The best DAB radios you can buy in 2025, whatever your budget

If you're after the best compact DAB radio, this is the one we'd go for. It's the smallest, most affordable model in the retro-inspired Roberts Revival range, and we love that it fits in the palm of our hands. That's what makes it an ideal portable option, especially as it has a built-in rechargeable battery and charges up via a USB-C cable.

On test for our Roberts Revival Petite 2 review, we found the sound excellent for its size, but, unsurprisingly, it can't get as loud as other models. Roberts has taken everything good about the original Petite and improved it all. This now has a telescopic antenna for better reception, improved Bluetooth and alarm functionalities, and it has switched from the ageing micro USB port to a USB-C port for recharging.

It weighs a mere 430g and has enough battery power on a full charge to deliver 20 hours of playtime. That's more than enough for us. It's brilliant that it can work as a Bluetooth speaker too, and while it isn't protected against the elements it's still good for a punchy and satisfying sound from something so compact. It's easy and intuitive to use, and we have no issue when it comes to setting alarms and saving our favourite stations in the 20 slots available for presets.

We're big fans of this little retro radio. It's ideal as a gift for the music lover in your life or as your tiny player to bring with you, whether into every room of your house or on trips away from home. It also has the exact same price as the old Petite model, while being much more advanced.

The models in Pure's Evoke lineup are all high-quality DAB radio options for your home. We like that they all have a discreet flip-up screen. You can leave it down, or pop it up when you want to see a bit more information about the radio station you're playing.

It's a top option for the kitchen, as it has an elegant and simple design while also working as an "all-in-one" music system. It comes with built-in internet radio and Spotify Connect, making it ideal for streaming music over wi-fi.

Those wi-fi-based capabilities come in addition to the DAB+, FM and Bluetooth support. This amount of versatility is a great way to ensure you can enjoy the latest episode of your podcast, your Discover Weekly playlist on Spotify or your top radio stations, whether they're local or international, all from one device.

On test for our Pure Evoke Spot review, we found it delivers impressive sound quality from its speaker setup too. It'll work well whether placed on a bookshelf or kitchen countertop. Pure says its recycled wool front panel will be "virtually odourless in any environment" and we like both the "Cotton White" and "Coffee Black" finishes it comes in.

Given its features and internet radio capabilities, it's good value for the price, although it's worth knowing that it's not designed to work outside. If you want more power and versatility, we also recommend the larger Evoke Home. That delivers a big 100W of power and adds a CD player (along with a much higher price tag). There's also a portable version, the Evoke Play, which is compatible with an optional Pure battery.

If you’re upgrading from a little radio and want something that will deliver better sound, but still be portable and compact, this Roberts model is a great option. It feels like a slightly slimmed down version of the older Rambler BT Stereo, and it’s just as charming with its distinct and nostalgic 1970s design.

It may look old-school, but it offers loads of handy features including alarms, a sleep timer, presets and Bluetooth. Even if it may be a little more expensive than radios of a similar size, we think it’s worth it for its style. It's portable and able to run off AA batteries, too. If you use the right type of rechargeable batteries, it can even recharge them without you needing to remove them.

On test, we’ve found presets easy to use, and we consistently got a great reception with the aerial. It delivers a well-balanced sound for its small footprint, and we found it super easy to use as a kitchen radio – we like its tactile knobs and buttons, too. Within the settings, there are equaliser modes so that you can also boost up the treble or bass to your liking.

We love the vintage design and the range of colours – with cream, duck-egg blue, and navy available – that you can match to your decor. It lacks internet radio and a carry handle, and there are better options to use outside if you want waterproofing, but it’s an impressive radio for indoor use, especially in smaller rooms.

The Majority Little Shelford is our top choice for anyone on a budget – it's a versatile and stylish DAB radio that costs under £50. It also offers a good combination of features and functionality, including portable battery-power, Bluetooth connectivity and a handy display.

With the flexibility to operate the radio either on portable power (with four AA batteries) or mains power, this is a solid option for on-the-go radio. We like how it also has a leather-look carry handle so it's easier to move around, and it's only 760g so it won't weigh you down.

It may be small, but it has the ability to receive DAB+ and FM radio along with Bluetooth support so you can use it as a compact speaker too. The audio quality is decent, and the backlit LED display makes for a quick way to see station information and change settings. You're able to programme in 20 preset stations for quick access and it has dual alarm functionality too.

We love that it comes in multiple colours – including duck egg blue, grey, red and cream – and it's easy to set up and use compared to premium options with more confusing instructions and interfaces. Rivals that cost more will deliver better sound and it's not as sleek as some of the Roberts designs, but it's a good all-rounder for its affordability, portability and impressive features.

It’s an investment, but we’re impressed at how the Roberts Rambler Max blends the latest features with retro style. It’s one of the best radios you can buy right now, as long as you’re comfortable with its £199.99 RRP. We love its classic looks, and it's available in either navy or duck egg blue.

We found the sound quality excellent, too. Voices are clear, and music is rich and detailed. We like how straightforward it is to navigate the menus with the built-in dials, and there’s an equaliser that makes it simple to tweak the bass and treble to your liking. This is more customisability than you’re going to find on most other radios.

What makes the Rambler Max worth it, though, is its smart features. Connect it to your home wi-fi network, and you’ll also have internet radio, with Spotify and Deezer built-in. That’s in addition to Bluetooth and USB playback, and switching between these options is easy with the clear menus on the colour display, and easy-to-use controls. While a companion app might make some of this easier to access, it’s great that all features are accessible on the body of the radio – and there’s enough here that it could work as your all-in-one home speaker.

It’s worth noting that it’s mainly a mains-powered radio. You can add an optional battery pack that gives it up to eight hours of on-the-go listening, but it’s not designed to function in the outdoors or rainy conditions.

If a compact size is your main priority, you won’t find radios much smaller than this little Sharp one. It picks up DAB/DAB+ and FM stations, has a rechargeable battery for up to 12 hours of playback, and can get surprisingly loud for such a tiny device. You recharge it via USB-C and it comes with a useful hand strap for portability. It also has a compact colour display and connects through Bluetooth if you’d like it to double as an on-the-go speaker.

We like how versatile it is, and in our tests, we found we were able to get a good reception and reasonable sound quality when using the telescopic aerial. As it’s only a single mono speaker, it doesn’t sound that impressive compared to larger options. But, if your top priority is a radio you can take anywhere, the audio was fairly clear to our ears. It’s better if you’re focused on spoken word content rather than music, but it’s serviceable for either.

It has a great little colour display and it’s easy to programme in your favourite presets for quick access. The menus are also simple to navigate, although it's quite a tiny screen, so it won’t be easy for everybody to read. We like that it’s possible to plug in wired headphones to the 3.5mm socket on the right side of the radio, too.

Overall, this Sharp is a good option if size is your main focus, and while it’s not quite on the same level as a regular-sized DAB radio, it does deliver a lot of the important features you’re probably after.

The Pure Woodland Mini is a compact DAB+ radio designed with outdoor adventures and garden listening in mind. With a durable IP67 rating, this little radio is protected from dust and water, unlike many others on our list, so it’s perfect for listening outdoors, whether you’re at a picnic or doing a bit of gardening.

It offers up to 17 hours of battery life on a full charge, and it delivers an impressive sound for its form factor, although, of course, it’s not going to sound as “big” as models with larger speakers inside.

The Woodland Mini also has Bluetooth on board, so it doubles as a portable speaker for playing your own playlists or podcasts wirelessly. We found it easy to use too, with intuitive buttons and an extendable aerial to improve radio reception. You can set up to 40 preset radio stations using the buttons on the top too, with each of the two buttons storing up to 20 DAB+ or FM programmes.

When you’re on the move, it’s compact enough to carry around in a bag and fairly affordable at around £70. Overall, we think the Woodland Mini is ideal for anybody after a versatile and affordable audio option for the outdoors, although it might be worth stepping up to the bigger Pure Woodland if you want a richer and fuller sound.

The Ruark R2 Mk4 is our choice for sound above all rivals. It's an expensive but remarkable all-in-one DAB radio that delivers exceptional audio quality. If sound is your top priority, it's a worthwhile investment.

The R2 Mk4 impresses with its rich, detailed sound reproduction. Whether you're streaming music via integrated services (Spotify Connect, Amazon Music and Deezer) or listening to FM, DAB+ and internet radio stations, it delivers an engaging listening experience across genres.

We love the radio's sophisticated design and think it adds an elegant touch to any space. The wooden slatted front, clear display and high-quality cabinet construction will make it eye-catching in the living room, kitchen, bedroom or wherever you place it.

It offers a great range of connectivity options too. It includes Bluetooth, USB-C, and 3.5mm headphone output, and that's in addition to its support for thousands of internet radio stations around the world.

It does lack voice control so won't work as a smart speaker. And we know that it's hard to justify the premium price. For those with a focus on sound and style, though, the smart look of the R2 Mk4 and its versatility as a Bluetooth and AirPlay speaker make it an excellent all-in-one home music system.

The Roberts Revival RD70 is a top pick that, like many of the brand's radios, has an attractive, retro-inspired design. It's capable and portable, and the colour screen, which can display album artwork, makes it more distinctive than the budget options.

Despite its classic appearance, the RD70 doesn't compromise on performance. It has Bluetooth connectivity so you can stream your music from your smartphone, 20 preset stations, alarms, and a sleep timer. Its convenient carry handle and ability to run on AA batteries make it a worthy portable companion, whether that's to a picnic or while cooking in the kitchen. Just note, though, that it's not designed to be waterproof.

When it comes to sound quality, the RD70 impresses with its warm, punchy audio reproduction and clear, crisp vocals, making it particularly well-suited for speech content like talk radio and podcasts. It's a bigger radio than many on this list, and capable of blasting out enough volume to fill a medium-sized room.

While it may come with a higher price tag and without the wi-fi features of the Roberts 94i or 94L, it's a high-quality option for design and sound performance, and it's a great choice for a portable radio as it will last for up to 25 hours when powered by four AA batteries.

If outdoor protection is high on your priority list, you'll have noticed there aren't many DAB radios that come with waterproof ratings. However, like its mini version, the Pure Woodland has a rugged yet lightweight design, with a reinforced casing, and both dust and water resistance.

It has an IP67, which means it’s both dust-sealed and can survive being submerged in water. This should make it more than durable enough to withstand unexpected bumps or downpours. It's a good pick for picnics, barbecues, camping trips, or gardening.

Beyond its robust construction, the Woodland impresses with its versatile functionality. It works as both a Bluetooth speaker and a DAB radio, so it's easy to switch from your podcast queue over to your favourite radio programmes. With a powerful 10W dual speaker setup, it also delivers a rich and warm sound for your outdoor gatherings this summer.

We like that the soft-touch carry handle makes it easy to grab and move around, and the three preset buttons allow you to store up to six top radio stations (three DAB and three FM) for quick access.

While its 14-hour battery life isn't as long as some rivals, it's more than enough for a day spent in the garden. It's worth noting that it comes in only one colour too, but the dark green is a good fit for outdoor use, and this is definitely the model we'd pick for durability and versatility.