Fifty years ago this month, the April 1973 issue of Popular Mechanics highlighted the many miniature cassette recorders then on the market. Like their slightly older brethren like the one at the rear, all of these played standard sized cassettes. Even smaller models were available using smaller tapes, but the magazine noted that those were often hard to find, so it featured only the models using full sized cassettes.

Weight of all of these recorders were between one and two pounds. The playback sound was said to be limited, mostly because of the small speaker and underpowered amplifier. But the magazine noted that a recording made on one of the small units, when played back on the good player at home, sounded surprisingly good.

Prices of the sets shown started at about $65.