA, JPEG images, DivX and MPEG-4 movie.

Weighing around 2.4 pounds, the physical dimensions of this portable DVD player are 7 x 8.3 x 1.5 inches. Looking more like a tablet, it has a cradle for the iPod to slide. The external casing is shiny black. The overall design is simple with the navigational buttons situated in the front. One of the most popular and cheap portable DVD players, the functions of this Philips model includes:

• Includes a dock for charging the iPod.
• Has a built-in memory card slot which allows you to watch movies or view photos from your SD or MMC card.
• Includes a slot for SD/MMC cards, a remote control device for convenient navigation, two headphone jacks for privacy of listening, and a cigarette outlet adapter (12vDC).
• Though the battery life of 2.5 hours is adequate for watching a movie, it may not be enough, if you want to use it continuously while outdoors.
• The quality of sound and images are commendable.
• While some consider the built of the DVD player not as tough as one would have expected, the stylish appearance and the iPod integration makes the DCP951-37 Philips portable DVD player worth every penny.

The other portable DVD player from Philips worth a second look is the DCP851/37 model. Like the DCP951-37, this model also plays CDs and DVDs with a wide range of media formats like JPEG images, MP3 audio files, and VCD, DivX, and MPEG-4 videos. Its sleek white exterior is extremely attractive. The remote control can be removed and in the empty space, you can place an iPod Classic.