Xhdata are back at it again. This time its with a very nice budget release of a portable 11 band world radio that has a frequency range of AM (520–1730 kHz), FM (64–108 MHz), and SW (5.6–22 MHz). There’s a switch on the side that changes the frequency bands. FM-1, FM-2, AM, Shortwave. By all accounts and reviews the receiver inside this radio is very sensitive. Certainly punching above its weight for the price. The manual tuning dial and screen display with all the frequencies printed on resembles many of the old school SW radios of years gone by. So, it’s not only a great radio in terms of performance, but also adds a touch of transistor nostalgia for those who miss the old school designs. Takes you back a bit! Buy from Amazon or AliExpress.

While this is a portable multiband radio, it is still fairly big to put in a pocket. It needs to be a big pocket. So keep that in mind. It’s not super tiny, but still compact in size. The Xhdata D226 has two power options. It has an internal rechargeable lithium battery that can be charged via a USB-c cable. And it has the option to be powered by 2 AA batteries.

This makes it a versatile radio for camping and travelling. And also makes it quite a good radio for preppers / SHTF / listening for emergency broadcasts etc. If you need the weather updates [USA] known as WX / NOAA, there is the Xhdata D228, which does have those frequencies. The D226 does not have NOAA frequencies. Also note: the screen does not light up on either model.

There is an LED light on the top of the radio, and a 3.5mm headphone jack on the side if you want to listen in private. Both the internal speaker and headphone listening offer good sound quality. All in all a nice little radio for listening to national and international stations. It’s a cheap radio to buy, and there are discount codes available for Amazon and AliExpress. The 226 is available in red, black or green. The Xhdata 228 [with NOAA] is available in a lighter teal green.