Best DAB radio 2024: portable, Bluetooth digital radios to buy today
DAB radios are classic and reliable, and have come a long way since the launch of the first DAB channel in 1995. But which are the best ones to buy in 2024? We found out.
With the introduction of music streaming services — such as Apple Music and Amazon Music — and smart speakers which let you choose which music to listen to when you want, whenever you want, you might be wondering what the humble radio can offer.
Whether you’re listening to Greg James on The Radio 1 Breakfast Show, Lauren Laverne on Radio 6 for your morning commute, or bopping along to your favourite dance tracks on Absolute Radio '80s or Heart Dance, radio offers structure to your day as well as the ability to discover new artists, songs, and even facts and information — and it’s not going anywhere.
Radio has come a long way since the first commercial radio broadcast was transmitted in 1920, and Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is just one of these advancements. DAB is a radio service where analog audio is converted to digital signal. Automatically tuning to set stations, a DAB radio offers higher-quality audio and faster transitions than FM radio. The first DAB channel was launched in 1995 by The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, with the BBC and Swedish Radio following suit later that year.
DAB+ is an upgraded version of DAB. It’s more efficient, has clearer sound and broadcasts more stations. Most DAB radios come with DAB+.
So, why a DAB radio? Well, it’s a trustworthy piece of technology, and if you’re keen to stay clear of virtual assistant tech like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, it’s a simple way to listen to music. Plus, many DAB radios are wireless so you can take them out and about with you, and have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity so you can use it as a speaker and connect it to your smart device.
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Jump to:
- Best DAB radios in 2024 at a glance
- What to consider when buying a DAB radio
- Best DAB radios to buy in 2024
Best DAB radios in 2024 at a glance:
- Best budget DAB radio: Spectrum Solo Portable DAB+/FM Digital Radio,
£40£20 - Best portable DAB radio: Sony Portable DAB+ Radio, £74.99
- Best retro DAB radio: Emma Bridgewater Polka Dot Retro Mini DAB Radio,
£89.99£79.99 - Most compact DAB radio: Rambler BT,
£119.99£99 - Best alarm clock DAB radio: Pure Siesta Digital Radio, £69.95
- Best smart DAB radio: Philips TAM2505/10 DAB+/FM Bluetooth Radio, £99
- Best sustainable DAB radio: Pure Evoke Spot,
£179£141.95 - Best DAB radio for design: Roberts Revival Uno BT, £149.99
- Best premium DAB radio: Roberts Revival iStream, £199.99
- Best display on a DAB radio: Ruark Audio R1 Mk4 Deluxe Bluetooth Radio, £239
What to consider when buying a DAB radio
Before you purchase a DAB radio, there are a few things to consider.
Firstly, its purpose. Do you want the radio for a specific place, for example a kitchen counter, or will it move around with you? If you’d like it to be portable, you’ll need to consider the weight and size, how long the battery life lasts, and whether it’s wireless or wired.
Next: functions. Is the DAB radio compatible with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi? How many speakers does it have? Does it have a display, and would you like it to? Besides listening to the radio, what else would you use it for? For example, as an alarm clock, maybe?
Then, aesthetic. You can purchase a lot of cool, retro-looking DAB radios, as well as ones in bold colours and with various prints.
And lastly, budget. Arguably the most important thing to consider when making a purchase is, how much money do you have to spend? Our best list includes radios that range from £20 up to a heftier price tag of £239.
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Best DAB radios to buy in 2024
Roberts Rambler BT
Most compact DAB radio
Pros:
- Fantastic volume range
- Small footprint
- Aesthetically pleasing
Cons:
- Short battery life
Roberts Radio has been manufacturing radios since 1932, so if you’re after a DAB radio from a reputable brand, you arguably can’t get better than Roberts. This compact radio — measuring just 21.4cm in length, 12.5cm in height, and 9cm in width — is perfect if you want to use it in a space with little room, such as a kitchen. One of our RadioTimes.com writers owns this radio, and swears by its brilliant volume range and small footprint. However, when researching the reviews, a frequent complaint was that the battery life is relatively short, lasting just a few hours.
Buy Rambler BT for £119.99 £99.99 (save £20 or 17%) at Amazon
Roberts Revival iStream
Best premium DAB radio
Pros:
- User-friendly
- Large display screen
- Built-in streaming
- Gorgeous colourways
Cons:
- Expensive
The Roberts Revival iStream comes with a hefty price tag, however we think it’s worth it. Not only is it wonderful to look at — the 1950s-inspired smart radio comes in stunning colourways such as Sunburst Yellow, Berry Red and Duck Egg — but it has a whole host of innovative functions, too.
The DAB radio has built-in Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer streaming services, as well as over 20,000 internet radio stations and thousands of podcasts. Plus, it’s Bluetooth compatible, so you can connect your smartphone and listen to exactly what you want, whether that’s Britney Spears’s Everytime on repeat (we won’t judge). One of our RadioTimes.com writers owns this radio and loves how user-friendly it is. The buttons are clearly labelled, and the screen size is large so it's easy to read.
Buy Roberts Revival iStream for £199.99 at John Lewis
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Spectrum Solo Portable DAB+/FM Digital Radio
Best budget DAB radio
Pros:
- Wireless
- Lightweight
- Cheap
Cons:
- Batteries not included
- Doesn’t support Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
One of the important things to consider when purchasing a DAB radio is the price tag, and if you’re after a budget radio, this one at John Lewis is a great choice. Weighing in at just 0.35kg, this portable, DAB+ and FM digital radio is perfect if you’re planning on taking it out and about with you, like to the park. It’s priced at just £40 and comes in four different colours.
Buy Spectrum Solo Portable DAB+/FM Digital Radio for £20 at John Lewis
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Pure Siesta Digital Radio
Best alarm clock DAB radio
Pros:
- Alarm clock
- Wireless charging pad
- Display screen
- Supports Bluetooth
Cons:
- Doesn’t support Wi-Fi
Not only can you listen to up to 40 already-set radio stations, but this digital radio is compatible with Bluetooth, meaning you can use it as a speaker and listen to whatever you fancy — whether that’s dancing to Kylie Minogue’s I Believe in You while you’re whipping up a storm in the kitchen, or English Rose by The Jam to wind down in an evening. As well as an alarm clock, this DAB radio comes with other useful functions too, such as a kitchen timer and a headphone output.
Buy Pure Siesta Digital Radio for £69.95 at Amazon
Ruark Audio R1 Mk4 Deluxe Bluetooth Radio
Best display on a DAB radio
Pros:
- Adaptive EQ listening experience
- OLED display with auto dimming
- Alarm
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy at 1.5kg
In comparison to the Spectrum Solo Portable DAB+/FM Digital Radio which weighs just 0.35kg, the Ruark Audio R1 Mk4 Deluxe Bluetooth Radio is quite hefty at 1.5kg, although this is potentially the only downfall. The wireless DAB radio boasts adaptive EQ, which adjusts the frequencies in music to offer a more consistent listening experience, and is used by companies such as Apple in its products. The radio also has an easy-to-use control system, and functions like an alarm and Bluetooth receiver.
Buy Ruark Audio R1 Mk4 Deluxe Bluetooth Radio for £239 at Selfridges
Are you a fan of live music as well as listening to it? Then stay up to date with our Going Out section for the latest ticket releases.
Philips TAM2505/10 DAB+/FM Bluetooth Radio
Best smart DAB radio
Pros:
- Bluetooth compatible
- Alarm clock
Cons:
- Large
- Heavy at 1.71kg
With an aerial, stand and wall mount as well as a remote control, the Philips DAB radio really does think of everything so you can place the device in a prime location and switch it on and off with ease. With a buzz and a radio alarm, you can wake up to the sound of your last played radio station, too, which is sure to make that 7am wake up call less abrupt.
Buy Philips TAM2505/10 DAB+/FM Bluetooth Radio for £99 at Currys
Emma Bridgewater Polka Dot Retro Mini DAB Radio
Best retro DAB radio
Pros:
- Small footprint
- Bluetooth connection
- Designer prints
Cons:
- Doesn’t support Wi-Fi
If there was an award for the sweetest design, this Emma Bridgewater polka dot radio would win, hands down. This compact radio is Bluetooth compatible so you can listen to music streaming services like Apple Music, Spotify and Deezer, as well as 60 pre-set radio stations.
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Roberts Revival Uno BT
Best DAB radio for design
Pros:
- Compact
- Fantastic sound
- Brilliant colourways
Cons:
- Doesn’t support Wi-Fi
The great thing about the Roberts Radio site is that it includes customer reviews (and plenty of them), so you can take a look at what other people have thought about the product before you buy. The Revival Uno BT is a take on the classic Revival, except it’s 35 per cent smaller. Where it squeezes on the size, however, it doesn’t skip on the quality. You can listen to DAB, DAB+ and FM stations in crystal clear audio, and there’s the option to save your favourite pre-set stations for easy, one-touch access.
Buy Roberts Revival Uno BT for £149.99 at Roberts Radio
Pure Evoke Spot
Best sustainable DAB radio
Pros:
- Supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
- Foldable display
- Sustainable
Cons:
- Plug-in charge
This smart speaker supports both FM and DAB radio stations with internet connectivity, so you can listen to your favourite songs, artists, podcasts and audiobooks however the mood takes you. The radio uses eco-certified and recycled wool for its front, but this sustainability initiative doesn’t hinder its performance. Powerful sound is produced from a three-inch full range speaker and a bass reflex port, and it has 20W of audio power.
Buy Pure Evoke Spot for £179.99 £141.95 (save £38.04 or 22%) at Amazon
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Sony Portable DAB+ Radio
Best portable DAB radio
Pros:
- Small footprint
- Lightweight
- Easy to set up
- Inexpensive
Cons:
- Only five pre-set stations
- Not Bluetooth or Wi-Fi compatible
Another cheap and cheerful DAB radio is this portable one from Sony. Costing just £74.99, the radio packs in a lot of features, such as a sleep and wake-up timer, LCD display screen and a headphone jack. However, it has fewer pre-set stations than other DAB radios (the Sony Portable DAB+ Radio has five).
Buy Sony Portable DAB+ Radio for £74.99 at Amazon
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