If you’re always on the go but don’t want to lose the opportunity to listen to your favorite radio stations, a portable radio is exactly what you need. While not as feature-rich as a smartphone or tablet, portable radios still offer plenty of convenience so you can listen to music, news, or even an emergency broadcast if necessary.
For decades, AM/FM radios were the centerpiece of portable entertainment, and today that doesn’t have to change thanks to an array of options still available for purchase.
Let’s take a look at the 7 best portable radios you can purchase today.
- #1 Best Overall: Panasonic RF-2400
- Best Rugged: Sangean TB-100
- Best Multi-Purpose: Midland ER40 Weather Radio
- Best Portability: PowerBear Portable Radio
- Best Analog: Sony ICF-506
- Best Sound: Megatek Portable Stereo
- Best for Poor Weather: DaringSnail NOAA Portable Radio
#1 Best Overall: Panasonic RF-2400
When you are looking for the best portable radio that offers everything you need and nothing you don’t, the Panasonic RF-2400 is the best choice.
Right from the jump, the Panasonic RF-2400 oozes portability with its convenient carrying handle that goes around the entire top of the radio. Behind the handle, you have a telescoping antenna that helps grab a signal no matter if you are located in the city or in the most rural area.
Equipped with an AM/FM tuner, the frequency range on the RF-2400 ranges from 520-1730 KHz on the AM side and 87-108 MHz on the FM side.
The easy dial button on the side helps you make your way through a station selection and a fluorescent pointer ensures you know exactly which station you have selected and it shows up well in the dark.
Regardless of which station you land on, you’ll be hearing audio from the 10cm speaker or you can use the 3.5mm headphone jack for silent listening.
Powered by 4 AAA batteries, you can keep the Panasonic going for hours on end or use the easily stored AC adapter when you’re near power.
Find the Panasonic RF-2400 on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Long-lasting battery life | The antenna needs to be pointed in the exact right direction |
| Loud speaker for a great volume |
Best Rugged: Sangean TB-100
For the times when a portable radio and durability need to blend together, the Sangean TB-100 will be ready to answer the call.
Offering excellent durability, the shock-resistant Sangean TB-100 is ready for anything thanks to its IPX4 waterproof rating. Manufactured out of a durable ABS plastic body, the Sangean TB-100 even comes with a roll-cage design to take its shock resistance to higher levels.
The most important takeaway with the Sangean TB-100 is that it’s ready to roll (literally), whether it’s rain or shine as its 5-inch water-resistant speaker frame is ready for anything.
With a range of stations between 520-1710 KHz on AM and 522-1629 KHz on FM, you can make use of 5 station presets for both AM and FM. This means 10 stations are easily accessible through shortcut preset buttons on the front of the radio right beneath the large LCD display.
Another highlight of the TB-100 is its LED charging indicator, which notifies you when the batteries are running low. If you are using rechargeable batteries, you can plug the cord right into the radio itself and give the batteries some juice without removing them from the unit.
Check out the Sangean TB-100 on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent durability with shock resistance | Slightly on the larger side for portability |
| Broad range of AM and FM stations | Requires rechargeable batteries to get the most use out of the radio |
Best Multi-Purpose: Midland ER40 Weather Radio
- Hand-crank emergency radio
- SOS strobe flashlight
- NOAA weather alert
- Digital AM/FM
- Clock
- Rechargeable battery
- Solar panel
Should you need a portable radio to work on a moment’s notice, the Midland ER40 Weather Radio is an ideal choice.
Rest assured, the Midland ER40 is ready for you should you face a tornado, flood, hurricane, fire, or any other natural disaster. The reason why it’s so highly recommended is due to its quick alerts of inclement weather and the ability to hand crank it to recharge the radio’s internal battery.
Through its hand crank, you can provide the 2600mAh battery for up to 32 hours of continuous use, which is an ideal amount of time to keep you informed and alert for more bad weather. The battery also helps power the built-in flashlight and SOS strobe light for when you need to try and flag down emergency services.
Better yet, you have the ability to use the battery to connect a USB charger and provide some extra battery life to a smartphone so you can try to connect with loved ones. Best of all, the Midland ER40 is only 6 inches long and 3 inches wide, so it easily fits in a bag for taking with you on the go.
Take a look at the Midland ER40 Weather Radio on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Hand crank power is a great way to stay portable | A hand crank radio isn’t for everyone |
| Bright built-in flashlight for emergencies | 32 hours of use is on the shorter side before recharging |
Best Portability: PowerBear Portable Radio
- 2 AA battery operated
- Long-range reception
- Indoor, outdoor, and emergency use
- Radio with speaker and headphone jack
- Black
When you need a truly portable, portable radio, the PowerBear Portable Radio is the most pocket-friendly option you can find.
Measuring only 4.6 x 2.7 x 1.1 inches in size, the PowerBear Portable Radio is small and compact enough to take with you at a moment’s notice or pack away when you want to listen to it while traveling. Providing both AM and FM coverage, you listen through the built-in speaker or by plugging into the 3.5mm headphone jack for some added privacy.
Where the PowerBear really shines is that 2 AA batteries will provide you with over 800 hours of listening time before you ever need to think about changing the batteries. That’s over a month’s worth of listening time, which only serves to show just how reliable the PowerBear can be as a portable radio option.
With a telescoping antenna, you can also find stations between 530-1600 KHz and 80-108 MHz for FM. This is a great range for talk radio, sports including live baseball games, and all the news you could ever wish for.
Find the PowerBear Portable Radio on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Outstanding size | No additional features |
| Very simple to use | Requires a large antenna to get the best range |
Best Analog: Sony ICF-506
- FM/AM
- Black
- 2.14 lbs
- Powerful mono speaker for big sound
- Built-in carry handle for easy portability
- Listen with (3) AA Batteries1 or Plug in AC Adaptor
Sometimes, simple is better, and in those times, the best portable radio for simplicity is the Sony ICF-506.
A truly basic portable radio, the Sony ICF-506 adds everything you need without giving you anything you do not want. Using a large dial on the side of the Sony, you can easily find the right station for you through the integrated analog tuning display and telescoping antenna to make sure you have plenty of range for all stations.
As soon as you land on the right station, the sound of this monophonic radio is really impressive for its size. With a 5W 4-inch speaker, you get a big sound, which is going to be great for tuning into baseball games or listening to the news while working in the garden.
Regardless of where you take this portable radio, the Sony’s handlebar makes it easy to transport and with its small size, equally easy to store away when not in use. Plus, you can make use of the 3.5mm headphone jack when you want a little privacy.
Check out the Sony ICF-506 on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Incredibly easy to use | Not incredibly loud compared to competitors |
| Great for listening to live baseball games | Large handlebar |
Best Sound: Megatek Portable Stereo
- FM radio, Bluetooth, USB, Aux-in, and headphone jack
- CD-R/RW and MP3 CDs compatible
- Clear and balanced sound
- Cherry Red
The largest of the portable radio options on this list, the Megatek Portable Stereo is sized just right for big, booming sound.
With dual radio and CD-player functionality, the Megatek Portable Stereo offers full support for FM radio with 30 station presets to help you quickly find your favorite music or talk radio stations.
Through the 3-inch front-firing speakers, you can easily find a room-filling balanced sound to make listening all the more enjoyable. With 5 integrated equalizer modes, you can also fine-tune the sound any way you want.
As a CD player, the Megatek has support for CDs, CD-R/RW, MP3 CDs, and audiobook CDs, with full support for both shuffle and repeat programming options. Better yet, crank up the sound and pass it right to your favorite pair of headphones courtesy of built-in Bluetooth support. Additionally, you can also utilize a USB flash drive and upload your favorite music for listening on the go.
Powered by 4 C batteries, you can expect hours of battery life on a single charge or plug it into a wall with a 240V connection when at home.
You can find the Megatek Portable Stereo on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Booming sound with 3 speakers | Might be too much equipment for some |
| Feature-rich with CD functionality | Battery life doesn’t last long in CD mode |
Best for Poor Weather: DaringSnail NOAA Portable Radio
- Hand-crank solar radio
- Battery-operated
- LCD display
- AUX music play
- Flashlight
- SOS alarm
- Emergency phone charger for outdoor emergency
If the worst weather happens, rest assured the DaringSnail NOAA Weather Alert Radio is ready to answer the call for help.
Where the DaringSnail NOAA Portable Radio really stands out is with its 7 easily accessible NOAA stations in the 162.40-162.55 MHz range. Through these stations, you can easily find up-to-date information about hurricanes, wildfires, winter storms, tornados, and more.
Any emergency radio for weather alerts needs to be highly portable and the DaringSnail delivers with a folding handle that makes it easy to transport. Of course, portable means this radio can work on the go, and it does, with 4 different ways to keep it powered up. Between a hand crank for juice, solar recharging, 3 AAA batteries, and a USB charge, you should have no issues staying alert with this radio.
Best of all, the DaringSnail includes a 4,000mAh battery that can help power your smartphone, so you can make calls and let your family and friends know you are okay. A 1W light and SOS alarm are also included, rounding out the feature set of the DaringSnail.
Check out the DaringSnail NOAA Weather Alert Radio on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent for emergency conditions | The small flashlight only illuminates immediately in front of you. |
| Great battery backup system |
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How to Pick the Best Portable Radio: Step-by-Step
Before deciding on which portable radio is right for you, there are 4 main considerations to look at first.
- Tuning
- Speaker quality
- Weather bands
- Durability
Let’s break down each one below.
Tuning
When it comes to choosing a portable radio, you should decide whether you prefer digital or analog tuning. Analog is undoubtedly the older of the two systems and, for many people, it might be an acceptable trade-off for the right portable radio. For others, going digital will not only make it easier to find stations that broadcast locally but also likely have preset options, so you can quickly refer back to your favorite AM or FM channels.
Speaker Quality
While it might not be a huge consideration for many, speaker quality matters more than most people might consider. You definitely want to make sure you have a speaker that is loud enough to be heard over stormy conditions or in other circumstances where the environment might be louder than usual. If you need to evacuate, for example, the last thing you want is to miss those orders because your portable radio speaker wasn’t loud enough.
Weather Bands
If you want a portable radio that really offers a strong feature set, options like the DaringSnail NOAA Portable Radio can keep you informed all day long. The inclusion of weather frequencies that provide you with immediate NOAA reports can be a literal lifesaver if road conditions are getting worse. The last thing you want is to rely on a cellular connection for alerts, which might be disrupted due to power outages.
Durability
For any portable radio, you may want something that can withstand getting bounced around a little while being outdoors. Whether you are camping, evacuating, or just sitting outside on a summer day, you may enjoy the knowledge that your radio won’t be disrupted by a little rain or drop on the ground. This is why the Sangean TB-100 portable radio is such a popular option as it offers both shock and water resistance.
Using a Portable Radio: What It’s Like
If you have ever been in a car, there is a good chance you are already familiar with how AM and FM radios work. Now, just try and imagine those larger radios your grandparents used to use and shrink them all the way down to a portable size, and that’s what you have with this list.
Using a portable radio is enjoyable and a great way to stay informed, listen to new music, hear a live baseball game, and so much more.
You may even find from time to time that a radio is more welcoming than a streaming app like Spotify where you have to worry about making a playlist instead of just enjoying whatever is playing.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Fabbox/Shutterstock.com.
