Top 4 compared
The best wind-up radios
Radio, torch and phone charger in one, for power cuts, camping and the car boot.
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The top 4 at a glance
A wind-up radio keeps the news and a light going when the power’s off. Its built-in battery charges from a solar panel or the hand crank, and by USB lead. All tune FM and most AM too; shortwave and DAB are rarer. They’re worth having in the cupboard before the winter storms arrive.
Trevor Baylis showed his clockwork radio on the BBC’s Tomorrow’s World in 1994. Today’s versions are as much emergency kits as radios: every one here has a torch and can top up a phone from its battery, and most add an SOS alarm.
What matters
- A large battery, in mAh, if it’s to charge a phone.
- A reading lamp as well as a torch.
#1Acta Berg Solar and Crank Emergency Radio (5,000mAh, AM/FM/SW)
£30–£50
- Tunes shortwave, AM and FM
- Large 5,000mAh battery
- Automatic station search
- No SOS alarm
- 19cm long, not pocket-sized
A world receiver with AM, FM and shortwave, automatic station search and a digital display, with a long aerial for reception. Its 5,000mAh battery charges from the solar panel or the crank and can charge a phone over USB, and the torch has several brightness modes.
What owners say: Owners praise the build quality and the sound, and like its many useful features, its compact size and its charging.
A closer look: Shortwave carries furthest after dark, so if the local stations are off air, try the SW band in the evening for news from further away. At 385g and 19cm long, it’s a radio for the house or the car more than for a rucksack pocket.
Best for: Shortwave
- Bands
- AM/FM/SW
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, charged by solar, crank or USB (plug not stated)
- Battery
- 5,000mAh
- Charges a phone
- Yes
- Light
- Torch, several modes
- Extras
- Shortwave, digital display
#2Rychi 086 Solar and Wind-Up Emergency Radio (2,000mAh)
£20–£30
- Built-in SOS alarm
- Pocket-sized at 13cm long
A small red AM/FM radio, 13cm long, with a 2,000mAh (7,400mWh) battery that doubles as a power bank for a phone, three ways to charge it (USB, solar or the crank), an LED torch and an SOS alarm.
What owners say: Owners find it a handy little radio that works well, like its compact size and choice of charging, and say the torch is very bright, with a strong beam.
A closer look: Give it a full charge by USB when it arrives and note how long the radio plays, so you know roughly what a full battery buys you before you need it. Store it indoors rather than in a hot car through the summer, as heat shortens the life of the battery inside.
Best for: Signalling for help
- Bands
- AM/FM
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, charged by solar, crank or USB (plug not stated)
- Battery
- 2,000mAh
- Charges a phone
- Yes
- Light
- LED torch
- Extras
- SOS alarm
#3NNOOAADIO AY-028 Solar and Wind-Up Emergency Radio
£20–£30
- IPX3 splash resistant
- Light at 215g
- Morse-pattern SOS alarm
At 215g and under 13cm long, it charges by USB-C as well as solar and crank, and adds a three-LED torch with two brightness levels, a Morse-pattern SOS alarm and IPX3 splash resistance. The maker gives about 5–7 hours of radio or 14 hours of light from its 2,000mAh battery.
What owners say: Owners rate the sound and reception and take it camping and into emergency kits; the mixed points are charging, fine by solar but not holding charge from the crank for some, and value, where opinions divide.
A closer look: Pull the telescopic aerial out to its full 30cm and turn the tuner slowly while watching the signal light, as a small turn can bring in a station that sounded weak. Keep the lanyard on and hang it from a tent loop or a hook by the door, so it’s easy to find in the dark.
Best for: Splash resistance
- Bands
- AM/FM
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery, charged by solar, crank or USB-C
- Battery
- 2,000mAh
- Charges a phone
- Yes
- Light
- 3-LED torch
- Extras
- SOS alarm, IPX3
#4Mesqool DAB+ Solar and Wind-Up Radio with Bluetooth
£30–£50
- Tunes DAB and DAB+
- Large 12,000mAh battery
- Reading lamp and a torch
- No AM band
DAB, DAB+ and FM on a 2.4-inch colour screen, with 80 presets, Bluetooth 5.0 for playing music from a phone, dual alarms and a sleep timer. Behind them sit a 12,000mAh battery, a large 8,500mm² solar panel, the crank, USB-C and AAA batteries (not included) as a backup.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to tune and solidly built, like the choice of charging, solar included, and use it for power cuts and days away; the sound gets mixed reports.
A closer look: Scan and save your DAB stations at home where the signal is strong, so they’re ready if the power goes or it travels with you. Plug headphones into the 3.5mm socket for late listening without waking the rest of the house.
Best for: DAB listeners
- Bands
- DAB+, DAB, FM
- Power and charging
- Built-in battery or AAA (not included), charged by solar, crank or USB-C
- Battery
- 12,000mAh
- Charges a phone
- Yes
- Light
- Torch + reading lamp
- Extras
- Bluetooth, colour screen
Side by side
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 4.
| Feature | #1Acta Berg 5000mAh | #2Rychi 086 | #3NNOOAADIO AY-028 | #4Mesqool DAB+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | |||
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 8.9 | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Price | £30–£50 | £20–£30 | £20–£30 | £30–£50 |
| Bands | AM/FM/SW | AM/FM | AM/FM | DAB+, DAB, FM |
| Power and charging | Built-in battery, charged by solar, crank or USB (plug not stated) | Built-in battery, charged by solar, crank or USB (plug not stated) | Built-in battery, charged by solar, crank or USB-C | Built-in battery or AAA (not included), charged by solar, crank or USB-C |
| Battery | 5,000mAh | 2,000mAh | 2,000mAh | 12,000mAh |
| Charges a phone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Light | Torch, several modes | LED torch | 3-LED torch | Torch + reading lamp |
| Extras | Shortwave, digital display | SOS alarm | SOS alarm, IPX3 | Bluetooth, colour screen |
| Best for | Shortwave | Signalling for help | Splash resistance | DAB listeners |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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