Walkman: A História Ilustrada (1979–2004) A timeline of Sony’s cassette Walkman models from 1979 to 2004 - EP.16 - 1986: SONY WALKMAN WM-F57

 

Arriving in 1986, the WM-F57 combined FM/AM radio with auto-reverse cassette playback in a

 compact body. A built-in front speaker enabled casual listening without headphones. It ran on

 two AA batteries, supported Dolby B, allowed manual tape selection, and came in black, white,

 dark blue, and red.

A História Ilustrada do Walkman da SONY - série Sports - ep.7 - 1986: WM-F45

 

1986 WM-F45: The No-Frills Radio Sports Walkman

The WM-F45 prioritized reliability over features. It paired an AM/FM radio with a basic cassette mechanism and dropped Dolby, auto-reverse, and other refinements. Built on the same platform as the WM-F35, it shows Sony’s habit of spinning multiple variants from one core design. Its appeal was simple: a tough yellow Walkman that kept music and radio going.

A História Ilustrada do Walkman da SONY - série Sports - ep.6 - 1986: WM-F107

 

1986 WM-F107: The Solar Walkman

The WM-F107 used the Sports Walkman as a technology demo. It paired a sealed body with a large solar panel and an internal rechargeable battery, using sunlight to power the radio and recharge the pack. Solar did not run the tape transport directly, but the system worked as intended. Despite its size, it still carried auto-reverse, Dolby B, metal tape support, and an AM/FM radio, with much of the circuitry packed into the cassette door. Expensive and complex, it was never repeated.

A História Ilustrada do Walkman da SONY - série Sports - ep.5 - 1986: WM-F63

 

1986 WM-F63: Compact Radio Sports Walkman

The WM-F63 shrank the Sports formula without stripping it down. It kept auto-reverse, Dolby B, and an AM/FM radio in a sealed chassis, shifting the line from brute ruggedness toward everyday portability. A large latch kept the transport secure. To make room for the radio circuitry, Sony pushed it into the cassette door, shrinking the window to a small port used mainly to confirm tape motion.

A História Ilustrada do Walkman da SONY - série Sports - ep.4 - 1986: WM-35

 

1986 WM-35: The Floating Sports Walkman

The WM-35 was built around one defining idea: it could float. Its large, air-filled shell provided buoyancy, but it made the player feel light and bulky compared to earlier Sports models. The mechanism was intentionally simple, with single-direction playback and no Dolby noise reduction. It was not a daily workhorse so much as a statement that Sony was willing to reshape the Walkman for new environments.